Columbia Basin Hospital to discuss raises for 2007

EPHRATA — Employees of Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata might get a raise in 2007.

The hospital compared the salaries of its employees to other hospitals and made adjustments depending on the difference, said Controller Rhonda Handly.

The hospital board approved the budget for 2007, with the condition it would consider whether to increase salaries, Handly said. The board is meeting to discuss the proposal on Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the hospital's conference room. In addition to pay raises, the hospital is looking at whether to add additional steps in the pay scale. If the changes are approved as presented, the difference would amount to $200,000 in 2007, she said. The hospital's total operating budget for 2007 is about $24.2 million.

An additional change being considered is whether to upgrade the hospital's three acute care rooms with new beds, furniture, television sets and a paint job.

Hospital Administrator Don James guessed the beds to be at least 10 years old. James said the beds include built-in scales, which are easier on patients because patients would not need to get out of bed to be weighed, he said.

They can also be alarm-activated so nurses can be alerted if a patient moves a certain part of their body. More modern mattresses are designed to keep patients from getting bed sores.

James said he would like to see improvements to the appearance of the rooms, including vertical blinds, drapes and perhaps the creation of themes. He would eventually like the themes to be continued to the rest of the hospital.