Even though they haven’t officially taken over ownership of the Bamberg County Nursing Center, UHS-Pruitt has already begun lending the facility a hand.

BCHNC Interim CEO Kurt Meyer reported to board members at their December 16 meeting that the Toccoa, Georgia, based company was on site recently doing due diligence in anticipation of its purchase of the nursing center.

He stated that UHS-Pruitt would begin December 17 providing pharmacy, medical, and consulting services to the nursing center. Expenses, he said, the center would not have been able to recoup after the sale is completed.

“There are some therapy needs coming up before the sale, they are making themselves available as a resource for that as well,” Meyer said.

Interim nursing center administrator Teresa Valentine stated that UHS-Pruitt is also looking at sending support services, social services, and a Chaplin after the acquisition, to support not only the families, but employees as well.

Also during the meeting:

Interim CFO Carl Menist reported that the hospital and nursing center had a combined profitability up swing of $1.5 million compared to the first two months of the last fiscal year. The facility is showing a $178,000 profit year-to-date. This marks two straight months that the nursing center has shown a profit which he said “is really phenomenal, progress is being made,” Menist said.

Al Palmer reported that the nursing center foundation had a balance of $3,089. Palmer reported that Carol Jeffords has resigned from the foundation board. William R. Mayor was recommended and approved for a seat on the board.

Board members approved the appointment of Lou Ann Carter, Dr. Dannette McAlhaney, Herman Brabham, and new CEO Roy Vincent to the Bank Resolution Committee. Board Chairwoman Lou Ann Carter asked former board chairman Randy Maxwell to serve on the finance committee.

The board approved receiving a compilations report instead of an audit report for the BCHNC for 2008 because of all the “upheaval” and the cost of an audit considering the facilities finances.

Board members amended the bylaws to state that officers will be elected by a majority of the boards’ members, and no one will hold the same office for more than three years.

Dr. Dannette McAlhaney in her medical staff report stated that the center had 26 positions for credentials, all positions were approved.

Interim CEO Kurt Meyer reported that the center replaced 150 doors as mandated by CMS by the December 5 deadlines. He reported that hospital personnel had been moved to the renovated Kearse and Bradley Wings, and work will start on the Cooner Wing expeditiously.

Meyer reported that BCHNC has reached an agreement with TRMC to do credentialing of its physicians. TRMC will also help the hospital and Low Country with reading its MRI’s.

After a closed meeting, the board reconvened in open session and approved the following:

Board members voted unanimously to renew the contract of PHNS for one year beginning on January 12, 2009.

Board members voted to contract with the Parker Poe Adams and Bernstein LLP Law Firm, who has offices in Charlotte, Raleigh, North Carolina, Charleston, Spartanburg, and Columbia. The Law Firm will handle legal health care issues for the hospital.

It was noted that Parker Poe will prepare a proposal and timeline for legal health care issues.