Weak patient volumes result in September loss for Veterans Memorial Hospital

by Brianne Eilers

The month of September ended with a disappointing loss of $7,325 for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH). Skilled patient days were down 27% from last September, while acute patient days stayed nearly the same. Deliveries were also down from last September. Decreases in the areas of outpatient physical therapy, outpatient radiology and ER visits were also noticed in September. For the month, inpatient revenue was down 7.8%.
“The thing that is really good, as far as I’m concerned, is our expense control,” noted VMH administrator Mike Myers. Total expenses were held 4% under budget. While the month was sluggish for the hospital, VMH has managed to add to its cash reserves, which now stand at over $1.8 million. Days in accounts receivable have also dropped below 70, at 69.7, and Myers stated that they are hoping to be able to hold them there. Myers did mention that October is not looking like a very good month either. Year-to-date, VMH has a bottom line of $93,241, compared to $68,352 last year-to-date.
VMH will be utilizing services of Emergency Practice Associates (EPA) out of Waterloo for weekend call coverage. Myers explained that VMH has used this company in the past. He further noted that there are a few advantages to using this service, as it allows people who may be interested in practicing in this area to be able to experience what it is like, so it can be used in a way as a recruitment tool, and it also gives the regular on-call providers a break.
As far as improvement projects for VMH, the hospital is finalizing the OB updating and remodeling project, which includes permanent placing of the birthing tub. That should start sometime around the end of January. The operating room was shut down this past week so that the remodeling project there could be completed. “I’ve been back there, and it looks really nice,” Myers said.
The hospital will also need to do some work on its old elevator, which Myers pointed out will be a little more expensive than they initially had hoped. They looked at several options, including building a new elevator shaft so they can have a larger elevator, but that option would be too expensive. As it is, the project will be coming in $60,000 more than they thought, but Myers pointed out that Medicare owes VMH money, and the elevator project will be funded from that money. Work on the elevator will begin sometime around June of 2011.
In an update on the ICN project, Myers noted that the ICN should be installed by the end of the year. Having ICN capabilities will allow the hospital now and in the future to have enhanced telemedicine and telelearning capabilities.
VMH is continuing to work with Northeast Iowa Behavior Health Center in addressing emergencies involving a patient’s mental health and facilitating referrals. “We are impressed by the innovative approaches they are taking to look at an issue that plagues the state of Iowa, if not the nation,” Myers said. This will help improve access to mental healthcare by trained mental health professionals.
In other matters, Myers stated that VMH is continuing to look at ways to enhance the wellness of its employees; including what testing and programs can be used to help catch diseases early on and also to encourage healthy behavior. Both of the clinics also continue to recruit.
The VMH Health Care Foundation’s annual Christmas Fantasy will be going on November 12, 13, 14 and 15 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion. This year’s theme is “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Myers noted that this year will be “bigger and better” with more trees than in previous years. The Foundation is a major supporter of healthcare in Allamakee County.