Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 25, 1999 Page: 3 of 47
forty seven pages : ill. ; page 25 x 15 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The Hondo Anvil Herald, Thursday, February 25,1999, Page 3
VlMCH pleased with purchase of Pyxis
By Jamie Heyen
Anvil Herald Staff
tj:
Since November, members of the
, pursing and pharmaceutical staff at
Medina Community Hospital have
~ been using a new medication dispens
ing system known as Pyxis.
This system is used to help keep
. track and monitor the medications
used throughout the hospital.
The Pyxis system looks like a regu-
lar computer on top, but underneath
lie a series of drawers and beside it a
refrigerated cabinet. Neither compart
ment can be opened unless a nurse or
pharmacist installs the proper password.
In order to get to the medication, the
.-^operator must bring up a patients
— name, decide what type of medication
is needed, what dosage is needed, and
calculate any waste. Everything, in
‘■eluding the operators name, is re
^ ^corded into the system.
“This system totally eliminates any
■ room for confusion,” said Director of
Nurses Sharon Schirmer.
“It also keeps the nurses from hav-
ing to count narcotics, since an invert
tory system is also integrated into the
System,” said Schirmer.
The system was approved in August
of 1998, after several nurses had seen
■ it in use at other hospitals. The idea
was brought before the board and by
November of 1998, Pyxis was in op-
eration at MCH.
Schirmer also explained with
Pyxis, staff does not have to go into
the pharmacy after hours to get medi-
cation, “because it is all right here for
them." Everything is numbered, dated
and has a staff members name on it. “It
is virtually error proof,” she said.
“ I like it because we don’t have to
wait on the pharmacy to bring the
medication down in the morning, the
medication is all right here,” said
LVN Sandra Brown,
Pyxis was purchased by the hospi-
tal with a lease purchase program
The system costs the hospital $1200
per month, over a five month period
According to pharmacist Larry
Bohmfalk, upgrades and minor prob
lems are all on the lease purchase
plan. This eliminates the possibility
of the system becoming outdated The
system is also Y2K compliant.
We re glad to have the new sys
tern." said Bohmfalk. "It is very help
tul. especially with discrepancies and
it eliminates the need for a weekend
pharmacist,” he said.
Eventually the system will be con
netted with the admissions and bill
ing system. Right now there are 78 us
ers All have different passwords and
everything is recorded into the system
1 would eventually like to see the
■
‘ W'V» ‘
v’s;
I
SH
ci jf
Iffci
jU : : |
,
[ . .= V*
v
CITY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH... Amanda Hernandez, assistant
a librarian, was named the City of Hondo’s Employee of the Month for
;■February. A Hondo Public Library employee for four years, Amanda is
married to Jesse Hernandez and they have two children, Lisa, 8, and
i Joseph, 7. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys reading, cross-stitching,
! sewing, and playing basketball. She said she likes working in a de-
partment that involves serving the educational and recreational needs
of this community, which includes patrons of all ages. In making the
recommendation, her supervisor, Margie Ybarra, said Amanda is dedi-
cated to her job and spends much of her time getting the automation
system in operation at the library. She also helps out with acquisitions,
-, circulation and children’s programs.
House project
Cuellar
moving forward; reCUperates
fundraiser set
bn
By William Hoover
Anvil Herald Correspondent
While giving council an update on
the Alsatian House project during
■ ^Tuesday’s Castroville city council
meeting. City Secretary/Administra-
tor Donna Schueling informed coun-
ted she was having trouble finding a
■ : host family for one of the Alsatian
carpenters, Mr. Messerlin. “I need
volunteers to house him for five
,9 weeks,” explained Schueling. Two
. i:; Alsatian carpenters are scheduled to
arrive in Castroville March 3 and
stay through April 15 to tile the roof
_and walls of the historic house.
Councilwoman Jan Wolter asked if
the roof tiles had arrived. “They are
coining, but 1 have not seen them yet,”
said Schueling. ‘The wall tiles will be
bought from D'Hanis Brick.” The
Alsatian House will be the recipient
of funds from the Castroville Garden
I Club’s March 6 Spring Tour of Homes.
The Spring Tour of Homes will be
i held as a benefit for the Alsatian
House project. Tickets will be sold
i at Zion Lutheran Church. The tours
j will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Cof-
j fee and refreshments will be served
j at the old George Haass Store (now
i the Lutheran church youth center)
; from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The store is located at the comer
; of London and Fiorella Streets. Tick-
I ets are $8 for adults and $4 for chil-
j dren under 12 years of age. “There
j are five historic houses on the tour,”
| said organizer Bea Fox worthy, who
j hopes to add to the Alsatian House
j project restoration funds.
system go hospital-wide,” said
Bohmfalk. Right now the system is
only accessible through the nurses
station and the pharmacy
Board members discussed future
plans to combine Pyxis with the bill-
ing system during Monday night's
board meeting. Schirmer assured
board members the system would be
integrated eventually.
Board member Steve Hackehcil
expressed his acceptance of the new
system saying, “ Overall, this is a
more state of the art system that is
beneficial to our hospital."
• While going over building im
provements, discussion to approach
the county for needed funds was ex
amined. Hospital AdminL ator
Elwood “Buzz” Currier mentioned
that “now would not be a good time
to contact the county for funds."
Board member Steve Hackehcil
responded by saying, “ I am also a
taxpaying citizen of this county ami I
don’t think whatever problems the
county and city are having should
affect us.”
Currier then declared he would
continue to work with the county
• The audit report showed that
MCH was in good standing with
Medicare once again. The last day of
operation of Rural Health Clinic IA
will be Feb. 26. After this date, the
employees there will integrate with
other teams.
• Home health report revealed
Nurses in Touch has filed Chapter 11;
therefore, the home health clinic is
contemplating putting an office in
Devine. Denise McWilliams also
noted that her staff is beginning to see
more patients referred to them by
Dt-’s Rowland and Piotrowsky
• During the Y2K report. Jerry
Dominguez informed board members
that vendors will be going over 1998
inventory and getting all equipment
tested. “We hope to have everything
tested by June,” said Domingue/
“We’re touching all basis that ef-
fect us to make sure we are Y2K com-
pliant,” he said.
Currier concluded by adding.
“We’re doing all things prudent "
• Currier is still waiting on quotes
regarding the THA retirement pro-
gram. “I am looking around and won
dering if it would make sense to set
up a 5013C corporation,” he said
He closed by saying he would speak
an attorney “I think there are a lot of
advantages to becoming a 50I3C cor-
poration,” he said.
• Board members voted on and ap-
proved an action item that was put on
last months agenda concerning politi-
cal contributions to the hospital and
influencing legislation.
DIXON AUTOMOTIVE
Jimmy Dixon. Owner
Ford Master Level
Certification
FREE TIRE ROTATION
with a Front End Alignment *39®®
1HB ■
Imhmm SBR .mohr HBA major credit/ CBrd6
030-741-2006 (AUTO) • 106 CR 442 • Hondo
(Sue Wed,
Wanda’s
Perm Special!
Ask for Wanda at The Hairitage
25 Yts. Experience
Mon.-Fri. • Sat. Mornings
l.ate Appointments Available!
426-5366 (shop) • 741-5312 (home) • 1106 18th St
I
COUPON / v'
$10 OFF PERMS with this coupon
Not ready for a perm? No problem!
This coupon good on a perm certificate usable
thru Ma^ 1999. Makes ajrrea^jpft, too!
Calendar set for May city election
Hondo City Councilman Trinidad
Cuellar is recuperating at Northeast
Baptist Hospital after undergoing
quadruple bypass surgery Monday.
According to his son, Tom, Trine
is recovering well, sitting up Monday
evening and out of bed Tuesday.
He was moved to a private room
Wednesday and expects to remain in
the hospital about seven days.
Hondo City Council has set the city's
general election for Saturday, May I.
Council seats coming up for election
are Places 1 and 2 and mayor. These
positions are currently occupied by
Che Lopez, Place 1; Carmen Heman
dez. Place 2, and Mayor Jim Barden
Leading up to election day are the
following deadline dates:
Mar. 17 -- deadline for filing appli-
cation for a place on the ballot Cam-
paign treasurer designation must be
submitted with the application.
Mar. 2 — First day early voting clerk
may accept applications for early bal-
lots by mail.
Mar. 17 — Early voting clerk may
begin mailing early voting ballots to
applicants as soon as ballots are avail-
able. Deadline for candidates to file
application for a place on the ballot
is 5jp.m.
Mar. 22 - Deadline for regular write31
in candidate to declare candidacy. j
Deadline is Thursday
for Medigap
Insurance application
By Anita Lowe
Thursday, March 4, is the deadline
for applying for supplemental
“Medigap” insurance. About 8,000
Texans lost HMO coverage when
Medicare contracts were ended, or
service areas were eliminated, at the
end of 1998.
Under a federal law, people return-
ing to traditional Medicare after los-
ing their HMO coverage may buy
Medicare supplement insurance
without regard to their medical his-
tories. This is a temporary offer that
ends after March 4, so action must
be taken immediately in order to
meet that deadline.
The Texas Department of Insur-
ance publishes the Medicare Supple-
ment Insurance Handbook and Rate
Guide, which is accessible over the
Internet at www.tdi.state.tx.us.
Seniors needing help in dealing
with the loss of Medicare HMO cov-
erage and the need for Medigap in-
surance may call the state’s Health
Information Counseling and Advo-
cacy Program at 1-800-252-9240
Community Calendar
Hondo Area Cha mber of Commerce
Feb. 25-San Antonio/El Paso Rd. Sesquicentennial Hondo Steering
Committee Mtg. 5:30 p.m. Hondo Area Chamber of Commerce
Office. For more info call 426-3037.
Feb. 27-D’Hanis Health Fair & Blood Drive, D’Hanis Nutrition Center
7:30 am -10:00 am, 741 -6358 for more info. Sponsored by MCH,
D'Hanis Lions Club & South Texas Blood & Tissue Center
Mar. 1-Ribbon Cutting for Hondo Computers & Internet of Texas
l:30 p.m. 100319th St. Everyone Welcome!
Mar. 5-“Special Olympics/T-Shirt Day’-Hondo Community has been
invited to participate in Special OlympicsfT-Shirt Day. Everyone
in the community who has agreed to participate (including Torres
Unit employees/Non-Security) will be wearing their T-shirt on this
day. T-shirts are avail, in the warden’s office, Hondo Police Dept.,
& Chamber office, *10°°. Last year we raised approx. *490“ in
T-shirt & cap sales. Special Otympes caps wilrfid fivail. soon.
If your business would like to participate in this event, contact
Cynthia Randez 830-426-5325 or Gilbert Castro at the Hondo
Police DcTpt. at 426-5353.
Mar. 6-Garden Thrift Store will be open 10 a.m. - 2 pm
-To place your event on <4. calender! ceM the---
Hondo Chamber ot Commerce at >10-426-3037
Mar 23 - Ballot position drawing.
Mar 26 - Last day a candidate may
withdraw. 5 p.m.
Apr. I — Last day a person may reg-
ister to be eligible to vote May 2.
Apr I — First report of campaign
contributions and expenditures due to
the city secretary unless modified re-
porting is chosen (opposed candidates
only.)
Apr 14 -27 - Period for early vot-
ing by personal appearance
Apr 23 — Last day to receive appli-
cations for early voting ballots by mail.
Apr 23 - Second report of campaign
contributions and expenditures due to
the city secretary.
Apr 27 — Last day to vote early by
personal appearance.
May I - Election Day, 7 a m.-7 p.nt
May 4-7 — Canvass of election re-
turn’s; date to be determined
'■ May 7 -- First day newly-elected of-
ficers may assume duties of offices.
The Olive Branch
and ^T^andt
1718 Ave M. Hondo 830-426-7111 C
CLOSEOUT SALE!
BOOKS 70% OFF
CHRISTMAS 70% OFF
GIFTS & CARDS 50% OFF
BIBLES 30% OFF
Sale starts Monday, March 1 st
Cash or Check Only
CeCeBrate
^ OUR 1ST ANNIVERSARY
** * AND OUR MOVE TO A
&\NEWAND BIGGER LOCATION
Stop by for FREE refreshments all day on
* Monday, March Ist
Ribbon Cutting 1:30 p.m.
fa • *1995 UNLIMITED ACCESS •
■■ n.
mm
No Metro Line Required!
[onday, Mar.lrt Only! Sign up for 2
months & get 3rd month FREE!
1Sign up for 1 year and get
Unlimited Access for only$1795 / month
f Group Rates! Call for Details!
■
New Computers with Monitor starting at
*1200°° plus tax
Used Computers with Monitor
▲ . _ —
*450tw pt,.
kit'
ft
j St* t
~ We Build to Order ~
HONDO C0MP0TEBS
INTERNET ACCESS
* -
741-3636' • 1003 19* St, Suite D
e-mail: info@hi-tex.net
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Hondo Anvil Herald (Hondo, Tex.), Vol. 113, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 25, 1999, newspaper, February 25, 1999; Hondo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth818782/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Hondo Public Library.