Sidney Regional Outlines Program and Progress

Officials from Sidney Regional Medical Center spent part of an evening last week going over changes at the hospital before a group of about 30 local residents.

SRMC Chief Executive Officer Jason Petik took the lead in reviewing expansion of programs and highlighted the hospital’s new providers and systems. A number of staff members were also on hand.

Petik said three new providers, Physician Assistants Steve Rolls and Jonna Beyer join Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Green on staff. Petik said the hospital and clinic plans to staff with three full time doctors, three PAs and a full time hospitalist for its front line care givers.

The hospital is also working on a new medical records system that, when in place, will make serving its patients easier. He said timing of Sidney’s transition places it behind other larger hospitals who are also going to the new system, putting Sidney’s completion out 12-16 months. Petik said the goal is to go live by January 1, 2020

“This is one of the most important decisions and investments the board and I have made,” Petik said of the new system. The hospital will have approximately $8 million in the new system.

Petik also reviewed the facility’s new Direct Access Testing, which provides blood screening to patients without a doctor’s orders. The limited screenings are performed once a week at a reduced cost.

A number of changes are also in store for the way patients can obtain care. Petick outlined changed to the clinic in Chappell, and also told those in attendance about two types of electronic contact with the care network. Starting in July, patients will be able to speak to providers at the walk-in clinic over the telephone to determine courses of treatment and if they should be seen in person.

Down the road, the network will also roll out an app that will allow for consultation via Facetime.

Petik also introduced team members from Medical Air Rescue Company (MARC), which earlier this year opened air ambulance operations with a Sidney base. The company has a number of other bases for both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft and expanded to Sidney with its first flights in late February.

MARC Regional Manager Jay Johnson answered questions about the service, payment types and how the local services work. One question Johnson said he has fielded is in regard to Air MedCare Network memberships. Audience members again asked if they should keep the membership.

Johnson said he believes those holding the membership should hold onto it “for the simple fact that if we’re not here” when a flight is needed. It was explained that in critical time of need, the closest air service is contacted. If MARC is already on a flight, AirLink out of Scottsbluff or another service will be called.

While MARC does not currently have a membership program, Johnson said the company is developing one.

Petik was asked how the hospital is doing financially. He said the facility is doing well, in particular since building the new facility. He explained that in the old hospital, there was no debt for depreciation. With the new facility, there is depreciation, which raises the amount of reimbursement the facility gets from Medicare.

On the subject of the old hospital, Petik said old patient rooms have been converted to living spaces for staff and the occaisonal family in need while in town, while the remainder of the facility has been “moth balled.”

The hospital is the second largest critical care facility in Nebraska, and hosts 17 specialty physicians for services.