Veterans Memorial Hospital breaks even during slower month of February

by Brianne Eilers

The month of February ended up being a slower month at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon. Most patient census areas were down from last February, as well as year-to-date. On the inpatient side, skilled patient days were down 26%, and surgeries were down 3.4%. However, VMH Administrator Mike Myers noted that one of the surgeons was also on vacation during this time period.
Outpatient physical therapy was down 23.8%, and the areas of outpatient lab, radiology and MRI were all also down. There were patient areas that did see an increase in volume, however. Acute patient days were down for the month of February, but up 10.1%, as far as year to date. The situation was the same with deliveries, with that area up 7.8% year-to-date.
Emergency room visits were higher than last February, and cardiac rehab seems to be an area that remains strong, up 70.2% year-to-date. The inpatient revenue was down “significantly”, as VMH had budgeted $622,123 for the month, but the actual revenue came in at $415,044. Outpatient revenue was also slightly under budget, with an actual total of $1,003,539, compared to the budgeted figure of $1,082,112. However, expenses were also kept under budget for February, about $145,000 under budget, which did allow VMH to basically break even for the month of February.
“Because of that expense control, we were able to generate a profit of $520,” Myers noted.
Myers also pointed out that the days of revenue in accounts receivable is at 66.2, which he said is the lowest that figure has been since he first began as administrator at VMH. He also noted that last February that number was 84.0. “That’s a tribute to the folks involved in how we process our payment,” Myers said.

In other matters, Gundersen Lutheran is continuing to actively recruit for this region. The OB project is nearing completion. There is a little bit of touch-up work left to do in a shower, and the birthing tub will be moved back to its area. VMH has also begun its strategic planning process. During Hospital Week in May, Myers explained that there will be “break-out groups” with all employees to discuss strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and they are hoping to have a rough plan by the beginning of the new fiscal year.
VMH is also looking at the possibility and feasibility of putting in a fixed MRI machine. Myers said that at this time, their patient numbers are not quite able to justify that, but they are continuing to move toward the volume, at which point VMH could consider having a full-time MRI machine.
The hospital will also be replacing its thorascopy unit. Myers noted that one of the things debated during the discussion on replacement is if VMH has enough patients that need this to do it, and Myers said that they do. They will probably be upgrading to digital thorascopy. Surgery will also be getting a new sterilizer and scope cleaner.
VMH is also looking at developing a Wellness Program within the hospital in conjunction with their insurance carrier, which will be presented to the staff later this year. Jeff Mitchell was appointed to the E911 Board, with Diane Butikofer as the alternate. VMH has also reviewed its quality improvement program, which Myers said didn’t change from last year.
On one final note, Myers explained that VMH has finalized planning on anesthesia coverage here due to the unilateral decision of Winneshiek Memorial Hospital to terminate a long-standing verbal agreement on anesthesia coverage on weekends. “That means we’ll have more dedicated coverage to our facility with our own anesthesia providers,” Myers noted.