Newman outpatient boom
By Brandy Nance
Originally published 01:54 p.m., December 20, 2007
Updated 01:55 p.m., December 20, 2007
Newman Regional Health’s outpatient revenues continue to be well ahead of budget — this month it jumped over $1 million in Newman’s favor.
The Newman Regional Health Board of Trustees learned Wednesday afternoon that outpatient revenue was in the black by $1,353,102 for November. The hospital had budgeted in 188 outpatient surgical cases for November. The hospital ended up doing 359. Outpatient visits were up by 770.
Inpatient revenues, however, didn’t do as well in November. Due to decreased patient days in the hospital, the inpatient revenues were in the red by $80,168. The hospital only had 84 inpatient surgical cases compared to the budgeted amount of 107. This is a slight decrease from October. Patient days for the month were 187 below the budgeted number.
Board members also approved one of the largest capital equipment purchases in 2008 in the amount of $277,041 for hardware and software.
“Part of this project is 20 servers that will be housed in our data center,” Chief Financial Officer Holly French said.
The written capital purchase request said Information Services currently have to install or manage applications on individual computers throughout the hospital, which is a slow process, and PCs must be continually updated or replaced. In order for the information to be secure, multiple log-ins must be used.
“With this solution, all components of applications will be installed, maintained and secured in the data center, while only on-screen displays, keyboard entry and mouse movements traverse the network,” the request stated.
The new system, Single Sign On/Citrix, will eliminate unnecessary steps and allow updates of Windows-based applications to be managed from one centralized location rather than having staff go throughout the building to update computers.
Dorine Harter was honored with a plaque for the end of her eight years on the board.