Although Allen County Regional Hospital continues to keep fewer inpatients overnight it is mostly able to offset those losses in other areas, hospital trustees heard Tuesday night from Larry Peterson, chief financial officer and interim CEO.
The hospital saw a 30 percent decrease in in-patient days, Peterson said. The average number of patients in July was 5.8, out of a total 25 beds available.
Nationwide, in-patient stays in hospitals have remained relatively flat, according to the American Hospital Associations (AHA) 2019 Hospital Statistics. Emergency room and outpatient surgeries were largely flat and outpatient visits grew by 1.2%, according to a review of the report.
Emergency room visits in July at ACRH met budget expectations. Visits to community clinics in Iola, Moran and Humboldt were just under budget.
But the hospital has seen growth at its home health and hospice units, Peterson said.
Despite the lower numbers of patients, revenue actually came in nearly $10,000 above budget, Peterson said.
The hospital also has kept its expenses at a minimum, which allowed it to post a positive net income of $139,000. That total, though, includes a payment of $80,500 from a lawsuit settlement to fix leaking showers from initial construction of the building in 2013, Peterson said.
The hospital received a partial payment in June and will receive another payment for the August budget for a total of $135,000.
Even when you take out that squirrely accounting entry, we still have a positive bottom line and met budget, Peterson said. If we can just continue to generate small positives for the rest of the year, well be all right.
In other news, the hospital trustees:
Discussed a lease agreement with Saint Lukes Health System during a 45-minute executive session. The contract has not yet been finalized as attorneys hash out final details. Chairman Loren Korte said he was hopeful it would be ready in the next few weeks.
Heard an update on the process to recertify the mammography department. ACRH has received the appropriate paperwork to verify training for its radiologist and now needs to schedule site visits by the American College of Radiology. That could take some time to coordinate, Peterson said.
Reviewed donations from the ACRH Auxiliary, which included four oversized wheelchairs, mannequins for training and new electronic doors.
Discussed various events including a golf tournament fundraiser planned for Sept. 28.
