Newman board told hospital providing more charity care this year
By Brandy Nance
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Newman Regional Health has increased charity care this year to meet the needs of the community, the Newman Regional Health Board of Trustees learned during its monthly meeting Wednesday.
Newman has spent $1.8 million for charity care for the year, said Bob Driewer, Newman’s chief executive officer.
“This is charity care for people who couldn’t afford to pay,” Driewer said. “I think Newman is setting a very good example for meeting the needs of the community here.”
Holly French, Newman’s chief financial officer, discussed the hospital’s financial numbers for November. French said patient days were down 30 percent for the month and admission numbers are down 27 percent from this time last year. The average daily census at the hospital is 39 1/2. Because of the decreased patient days, inpatient revenues are under budget by $1,157,897. Patient days were under budget by 483 and admissions by 115.
French said bad debt continues to be lower as a result of recovery of bad debt and an increase in charity care.
The hospital had an operating loss of $144,402 for November and a net loss of $78,246. The hospital budgeted for a $55,127 income. Year to date net loss is $1,155,829 with a budgeted income of $761,081.
In other business, Kathy Butcher, assistant administrator for quality services for Newman Regional Health, talked about the hospital’s quality care initiatives. In an effort to become more transparent, the hospital publishes quality improvement data on it’s Web site at http://www.newmanrh.org/nrh.nsf/View/QualityData. Butcher said there were 38 hits on the web site in October. That increased to 55 hits in November.
Butcher talked about quality data on heart attack and heart failure.
“The second quarter revealed improvement in four different areas,” Butcher said. “We feel really good about the improvements we’ve made during the last few quarters.”
This week, the hospital went to wristband standardization, Butcher said. The standardization is a part of a statewide patient safety initiative. Wristbands are color coded with red indicating an allergy; purple, do not resuscitate; pink, restricted extremity; yellow, fall risk; and green, latex allergy.
The nominating committee recommended that Kendall Wright serve as chair of the board for the next two years; Philip Winter, vice-chair; Don Bailey, treasurer and Lloyd Stone, secretary. A motion was made and passed.
The board recognized Dr. Geitz for his role as chief of staff this past year. They also recognized Bill Barnes, a board member who will not be returning next year. Barnes served on the board from 1989 to 1993 and from 2001 to 2008.
“It’s been a privilege to serve on the board and the people,” Barnes said.
Barnes requested that he receive no gift for his service. Rather, he wanted the money to go toward the gift donated to the Newman Regional Health Foundation.
The board recognized Board Chair Fred Harder for his service the past two years.
“It’s been a year of transition and I am very much looking forward to some of the changes that will be made,” Harder said.
At the end of the meeting Wright said he had a patient express concern regarding urology needs in Emporia. Wright said the board is well aware of the needs and is actively recruiting urologists to Emporia.