The Seeley Swan Hospital District Board discussed adding a new vaccine freezer, agreed to keep a safety deposit box at the bank and addressed other wear and tear at the Medical Center during its Nov. 14 meeting.
While the board is still investigating whether a new A/C unit is necessary for the medical center, board member Martin DeHaven said the water damage in the ceiling from early this year was fixed. A second project focused on spiders found in the building. Any concerns of bugs or mold in the area have been put to rest, he said.
There are still a few loose ends for the board to address, including the removal of a cabinet desk in the building. The board voted to get an estimate for the project.
The board also agreed to see if it is possible to add a freezer to hold vaccines. The Medical Center already has a vaccine freezer, but increased demand for COVID, flu and RSV shots have made the addition likely, Georgiann McCoy said.
While there is space to add the freezer, the board voted to table the addition until an electrician can figure out whether the Center’s backup generator has the capacity for the new freezer. Vaccines must be stored at specific sub-zero temperatures, so a power outage could cause the vaccines to spoil.
This fall is the first year that the center has had a dedicated space to store vaccines.
“So this is really huge for us and the community,” McCoy said. “I am just really thrilled that Seeley is able to offer both of those vaccines. Because we didn’t have RSV.”
McCoy also said the rise in airborne infections has caused the center to enforce a mask mandate. She said the mandate will likely go through the winter.
Another action item brought to the board was the lesser known safety deposit box paid for by the Hospital District and Medical Center Foundation. The safety deposit box holds important documents for the district, and costs $130 annually.
While Hospital District Clerk Andi Bourne said she felt the box was not necessary for the documents it contained, the board opted to keep the box and update the list of people that can access the safety deposit box.
The Medical will be closed for Thanksgiving starting at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22. The center will then be closed Thursday and Friday. Partnership Health Center will be open in Missoula for any emergencies. The board will meet next on Dec. 12. at 5 p.m. via teleconference. Call-in information is posted outside the Medical Center and at the Post Office the Friday prior to the Tuesday meeting.
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