Nursing home hopes to use grant, golf tourney funds for bus

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Hillcrest Nursing Home is waiting to hear on the status of a grant that was submitted that will help pay for a bus for residents.

The bus, estimated at $55,000, will transport more residents than the van currently used and also allow the facility to transport obese residents. The new bus will be able to transport 5 to 7 ambulatory patients and two wheelchairs.

Proceeds from the golf tournament that the Hillcrest Foundation is sponsoring this weekend will help offset costs of the vehicle.

Other business discussed Tuesday included:

* electronic charting will begin Sept. 1 for financials and Oct. 1 for health charting

* The board voted to accept the $3,647 bid from Garcia's Construction, as part of the City of McCook bid, for concrete curb work. The city is using Garcia for the work on the city-owned portion of the work and board members requested at the June meeting another bid for the Hillcrest portion of the work. One bid was received from Scott Martin Construction at $3,847.

* unanimously voted to accept the bid from Parde Electric, the lowest bid submitted at $8,281, to repair air conditioning in the kitchen. Another bid came from Volz Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, for 8,733.

* As of July 3o, there are 84 residents at Hillcrest, including 11 in skilled nursing, one private insurance, 35 state-aid, 35 private and nine in assisted living. Last year, the facility had 82 residents and four in skilled care. There were 11 admissions during the month and 17 discharges. In June, there were 12 admissions and 11 discharges. Hillcrest's total capacity is 100.