HAYSMED BOARD OF DIRECTORS STATEMENT – December 5, 2024
HAYSMED BOARD OF DIRECTORS STATEMENT – December 5, 2024
We as the Board of Directors of Hays Medical Center are aware of the recent social media posts and want to assure the community of our continued strength as a key employer in the community and our ongoing commitment to providing the best quality of care in rural America. We have been determined to not engage in a battle over social media. Unfortunately, we have come to realize it is time to address some of the comments that are being circulated.
While it is always our goal to retain the providers who work at HaysMed, some level of turnover is normal and to be expected. Recruiting and retaining qualified physicians is always a challenge in Kansas, but this issue is particularly amplified in rural parts of the state. In 2024, HaysMed had a total of 10 physicians leave the community, but during the same timeframe, contracted with 20 new physicians who joined the medical staff. According to data provided by the Kansas Hospital Association, the most recent average annual turnover rate for physicians in Kansas is 11% (See www.kha-net.org/DataProductsandServices/DataPublic/d139877.aspx?type=view). HaysMed’s turnover rate in 2024 is 10.99%, so the amount of physician turnover HaysMed has experienced is very much in keeping with what other hospitals in the state have experienced. More importantly, recent physician departures have not impacted HaysMed’s ability to serve the community’s needs. In fact, over the course of this past year, we have seen a significant increase in patient visits, surgeries, and ancillary services. HaysMed continues to be the region’s leading provider in general surgery, orthopedic surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, hematology/oncology, and ear/nose/throat. HaysMed also continues to provide the region’s only urology, nephrology, invasive cardiology, non-invasive cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, electrophysiology, spine surgery, and pulmonology services.
Recently, concern has been expressed in social media posts regarding the financial losses HaysMed has experienced. HaysMed is not alone in its struggles in dealing with the rising cost of labor, supplies, and inflation, while receiving less in reimbursement from insurance companies and governmental programs. Many not-for-profit hospitals like HaysMed face these same challenges. According to the latest analysis from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, more than 700 rural U.S. hospitals are at risk of closure due to financial problems. Eighty-four (84) of those hospitals are located in the state of Kansas (and represent 86% of Kansas rural hospitals). Despite these economic challenges, HaysMed’s Associates (including physicians and other HaysMed personnel) and members of management have worked diligently for the past 2 years to make changes aimed at creating greater efficiencies and reducing costs. These efforts have had a significant positive impact on HaysMed’s financial performance. While we prefer to not use our savings to fund financial operating losses, HaysMed has invested its funds wisely over the years and has the funds available to cover such losses. We have also developed a plan to return to a positive net operating margin. The community should rest assured that the outlook for HaysMed is bright, and we are committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure HaysMed continues to play a key role in this community as an employer and health care provider for many years to come.
In carrying out this mission, we as the Board of Directors have to make tough decisions. These decisions may seem unfair when viewed in isolation as to a particular individual or HaysMed Associate, but we do not have the luxury of making decisions based on the wants or needs of a particular individual. We must make our decisions based on what is best for HaysMed and our patients. This includes our approach to physician contracting. Our goal is to recruit the most skilled physicians to work at HaysMed. We want the best possible care for our patients, and as a result, HaysMed invests considerable resources into the hiring and retention of its physicians. Like most hospitals, HaysMed requires noncompete agreements. We are not unique in that regard. Moreover, this is not a new practice. This has been our practice since the early 1990s, which has served HaysMed and our patients well by enabling HaysMed to provide assurances to our patients that the hospital and its clinics have the medical staff and expertise to provide needed care.
Despite the negative social media posts, there is much to celebrate at HaysMed. This year, under the leadership of CEO Eddie Herrman, HaysMed and its Associates accomplished several key milestones. HaysMed achieved the prestigious five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as part of CMS’ Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating. The data is available on the Medicare site at https://data.cms.gov/provider-data/topics/hospitals. CMS selected 46 of the hospital quality measures CMS publicly reports on at Medicare.gov and divided them into 5 groups—mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care. HaysMed was 1 of 7 hospitals in the state of Kansas to receive the top five-star rating, and was the only hospital west of Pratt to receive the rating. HaysMed also received national recognition as a Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital from the Chartis Center for Rural Health.
HaysMed continued its mission of innovation when it became the first facility in Kansas to perform the groundbreaking Detour surgical procedure for peripheral artery disease. Additionally, the hospital is completing a hybrid operating room which will be used to provide less invasive heart procedure options for qualifying patients in the region.
The board is working closely with HaysMed administration to ensure HaysMed remains in service to the Hays community and broader region for generations to come. Our commitment is unwavering in these difficult times to continue providing complex care for the region. As community members, business owners, and patients ourselves, we are deeply committed to the well-being of our community, region, our Associates, and our patients. Every decision we make at HaysMed reflects this dedication.
Jana Horsfall, Chair, Melissa Romme, Vice Chair, D. G. Bickle, Secretary, Dan Schippers, Treasurer, Edward Herrman, President & CEO, Wayne Kieffer, Dr. Tom McDonald , Alan Moore, Chris Wente, Dr. Kayla Gray- Chief of Staff , and Dr. Ernesto Lopez – Past Chief of Staff
