St. Charles Parish Hospital District Board Meeting - August 27, 2026
St. Charles Parish Hospital District Board Meeting - August 27, 2026
The meeting began with a public hearing call, but no members of the public came forward. The board then recognized Penny Maine for her retirement after 15 years at Ochsner and 8 years at St. Charles Parish Hospital. After exiting executive session, the board proceeded with new business and reports.
Recognition of Penny Maine
- Board members Dr. West and others expressed gratitude for Penny Maine's service as executive office coordinator. She was presented with a picture and thanked for her contributions.
New Business
- AHU Replacement Bid: The board approved a bid from BGSN in the amount of $841,510 for the replacement of an air handling unit. Motion by Ms. Raymond, second by Ms. Smith, all in favor.
Medical Staff Report
- Dr. Kahn reported that the Medical Executive Committee met on August 11, 2026, approving ED navigation and inpatient written order guidelines and standing orders.
- The board approved the minutes of the August 11 MEC meeting and a special MEC meeting.
- Credentials: The Medical Executive Committee recommended and the board approved: 31 physicians, 3 advanced practice providers (APPs), 5 resignations, 13 provisional reviews, 1 change of category, and 39 reappointments. Motion carried unanimously.
Quality and Patient Experience Report (Dr. West)
- The hospital has achieved 560 days without a "target zero event" (patient harm or infection).
- Patient satisfaction scores continue to improve, with the ER in the top decile.
- A new mural by local artist Carrie Allen was funded through philanthropy and installed.
Financial Report (Ms. Farneck)
- Infusion services: Over 6,100 treatments year-to-date, exceeding budget and prior year by 23%.
- Therapy volumes: 9,100 procedures in July, 11% above budget and 12% above prior year.
- Total operating revenue exceeded budget by 9.5%, driven by infusion and outpatient lab growth.
- Income from operations for July was nearly $2 million, $1 million favorable to budget and prior year.
Facility and Operations Updates
- Phase four of the flooring project on the first floor is complete; remainder will start with the entrance/registration project in December.
- Ongoing projects: water heater, chiller, and fire alarm replacements.
- The new East Bank EMS station is nearing completion; staff will move in within the next few weeks, ending a five-year dislocation after Hurricane Ida.
Medical Staff Growth
- New physicians starting: Dr. Atala (rheumatology) and Dr. Kaylee Denny (psychiatry) on August 31; Dr. Dyer (hospital medicine) has been with the hospital for about a month.
- A new male primary care physician has signed and will start later.
Community Outreach
- The hospital participates in 40-50 community events per year.
- The auxiliary raised scholarship money for four high school seniors pursuing medical careers (physical therapy, pediatrics, genetics).
Key Outcomes
- All motions carried unanimously.
- The next hospital district board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Yeah, I think they didn't. Likely to the gamble without the mic. Yeah. I was honored to he's just trying to get him to start. She says if not broadcast after file hands on the EOS. So something else going on. All right. So our meeting is normally starting to prior to two o'clock, but it's true or five starting stores. Yeah, well then we may go easily. Okay. Thanks. They're showing it's recording and it's live. Why not? Okay. Well, this is a public hearing. Anyone wishing to address the board on any of the agenda items for today's meeting, please come forward now. It's a public hearing. Anyone wishing to address the board on any of the agenda items for today's meeting, please come forward now. This is a public hearing. Anyone wishing to address the board on any of the agenda items for today's meeting, please come forward now. We will start the meeting. Um you also have to some have somebody in the executive office who's kind of the glue holding everything together, uh, and that's Penny Maine. And so I I just wanted to start off by saying, you know, obviously we've only worked together now for roughly eight or nine months, uh, but I couldn't have uh I couldn't have been good at my job without you, and I really want you to know that. Thank you. Wonderful. Dr. West, I would um echo those comments that uh there's no possible way that I could do my job um without Penny. And I tell you what makes this one um special, but also makes this one bitter sweet, is that I also received a letter on my desk um announcing her retirement after 15 wonderful years at Auctioner and uh eight of those being here at St. Charles Parish Hospital. Um so Penny, I just want to say thank you for everything that you've done uh for me for this hospital and um for probably all of us uh sitting up here and how you have um coordinated so many things uh for us and made us efficient um and made us be on time uh but I just can't say thank you enough for everything that you've done. Congratulations, Penny. And I know I know you love to take pictures, so we're coming up front to take a picture. I mean, it's been an honor to be here at St. Charles Parish Hospital. Um so glad Austin took a chance and and said, come on over and and work here for us. Um being in the parish is wonderful. Obviously, you know I live here, you know, so I've been out here a long time, so it's been great. It was a hard decision to make to retire. So I've been blessed and truly grateful. Thank you. Thank you and congratulations. Thank you, Pim. Mr. Chairman, I'll turn it back over to you, sir. Okay. Oh, very good. Back on. Now we need a motion to come out of the executive session. Motion by Miss Raymond, second by Miss Smith, all in favor, aye. Okay.
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