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Girard Medical Center's Volunteer Board of Trustees

January 30, 2015

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At Girard Medical Center, dozens of doctors, nurses and staff members work tirelessly to serve the medical needs of their community every day. What you might not realize, though, is who’s at work behind the scenes.

That would be the five members of the GMC Board of Trustees: Glen Mathis (chairman), pharmacist at Mathis Drug Store; Mary Jane Dent (vice-chairman), educator at Girard High School; Robert Tersinar (secretary), registered representative and partner with SEK Financial LLC; Nancy George (treasurer), chief risk manager for Girard National Bank;  and Mike Bodensteiner (trustee), executive director for the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center-Greenbush.

Tasked with leading GMC’s staff to carry out the hospital’s mission, these volunteers provide the highest level of governance to the hospital and are ultimately responsible for its management and control.

“Girard Medical Center is very fortunate to have such a diverse group of dedicated community leaders,” CEO Mike Payne said. “Their unique skills have been a key factor in the success of our hospital.”

In their monthly meetings, hospital board members focus on six key responsibilities: ensuring the achievement of the hospital’s mission, vision and strategic direction; ensuring quality and patient safety; building strong board/CEO relationships; providing informed and effective financial leadership and oversight; advocating for the hospital’s interests and building strong community relations; and medical staff credentialing.

“Each of the board members has an area of expertise, and when that knowledge comes together in the boardroom, it proves very valuable,” Tersinar said. “I have learned a great deal from my fellow board members and our administrative team over the years. I have always felt lucky to serve with this group of professionals.”

Each an active member of the community, the board members said they hope their involvement at GMC positively contributes to Girard and its surrounding areas.

“The hospital is very important to our local economy and quality of life,” George said. “I want to help Girard Medical Center continue to have a positive impact in our local communities.”

The Board of Trustees is prepared to focus on several priorities in the coming years, including adapting to the ever-changing health care environment; budgeting wisely and meeting economic goals; recruiting and retaining surgeons and family practitioners; providing necessary medical equipment and technology; implementing new services based on community need (such as Senior Behavioral Health Services); and more.

Most crucial, though, is making certain that GMC is always providing the highest quality of care to its patients, they said.

“Managing ever-decreasing fiscal resources while attracting outstanding medical personnel, maintaining a high level of patient satisfaction and meeting the needs of the community, will be vital to the continued success of GMC,” Bodensteiner said. “At the end of the day, the success of the hospital rests with the mutual support and relationships that exist between the hospital, city and county government – and, most importantly, the residents of Crawford County.”

Board members said their work is motivated by the belief that GMC is a vital aspect of the community both economically and in health care. They hope it continues to remain that way in the future.

“If you had the opportunity to read the 2013 Annual Report, you can readily see the economic impact that GMC has on this area, from payroll and expenditures locally to charity care, scholarships and other free services,” Dent said. “It is a source of pride to the community that Girard has a modern, renovated facility, outreach clinics and an outstanding staff to provide the personal, professional medical care to area residents that the Girard hospital has always been known for. When you go there, it is like going to see old friends who will do their very best to take care of your needs.”

Simply put, Mathis said, “Girard Medical Center is the lifeblood of this community.”

And its employees and volunteers, including the Board of Trustees, are the heart.