A $3 million Boundary Community Hospital levy has been delayed after Boundary County commissioners canceled a public hearing set for March 10, citing unanswered questions. 

The hospital intended the proposal to run on the May 19 ballot. However, the deadline to submit ballot language to the county clerk for any bond or levy is Friday, March 13, meaning the measure will likely not appear on the May ballot.  

The multi-million-dollar proposal would primarily fund replacement of the hospital’s electronic health record system and IT upgrades.  

The hospital estimated the levy would cost $57.87 per year for every $100,000 of taxable assessed value for Boundary County residents. If approved, the levy would run for two years at $1.5 million per year.   

“After careful review and planning, the board has identified critical infrastructure and system needs that require significant improvement, upgrade and replacement,” hospital officials said in Feb. 25 letter to the commissioners. “The cost of these necessary investments exceeds the resources available through hospital operations alone.” 

The commissioners said they had been reviewing materials submitted by the hospital in preparation for the meeting. 

“During that process, a number of questions have come to light regarding the scope, costs and implementation details of the projects described in the levy request,” commissioners said in a press release. “At this time, several of those questions remain unanswered.” 

The commissioners said they intend to reschedule the public meeting once the requested information is provided and can be made available to the public. 

Hospital officials said they have been advised that the current EHR system will reach the end of its supported life within the next few years. 

“Once unsupported, security updates will cease, regulatory compliance risks will increase, system failures become more likely, data vulnerabilities expand and revenue cycle disruptions become a significant threat,” they said. 

Implementing a new hospital EHR system typically requires about two years from contract signing to full integration, hospital officials said. In the letter, they described the system as essential to modern health care operations. 

EHR systems assist with physician documentation, medication ordering and safety checks, laboratory and imaging integration, billing and reimbursement, interfacility coordination and compliance reporting.

In addition to a new EHR system, the hospital is requesting funding for infrastructure improvements in the nutrition services department. Proposed work includes replacing a septic line, installing new flooring and repairing pipes in dietary areas, as well as ensuring service coverage during kitchen disruptions. 

The proposal also includes boiler room improvements, including inspections, diagnostic evaluations, repairs and mechanical system upgrades.

Of the $3 million total, the hospital estimates $2,835,000 would go toward the EHR system, $140,000 toward nutrition services improvements and $25,000 toward boiler room repairs. 

The hospital must receive commissioner approval before the measure can be placed on the ballot. 

The letter states that without adequate funding for these upgrades, the hospital could face operational shutdown risks, regulatory penalties, cybersecurity exposure and potential service reductions.