The Dickinson County Hospital Foundation board presented a plaque of appreciation as well as a framed resolution honoring the 16 years that Michael Celello has served on the Foundation Board of Trustees. Celello was dedicated to the foundation’s mission to improve the quality and access to local health care while serving as the president of the foundation board. During his tenure, some of the significant projects included critical imaging equipment; ImPact Concussion testing; facility enhancements such as the lobby, cafeteria and waiting rooms renovations; and, most recently, the purchase of specialized equipment used in the fight against COVID-19, including personal protective equipment for staff, a specialized washer/dryer and a freezer needed to store vaccines. From left are Tamara Juul, foundation executive director; foundation members Peg Freeman and Terry LaVallie; Steve Pontbriand, current DCH Foundation president; Michael Celello; members Bob Forgette and Ryan Pepin; and Chuck Nelson, DCH CEO. Not shown are Mike Carey, David Johnson, Kris Leonard and Todd Saunders.

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County Healthcare System earned its fourth consecutive “A” grade for patient safety in the spring Leapfrog Hospital Survey, an award that comes as the hospital continues to upgrade equipment, expand physician staff and modernize buildings.

An emphasis on how patients experience their care is also part of the hospital’s plans, said Joe Rizzo, director of public relations and business development.

“We have engaged a world-class training center called Custom Learning Systems to visit DCH and move our staff through advanced patient experience training,” he said. “Our goal is to hard-wire the way we treat and navigate every patient through the health care process with the highest levels of comfort, kindness and confidence.”

The Leapfrog grade, which assesses how well the hospital keeps patients safe from errors, injuries and infections, was developed under the guidance of a national expert panel. DCH, in recent years, has been one of the most consistently recognized rural hospitals nationally for patient safety.

It received the 2021 Maternity Care Excellence Award from The Economic Alliance for Michigan. For the past two years, and three of the previous four years, DCH has earned the honor, the only Upper Peninsula hospital recognized.

A 49-bed community hospital, DCH has a team of more than 70 active providers, and each year treats more than 160,000 patients. It employs more than 700 staff members.

In announcing in March a $16.9 million Rural Development loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the hospital noted that over the past year it had hired 20 providers, including 14 physicians, four physician assistants and two nurse practitioners.

In addition to financing new equipment and capital improvements, the loan allows DCH to refinance about $12 million of debt.

“While the impact of COVID leveled off starting in February, our overall volumes, in particular inpatient hospital care, are still lower than budget and will require time to grow back,” Rizzo noted. “COVID has resulted in reduced hospital usage both locally and on a national basis.”

The Rural Development loan will enable installation of a new linear accelerator, new computed tomography scanner and new magnetic resonance imaging. The linear accelerator is the latest version of the TrueBeam radiotherapy system and has superior capabilities, according to radiation oncology staff.

“At the end of summer, we will be one of the most advanced hospitals in the region,” said Chuck Nelson, DCH CEO.

CT and MRI services are continuing during installation, which should be completed in July. The linear accelerator requires a temporary outsourcing of services, but will be ready before September, Nelson said.

In May, the hospital completed a significant upgrade to its electronic medical records system by launching Athenahealth. The new system, which is used by nearly half of the health care providers in the U.S., provides a secure exchange of medical information between doctors, nursing staff and patients.

It allows patients to access their medical records, request appointments, refill prescriptions, review test/lab results, and communicate electronically with their health care team, all online.

An emergency department renovation remains on schedule with a mid-September reopening date. The project includes more than 10,000 square feet of patient care area, including private care rooms with breakaway glass, negative pressure treatment rooms, a respiratory care suite and two triage rooms to address the most urgent care needs.

A new waiting area is part of the upgrade as well. Emergency care continues without interruption during construction.

A recent hospital pharmacy launch was successful, Rizzo added, and usage is growing. There are expectations that a federal 340B Program affiliation will continue to lower drug costs for patients.

Outpatient volumes are strong, including growth in family medicine, obstetrics-gynecology and orthopedics, Nelson said. To ensure stability far into the future, an expense control system has been launched across all areas of the organization.

“Overall it’s starting to feel like a more normal year,” Nelson said.

An important boost came when DCH was informed last week by the U.S. Small Business Administration that a $9.1 million Paycheck Protection Program loan will be forgiven. The PPP borrowing was part of an array of pandemic assistance DCH received, helping it stay viable through COVID-19.

With the virus now in decline, the hospital continues to maintain safe practices, Nelson added.

Overall, DCH appears well-positioned for growth. Brian Donahue, chief financial officer, reports 63 days cash on hand, and expects that number to reach 93 days in the months ahead.

Throughout the pandemic, the Dickinson County Hospital Foundation has provided support, buying a freezer to store vaccines, along with acquiring other specialized equipment.

“They have given us a ton of help in the last couple of years,” said Margaret Minerick, hospital board chair.

In addition to getting equipment, the foundation has assisted renovations of the lobby, cafeteria and waiting rooms.

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 226, or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.