PART I OF II EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Excelsior Springs Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kristen DeHart made a promise to city leaders when she presented the hospital’s annual report for 2021 with a slideshow during the May 16 City Council meeting at the Hall of Waters. “Next year, I will not have COVID slides,” DeHart said. The hospital is “not quite finished with COVID,” though DeHart wished that were so, she said. Still, the hospital took a step toward being finished, she said, by closing the drive-through clinic in May. DeHart summarized the hospital’s COVID-related work as part of her presentation. With help from North Kansas City Hospital the first part of the year, Excelsior Springs Hospital dispensed 5,200 doses of vaccine, she said. In addition, Excelsior Springs offered COVID clinics, DeHart said. She also reported the hospital conducted 12,400 COVID tests in 2021 – nearly 9,800 through the drive-through clinic....