The following information stems from details and items discussed at today’s Dickinson County Healthcare System Hospital Board of Trustees meeting as well as the Finance and House Committees meetings held earlier this week.
- The DCHS Hospital Board of Trustees unanimously approve both the December 2018Financial Statements and the DCHS 2019 Operating Budget:
The DCHS Interim CEO, Jeanne Goche and her Administrative Team presented the 2019 Operating Budget to the Finance Committee for their approval. The budget showed a projected gain in Operating Revenue of $11,187.
Jeanne Goche commented, “Although the Budget is conservative, it is real. We feel that it would be a disservice to the community and to the organization if we presented a budget that was unachievable. While we continue to use attrition as a natural workforce reduction, in order to meet this Budget, we are looking at some type of layoff. Not the greatest news, but it is good news as far as getting the organization right sized for long term sustainability. We will focus on Administrative areas rather than Clinical areas and it is estimated to require a reduction of 30-40 FTE’s. The goal is to avoid cutting services; in fact part of the restructuring plan and to make the Budget a reality, requires expanding services in some areas. There is more work to do and it is important to get this piece determined quickly to be respectful of our staff. I have to make decisions that most benefit the organization, but I am also compassionate to the ramifications of these decisions. I don’t like cutting jobs and I will do all I can to avoid it.”
Finance Committee Chairman, Jeff Campbell, added, “Despite the continued drop in utilization of DCHS services, strategic initiatives and cost-saving methods has resulted in December having a positive bottom line. I applaud the Administrative Team for their efforts and there is a good plan to preserve health care in our community.”
- Uncompensated Care for December 2018 totaled $466,309. It was noted that despite the large amount, this is a great service that DCHS provides to the community. Jeanne Goche stated, “That is a good point, but my staff and I have identified Uncompensated Care as being a very large number and it has become a Revenue Cycle initiative. Early on in the care giving process, folks that do not have the means to pay for their care will be shown the available financial resource options, with the hope of lowering our expense and decreasing the financial burden on the patient. More to come.”
- The accounting firm, Eide Bailly, LLP, was retained to conduct the 2018 DCHS Financial Audit.
- Dickinson County Commissioner, Joe Stevens attended the meeting and commented, “The Community is extremely pleased about the Hospital and the changes that have taken place and there is a good feeling about the work that is being done to preserve our healthcare. Thank you for your efforts.”
In other news:
December 2018 Financial Data Hospital Board Press Release
A review of patient activity throughout the month of December showed the following:
Cared for 234 inpatients;
Cared for 13,110 patients in the outpatient hospital setting including the Emergency Department;
Cared for 9,546 patients in physician offices;
Cared for 989 patients in the Emergency Department; and
Uncompensated Care provided for the month totaled $466,309.
The hospital board also reviewed and approved the financial report for December of 2018. The healthcare system had $8,657,780 in total operating revenue and expenses totaling $8,026,490 that resulted in a gain in operating income of $631,289. After the calculation of non-operating revenue and expenses, December closed with a positive bottom line of $567,860.
December’s performance brought the year-to-date for 2018 to a loss in operating income of ($3,474,763). After the calculation of non-operating revenue and expenses, through December the 2018 year-to-date bottom line is a negative ($4,191,170).
DCHS will continue to provide updates on a regular basis and as new developments occur.
