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Members of the Ely hospital’s umbrella organization will gather this week for their annual meeting.
The Ely Health and Hospital Foundation has scheduled the session for Monday, Dec, 2, starting at 7 p.m., in the community conference room at Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital.
A financial report and the election of three members to the board of directors top the agenda for the meeting.
Three candidates are presented for three seats on the board. They are Rob Wilmunen, Mary Ann Smith and Crystal Chopp.
Owners of a $100 Health and Hospital Foundation membership are eligible to vote at the annual meeting, or if they’ve already completed an absentee ballot.
Patti Banks, chief executive officer at the hospital, will also offer a year in review following a busy 12 months at the facility.
An annual financial report is also part of the meeting agenda.
Over the last several years, the hospital’s financial health has been subject to extreme fluctuations that mirror Ely’s seasonal tourist industry, with revenues peaking in the summer and plummeting during the winter.
In 2023, EBCH posted operating income of about $369,000 on total revenues of roughly $31 million despite declines in admissions and prescription fills. Those were offset in part by gains in other revenue areas, including surgeries.
This week’s meeting also comes amid continued debate over the future of regional ambulance service, including a recommendation from industry consultants that EBCH take on ownership and operation of ambulance service in the Ely, Babbitt and Tower areas.
This marks the 13th year under a structural change approved by shareholders.
Instead of electing members to the hospital’s board of directors, shareholders instead directly elect members to the foundation.
It keeps the foundation independent of direct hospital control in the event of an integration to an organization such as Essentia.
