Veterans Memorial Hospital realizes strong profit for November, transition from City to County ownership progressing well

by Brianne Grimstad

The month of November ended on a very high financial note at Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon. “We had one of our best gross patient revenue months ever,” VMH Administrator Michael Coyle noted.

The hospital ended the month with a gross patient revenue of $4,451,829, compared to $3,556,036 last November, an increase of $895,793. “We were so busy in November, and December is busy as well,” Coyle said.

The hospital ended the month with a profit of $76,611, compared to $25,257 in November 2021, an increase of $51,354. The largest expenses were salaries and supplies, which is normal. There were a few other contracts that were higher than last year, but Coyle said the revenue supports that.

Looking at statistics, there were 405 Emergency Room (ER) visits in November this year, compared to 346 in November 2021. There has also been a steady increase in the clinic visits. There were 980 combined visits in November between Waukon and Postville. “We’re going to break 1,000 in December,” Coyle predicted.

He said VMH thanks people for choosing the VMH clinics in Postville and Waukon. They would like to get the numbers up for annual wellness visits at the Postville clinic. “You can really catch things before you get sick,” he noted of those annual wellness visits.

He also said they don’t get as many wellness visits in the Postville clinic as they do in Waukon. He reminded patients that the Postville clinic can also perform wellness visits.

Surgeries were down slightly in November, mainly due to staff being on vacations. There were 41 surgeries in November 2022, compared to 50 last November. VMH also had 44 observation days this November compared to 29 last November. Coyle explained that observation days are when they are not initially sure where a patient needs to be for care, but they are ill enough to be hospitalized.

“When you add up the volumes in November (2022), we were considerably higher than October (2022) and busier than in 2021,” Coyle said.

Coyle also wanted to remind guests and visitors that the hospital is “extremely full with patients” as of last week, and as the transmission rates go up and down, the hospital bounces in and out of masking requirements. Coyle noted that visitors should err on the side of caution and wear a mask, and if everyone else in the facility is wearing a mask, then visitors need to as well. He noted that right now they are seeing the “tri-demic” of RSV, Influenza and COVID, and masking up will help protect people from those illnesses.

The Urgent Care services will be re-opening January 7, and that will be a welcome return as the hospital has been very busy. The Postville and Waukon Clinics do have walk-in appointments available Monday through Friday, and Urgent Care will only be available from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, unless there is a holiday those days.

“We want to remind people that if they are sick, call 9-1-1 and the ambulance can come and get you, or if you don’t want to do that, come into the ER,” Coyle said of the times the two clinics or Urgent Care are not open and available.

Coyle also wanted to remind the community that the Postville and Waukon clinics will be closed January 2, in observance of New Year’s Day. The hospital board of trustees members will have an orientation January 10. Coyle also commented on the amount of growth that has been happening with primary care at the hospital over the last couple of years.

The board approved the Annual Critical Access Hospital Report, which included details like the opening of the clinics, adding podiatry, and the renovations of the Behavioral Health Clinic and pharmacy. The hospital will need to put some new sections of roofing on the building, but that item was tabled for a future meeting as they were still discussing some of the bids.

VMH also welcomed its first full-time Human Resources Director, Kate Landt. Landt lives in Monona, and has a background in healthcare administration. “She has great experience,” Coyle noted, adding that Landt started December 19.

In an update on the City to County conversion process, VMH has sent out over 200 contract assignments, which means that any vendor or service provider they have contracts with had those contracts assigned to the new County entity. The Waukon City Attorney, Allamakee County Attorney and VMH Attorney have been working through asset allocation and making sure all titled property is transferred appropriately.

“Everything is going extremely smooth and on time,” Coyle noted, adding that all requirements have been filed with Medicaid, Medicare and insurance providers. “We are on target for that, which is exciting. There shouldn’t be any decrease or lapses of reimbursement.”

The board by-laws were approved at the meeting, with a few changes reflecting the statute changes for being a county hospital. Board members were appointed to the Finance Committee, Quality Assurance Committee and Policy Review Committee. Coyle also said that the VMH staff wishes everyone a great Christmas and New Year, and appreciates the “simply amazing” support for moving from City to County.

He reminded the public that VMH is providing the same services from “the same great people” with the opportunity to expand those service lines over the next few years. He also encourages the public to contact the hospital with health care needs or concerns. Even if they don’t offer the service, they will find appropriate care for them.