Texas County Memorial Hospital had positive financials for the third straight month, board members heard Aug. 28 at their monthly meeting.
“To say that we are proud of our providers and staff would be an understatement,” said Wes Murray, TCMH chief executive officer. “We recognize that it can be very tough to manage expenses when we are in the slower summer months, but our staff has done an amazing job of stewarding our hospital’s resources.”
Linda Pamperien, chief financial officer, reported TCMH ended July with a positive bottom line of $55,363 and a reduced year-to-date loss of $429,559. She said overall revenues were up $135,365 from budgeted expectations in July. Inpatient volumes were down $187,340, but outpatient revenue was up $372,097.
“The emergency department, radiology, and surgery were all busier than expected,” Pamerien said.
In July, Jason Loden, DO, the new general surgeon, began working at TCMH full-time. When a new physician first starts seeing patients there is always some additional revenue, Murray said, but usually the startup costs associated with the start of a new physician are larger. Those costs were limited by staff watching overtime and supplies expenses, he said.
Murray said Loden has been well received by the community based on his “excellent bedside manner with patients and positive daily interactions with staff. “
“The word will continue to spread that Dr. Loden is here and doing a great job and so will his volumes,” Murray said. “We anticipate a strong financial performance in the coming months ahead in that department and expect that will continue when the new surgery center opens sometime later next year.”
Other summer additions included Teresa Loden, DO, board-certified pediatrician for the TCMH Medial Complex in Houston, and Doug Crase, MD, board-certified family medicine physician for the TCMH Family Clinic in Licking. Both began in August. The anticipated growth for both new physicians as they get their practices built up will continue to help the hospital meet financial targets in the coming months, Murray said.
BENOIST JOINS HOSPITAL
Murray introduced Tricia Benoist, MD, who specializes in family medicine and obstetrics, to the board of trustees. Benoist signed a four-year contract that will go into effect Nov. 15 – the day after Mercy Clinic in Houston will permanently close their doors in the community.
“We have always treated the Mercy physicians in Houston as if they were our own,” Murray said. “As soon as we were made aware that Mercy was making plans of exiting the community, we immediately began conversations to see how we could go about retaining them.”
TCMH said it is engaged in negotiations with Dr. Benoist’s current partner at Mercy Clinic in Houston, Matthew Brown, MD, who also specializes in family medicine and obstetrics.
“We don’t always know how we are going to make new changes work with our limited space, but full clinics are a positive sign of growth and that means we are taking care of a lot of the citizens in our community,” Murray said.
Murray said most TCMH patients like getting their care, care for their children and care for their loved ones right here at home.
“Our community is very fortunate to have this hospital here as a great option for their healthcare needs,” Murray said, “and we will continue to work hard to make sure they have as many resources here as we can possibly offer.”
Present at the meeting were Murray; Pamperien; Jonathan Beers, DO, chief of staff; Rachel Davis, director of public relations; Amanda Turpin, quality director; and board members, Jim Perry, OD, Omanez Fockler, Janet Wiseman and Mark Hampton.
Jay Loveland, board member, and Doretta Todd-Willis, chief nursing, were not present.