(1) To appoint a superintendent of the hospital as an executive officer who shall manage the hospital on behalf of the board of managers. A superintendent appointed:

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(i) be experienced in administration and qualified by training to manage the hospital;

(ii) have a baccalaureate degree and at least three (3) years experience in administration in a hospital or related health care facility; and

(iii) have a graduate degree in health facility administration and have completed at least one (1) year residency in a hospital or equivalent experience; and

(B) on or before January 1, 1982, must:

(i) be experienced in administration and qualified by training to manage the hospital; and

(ii) have a graduate degree in health facility administration and have completed at least one (1) year residency in a hospital or an equivalent experience, or have a baccalaureate degree and at least three (3) years experience in administration in a hospital or related health care facility.

(2) To fix the salaries of the superintendent, the business manager, and other officers and employees within the limits approved by the county executive or the county fiscal body. The salaries are compensation in full for all services rendered.

(3) To determine the time required to be spent at the hospital by the superintendent in the discharge of the superintendent’s duties.

(4) To supervise, manage, and control the hospital, and the hospital’s grounds, buildings, officers, employees, and patients, and all matters relating to the government, discipline, contracts, and fiscal concerns of the hospital, and to make rules to carry out the purpose of the hospital.

(5) To inspect the hospital and be informed of the affairs and management of the hospital.

(6) To keep a proper record of the board’s proceedings open at all times to the inspection of members, the county executive, the county fiscal body, and authorized representatives of the state department.

(7) To allow bills and accounts, including wages and salaries, without advertising the filing of claims, and to certify and transmit the bills and accounts to the county auditor for payment from appropriations made for that purpose by the county fiscal body.

(8) To make a detailed report to the county executive annually, and at the time as the executive directs, that includes the following:

(A) Information on the operations of the hospital.

(B) The number of patients received and the methods and results of treatment.

(C) Detailed estimates of the money required during the ensuing year for all purposes, including maintenance, direction of buildings, repairs, renewals, extensions, improvements, betterments, replacements, and other necessary purposes.

(D) Other matters the county executive requires.

(9) To receive, administer, and hold for the benefit of the hospital, gifts, donations, bequests, and trusts of property of any nature or kind made or given to a hospital, and to agree to conditions and terms specified by the donor. The board is not required to account to any municipal, county, or state official concerning the disposition or use of this property or the income derived from the property except that the funds are subject to examination by the state board of accounts or the county executive. Gifts, donations, bequests, or trusts made or given before March 6, 1947, that are not administered by the board, come within the jurisdiction of the board for administration. Funds received from donors or income from gifts or bequests shall not be taken into account for expenditure in the preparation of the hospital budget.

(10) To determine, as of January 1 and July 1 of each year, whether the hospital is fully utilized by tuberculosis patients. If the board finds that the demand for care of tuberculosis patients does not warrant the full utilization of the hospital, the board may authorize the hospital to furnish care to persons suffering from chronic illnesses other than tuberculosis, upon terms and conditions of admission, treatment, care, and payment as the board prescribes.

(11) To meet at least one (1) time each month at a designated place in the county where the hospital is located, and at least one (1) time each year on the hospital premises.

(12) To expend hospital funds, advance tuition payments, or establish a tuition refund program for the education or professional improvement of nurses and other professional or technical employees for inservice training, seminars, or special courses of instruction, for the direct benefit to the hospital.

(13) To contract for the sharing or purchase of services with other hospitals when considered economically feasible by the board.

(14) To contract for services reasonably required for the operation and maintenance of the hospital, including the management of the hospital, on terms and conditions considered reasonable by the board.

(15) Upon the recommendation of the superintendent, to fix the compensation of hospital employees and adopt personnel and management policies that may include the following:

(A) An employee benefit program that provides for paid vacations, sick leave, paid holidays, paid personal leave, and paid leave for purposes of attending educational seminars.

(B) Payment of advertising and placement fees for personnel and physicians.

(C) Programs for the benefit of the personnel, volunteers, or physicians that directly contribute to productivity or morale, at an annual cost not to exceed the lesser of the following:

(i) One quarter of one percent (0.25%) of total hospital revenues for the preceding calendar year.

(ii) Four thousand dollars ($4,000).

(D) Except as provided in section 15 of this chapter, a plan to provide coverage for the illness or accidental disability of hospital employees and insurance plans for hospital personnel from any insurance company licensed to transact business in Indiana.

(E) Pension and retirement plans for hospital personnel from any company authorized to do business in Indiana.

(F) Participation in the public employees’ retirement fund subject to IC 5-10.3-6.

(G) Deferred compensation agreements with employees and other personnel. Deferred obligations may be funded by contracting with insurance companies licensed to transact business in Indiana.

(H) Payment of dues of the superintendent and department heads for membership in local, state, or national hospital or professional organizations if the board determines that those expenditures directly benefit the hospital.

(I) Operation of employee registries for part-time or temporary hospital employees.

Planned expenditures and programs shall be incorporated in the annual hospital budget subject to the approval of the county executive and the county fiscal body.

(16) To purchase insurance coverage for the protection of the hospital in amounts and under conditions the board considers reasonable and necessary, including liability or malpractice coverage for board members, the officers, employees, volunteers, and members of medical staff committees for omissions or acts committed in the performance of services for the hospital. The board may for the express purpose of acquiring malpractice coverage assist in the formation of a mutual insurance company that does not issue assessable policies.

(17) To expend hospital funds for the following:

(A) Reasonable expenses incurred by persons and their spouses who are interviewed for employment or for medical staff appointment.

(B) Reasonable moving expenses if the persons are employed or appointed.

(18) To use automated data processing systems to keep hospital records and to purchase, lease, operate, or contract for the use of any automated data processing equipment subject to IC 5-17-1. Any major purchases or lease of data processing equipment or systems must be reviewed with the county data processing board.

(19) To dispose of the following:

(A) By sale or otherwise, personal property of limited or no use to the hospital without advertising, auctioning, or requesting bids if the salvage value does not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).

(B) Other personal property that the board considers no longer necessary for hospital purposes at public auction after an appraisal by three (3) disinterested owners of taxable real property in the county.

The board shall publish notice of the sale one (1) time at least seven (7) days before the date of the sale. The board shall determine the time, terms, and conditions of the sale.

(20) To enter into agreements with credit card companies or organizations authorized to do business in Indiana and to accept credit card payments for services provided.

(21) To contract for services of consultants, architects, or other professional persons or firms, including shared services or purchasing organizations, when considered necessary by the board or when not in conflict with this chapter.

(22) To purchase, construct, remodel, repair, enlarge, or acquire, including the leasing of county real property with lease back provisions for carrying out this chapter, a building within or outside the county for hospital purposes. If the building is located outside of the county, the board must receive the approval of the county executive and the county fiscal body of the county in which the hospital or building is located.

[Pre-1993 Recodification Citation: 16-11-1-4(a) part.]

As added by P.L.2-1993, SEC.7.