At the Nov. 19 meeting of the Ellsworth County Medical Center board of directors, Chief Executive Officer Jim Kirkbride noted Ellsworth is running behind regarding regular seasonal illnesses as ECMC has not seen COVID or flu cases yet.

“It’s a little slower,” he said. “We were expecting by the first of November to start to see the big hit. I think last year or the year before we were about 30 days behind, so we’re not too concerned.”

In other business:

• Kirkbride reported all of the studs are up and plumbing in for the administration building remodel.

“Today they started cutting the windows in and I think they broke their saw,” he said. “That’s some pretty tough concrete over there.”

• Approval was given to an update of policies that were previously approved by the medical staff.

• For October, Kirkbride said the hospital had a gross revenue of $3,136,132, which was $212,098 above budget.

However, operating expenses were just $77,721 below budget, which Kirkbride described as “not good.”

• Capital expenses were approved, including $10,948 for a new fire door for the cafeteria and $7,511 for repairs on 20 fire doors in the building.

• New Executive Director of Clinic Operations Jordan Stephenson was introduced. He will oversee the rural health clinics and the outpatient speciality clinic.

“He’s doing a real good job and has lots of experience,” Kirkbride said.

• After a 15-minute executive session to discuss nonelected personnel, (appointments and reappointments), the following were approved: David Battin, MD; Julia Jennings, APRN; Kaleigh Ramey, PA; Naveed Majd, DO; Stanley Rhett Smith, MD; Jake Vrdoljak, MD; Judith Wolfstein, MD; Ken Baxa, MD; Eastin Casey, MD; Mark Mikinski, MD; and Naveen Penmasta, MD.

The next meeting of the Ellsworth County Medical Center board of directors will be at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 17 in the hospital conference room.