ROCKDALE HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOARD MEETING (11-27-06)

Rockdale, Texas (November 28, 2006) – Rockdale Hospital District Board of Directors met Monday night and approved the selling of 40 shares of Morgan Stanley stock.  Richards Memorial Hospital CEO, Jeff Madison, said he was contacted about the stock and that the board had to make a decision to either buy 60 more shares or to sell their current 40 shares.  Todd Biederman, president of Blackhawk Healthcare told board members that all the money from the sell of the stock would go to Rockdale Hospital District, and the board voted unanimously to sell. 

Ken Duncan, an architect at HDR in Dallas has been consulted on renovations which are needed around the 24-Hour Clinic.  Board president, Dr. John M. Weed III, pointed out that the 24 hour clinic lobby blocks the exit doors and a non-ambulance entrance to the emergency department is needed.  While considering the remodel of this area he also points out that any changes made should “fit the long-term plan and future use of the building” as the hospital will eventually build and move to a new facility.

In other business:

The board received news that revenues increased significantly during the month of October due in part to a record number of surgeries and sleep studies, as well as the acquisitions of Mike L. Locklear’s practice in Cameron.

Madison pointed out that billing turnaround time continues to decrease and is now down to 68 days, a goal they have been working very hard to reach.

Specialty physicians are continuously being added to the new Little River Healthcare System staff, as Franklin Chin, M.D., an Internal Medicine physician will begin seeing patients in both Cameron and Rockdale on Tuesday, December 5^th.  A nephrologist will join the Little River Healthcare System team of physicians after the first of the year.

The assisted living facility at Richards Memorial Hospital recently passed their state Medicare survey with no deficiencies, which Madison stated is “almost unheard of and a great accomplishment as assisted living facilities are held to the highest of standards.”

The board will not meet during the month of December.