Newman Regional Health’s outpatient revenues are up more than $1 million over the budgeted amount, Newman board of directors learned during Wednesday’s board meeting.
Holly French, chief financial officer for the hospital, made the announcement during the meeting.
“Outpatient is booming,” French said, adding that revenue is up for many areas, not just a few.
According to the financial summary for August, 198 outpatient surgical cases were in the budget and the hospital had 249 for the month. Outpatient visits were up over budget by 952 visits.
Inpatient revenues also was over the projection for the month by $121,555.
In other matters, board members approved a $16,800 capital equipment purchase request. The money approved is to purchase a blood gas machine, which measures arterial blood gas. The machine measures the acidity and the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
“The test is used to check how well your lungs are able to move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood,” the written request stated. “Two examples of when we must be able to run this test are when patients are on a ventilator, or an uncontrolled diabetic patient’s blood acid base must be known.”
Also during the meeting, Kim Bales, program director for Newman’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit, gave an update on the unit. Bales said the unit is a 12-bed unit with all private rooms and all have walk-in showers. There also is a tub room so that patients can practice getting in and out of the tub, Bales said.
Services are provided for patients with illnesses or injuries including amputations, orthopedic disabilities, stroke, spinal cord dysfunction, brain injury, major multiple trauma, neurological disorders and arthritis.
Bales said the goal of the unit is to get as many people back home as possible.
The staff at the rehabilitation unit includes a certified rehab registered nurse, occupational therapists, speech therapist, hand therapist, and physical therapists.
Bales said the overall patient satisfaction score for the unit is more than 94.39 percent based on patient surveys.