LHD Board hears Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab Program report
The Lavaca Hospital District Board of Directors met in its regular meeting Monday evening, April 15, and heard a report on the Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab Program at Lavaca Medical Center.
Program coordinator, Melissa (Buzek) Leita told the board she worked for 29 years at Citizens Hospital in Victoria before coming to LMC and she is a licensed respiratory therapist.
“It’s been a breath of fresh air to come back to Hallettsville and care for people in the community in which I was raised,” Leita said.
Leita said the program at LMC focuses on the preventative end of health care and on the cardio side, its a cardiac monitored exercise program strictly designed for patients who have had some sort of cardiac intervention.
“Primarily the majority of diagnoses of cardiac intervention that we see is stent placement,” Leita said. “Stent placement has been a beautiful intervention for coronary blockage.”
Leita said they primarily educate the patient on a life-style modification program where they bring patients in and look at their risk factors that led to their cardiac intervention.
Benefits of the Cardio Rehab program include:
• Strengthen and condition of the heart and lungs.
• Understand your medications.
• Learn more about your condition as well as signs and symptoms.
• Reduce your symptoms.
• Develop a healthier lifestyle.
• Improve your quality of life.
She said their treatments of a patient take place twice a week and last about one hour per session. The length of the program may vary but typically cardiac rehab lasts 18 weeks and pulmonary rehab lasts twelve weeks.
Leita said they are very busy seeing on an average week about 8 to 12 patients per day.
Regarding the pulmonary rehab program, Leita said they provide some form of treatments for pulmonary lung disease.
The pulmonary rehab program may benefit you if:
• You get short of breath with normal daily activities due to lung problems.
• You’re afraid to do certain activities because of shortness of breath and/or because you wear oxygen.
• Your shortness of breath affects your quality of life.
In closing her report, Leita said, “I have been extremely impressed coming on board at LMC with the enormous work ethic here. The teamwork and the positive attitude of every employee is absolutely phenomenal. I’ve been in health care long enough to know that it is a trickle down effect from a good administration and board. So, hats off and thank you.”
Administration/Financial Report:
Lavaca Medical Center administrator, Steve Bowen, presented the administration and financial report for March.
Bowen reported that Dr. Kody Selzer’s started here Monday and will mainly see Medicare and Medicaid patients until he is credentialed with all the insurances.
Bowen said regarding the Physical Therapy/Wellness project, he is expecting to have the construction documents ready in May.
Bowen reported that two GI (gastroenterologist) doctors will be joining LMC in May or June and they have booked procedures all the way to October.
Bowen said physician assistant, April Hall will join the clinic in June.
Bowen said the hospital received a $200 thousand grant from the Johnson Foundation which will go toward purchasing a 3D Mammography machine.
He informed the board that they have made hotel accommodations for the members at the Texas Hospital Trustee Conference on July 24-27. If any board member plans to attend they will need to register by May 1.
In his financial report, Bowen said the hospital’s gross district revenue was up 8% as compared to March 2023. He said the hospital had 22 admissions which was down from the normal 40 patients. Bowen said the clinic’s gross patient revenue in the clinic was down 2% as compared to March 2023.
In action agenda items addressed by the board:
• Approved the Trauma IV resolution.
• Approved the Public Investment Quarterly report.
Board president James Fenner presided over the meeting with board members Rosanne Gallia, Gene Schott, Forrest Kroschel, Carl Hobbs, Doug Kubicek and Ronald Juenke present for the meeting.