Bed certification was a main topic of discussion between the Oceana County Medical Facility (OCMCF) Board and Facility Administrator Sally Choponis at their Friday, April 24 meeting, which was moved up from Monday, April 27.
Currently, the medical care facility has 103 beds available, however, they are certified for 115. Those remaining 12 beds are on an off-line status, and past discussions have raised the question as to whether there is space for those beds to be brought back on-line, especially as the past month has seen the facility at full capacity. However many beds the facility is certified for, they must maintain a census of at least 85%.
From now until May 17, the facility has the opportunity to decertify a number of beds, so the minimum census requirement remains lower. As it stands, Choponis is unsure whether there is enough room to accommodate the off-line beds without making some rooms double occupancy, which raises concerns for privacy and makes the rooms less “marketable.”
This is not an easy fix, as Choponis explained, “A curtain doesn’t stop you from hearing the medical conditions and situations of your neighbor in the bed next to you.”
Likewise, partitioning off the rooms in general does not leave adequate space for either resident.
At the request of board member Larry VanSickle, Choponis will seek out an architectural consultant to see what can be done to increase the number of private rooms and accommodate the off-line beds.
OCMCF’s nursing department recently achieved nearly 5 stars across the board from the CMS Rating System of nursing homes, receiving top marks in their health inspection, staffing and overall quality. OCMCF received 2 stars regarding quality measures, the same score the facility has received in past years.
Outpatient therapy has kept steady patient numbers between February and March, with the greatest increase coming from gym memberships, with six new members.
Facility therapists Kaitlyn Hoeve, Haley Porter and Katie Singer were recently awarded Jim Gamble Awards for their excellence in their fields.
The board was presented a quarterly corporate compliance report from medical records and compliance officer Karyna Pochyla, reviewing the facility’s compliance with regulations set out by CMS, the state and federal governments, and OCMCF’s own policies. During the first quarter of 2026, no compliance deficiencies were identified, and staff received classes on topics ranging from abuse and neglect prevention to person-centered communication. Also included was a security risk assessment, rating the facility at a favorable low security risk, though identified areas such as phishing emails, AI and media sanitation would benefit from stronger risk mitigation plans.
In a similar vein to corporate compliance, the annual facility assessment was received, recognizing the facility as up-to-date from an operational standpoint. This assessment is built on each quarter, primarily updating the staff directory and contracted service lists.
The facility’s emergency preparedness plan was provided by Safety Officer Danielle Roberts. Much of the concrete changes to the plan were in updating names, phone numbers, the dietary roster and paging systems.
The plan is due for some updates, primarily regarding evacuation protocol. Once the new superintendent for Hart Public Schools begins, OCMCF plans to discuss any necessary or pertinent changes. As of now, the middle school remains the facility’s evacuation location, with Elbridge Township Hall as the backup location.
Flood plans are also due for review, following recent flooding emergencies that have occurred throughout the state this spring. As of now, there is no specific flood plan in place for OCMCF, and Roberts is seeking collaboration in its formulation with Oceana County Emergency Management.
The emergency preparedness plan and any following updates will be reviewed and approved by the Oceana County Emergency Faculty Board.
The denial reports counted 54 denials, 19 of which were due to insurance.
All reports, including the financials, were received and approved by the board.
Activities from the past month, such as the Spring Carnival and Easter Egg hunt, were well attended, with the latter activity a consistent favorite amongst residents. A volunteer luncheon was held the morning prior to the board meeting, thanking the attending volunteers for their 1,570 hours of service between 40 volunteers in the past year.
Upcoming events the facility is preparing for include Skilled Nurses Week, with employee recognition activities planned for each day, concluding with a celebration honoring service milestones, particularly acknowledging staff who have worked for 25 or more years at OCMCF.
Choponis also honored the current resident of the month, highlighting their admirable history of service in emergency and medicine, and shining a Spotlight of Excellence on Mike Stevens and Aaron Peoples in the maintenance department for their services, quick response time, problem-solving skills and commitment to going above and beyond in providing patient comfort.
