Veterans Memorial Hospital has strong month of August

by Brianne Eilers

The month of August ended up with a strong showing for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). VMH Administrator Mike Myers noted that August was a “strong outpatient month,” with cardiac rehab being up 63%, outpatient MRI up 37%, and outpatient lab up 15.8%. Acute patient days, skilled patient days and deliveries were also all up. Revenue was also over budget.
Myers noted that the deductions from revenue were also up slightly due to the increased patient volume the hospital experienced for the month. However, expenses were kept under budget, but that trend does not reflect health insurance premiums, which will affect the numbers in September.
VMH currently has $1,732,000 in cash reserves, and days of revenue in accounts receivable is at 77.7, down slightly from this time last year when it was 79.8. Myers pointed out that September is not looking as strong, at this point in time.
In other matters, the Waukon Chamber of Commerce has been holding some after-hours events, and VMH will be looking at hosting an event in early 2011, with details still being worked out. October will mark 60 years of VMH being in business. “That’s kind of a landmark, and we continue to be a part of the community and county,” Myers noted.
Both Franciscan-Skemp and Gundersen Lutheran clinics are continuing to recruit physicians. VMH has taken the medical records transcription that had previously been out-sourced due to staffing issues back “in-house.”
VMH will be beginning the project to remodel its operating room at the end of October. The project will commence on a Monday, and be wrapped up by Friday of that same week. During this time, VMH will not be able to have any surgeries. After the operating room project is finished up, VMH will then be renovating the OB area, a project which is in its final stages of review. During the renovation of the OB area, the hospital will still be able to handle those situations. Funding for renovations comes from monies owed to VMH by Medicare. The hospital is also beginning to re-do the elevator, and the phone systems have been re-done as well.
Myers also discussed speaking on healthcare reform during the Women’s Health Day. He will also be speaking on that same subject on behalf of Allamakee County Economic Development. Myers stated that he feels the bill will not be totally repealed, but there will be some changes.
The street project that has been taking place outside the hospital has been completed. “We are grateful to the City for the street project in front of the hospital. It’s nice to look out and see a nice, smooth road, and it’s more comfortable to drive on,” Myers noted.