The Magnolia Regional Medical Center Board of Commissioners heard a presentation Monday from Dr. Roger Scow, obstetrician/gynecologist, on the Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy procedure.
Dr. Scow explained this was for patients experiencing bladder control issues. “There’s a procedure I want to start doing here,” he said. He explained that this affects both men and women but estimated that around 25 percent of women will experience some type of incontinence. There were two major types, he said, stress incontinence and overactive bladder.
The procedure is handled on an outpatient basis. “The community needs this; there’s nobody around here doing this,” he said. “There’s tons of patients that have these problems that don’t know there’s something that can be done.”
Dr. Scow said this would be a good return for the hospital’s bottom line.
Roxanne Stewart, chief financial officer, reported that inpatient admissions were down to 101 in January, with an average daily census of 9.8, compared to 113 average for 2016. However, she said, the patient census numbers appear to be coming back up for February.
There were 90 surgeries done in January. There were 905 emergency room visits, with 30 patients admitted for a 3.3 admit rate, and 65 patients moved to observation from the ER. There were 14 newborns in January.
Stewart said $296,000 was moved from the sales tax fund to cover capital expenditures including a CT scanner, and other equipment.
She said that gross revenue was down $161,000 compared to December.
There was a net loss of $275,000 in January and a $1.1 million loss year-to-date, compared to the budgeted loss of $426,000. At this time last year there was a net loss of $4.6 million, Stewart said. “Even though we’re down it’s better than where we were this time last year,” she said.
For January, the hospital had a negative EBIDA (earnings before interest depreciation amoritization) of $79,749, with a negative $345,542 year-to-date EBIDA. Stewart noted the EBIDA last year was a negative $800,000.
She said the draft for the 2016 cost report had been received, with a predicted reimbursement of $250,000.
Rex Jones, chief executive officer, described the hospital’s financials as “they’re not good but they’re better. But they’re not good.”
Stewart said due to some recent retirements, “we are looking at the need to increase our monthly contributions to the pension plan. We’re still in the process of gathering information.”
Mayor Parnell Vann questioned the ER statistics, with 905 ER visits and 95 of those either admitted or seen for observation.
Jones said a new medical director would be joining the ER in March. “One of the things we’re going to look at with him, is we get a report from the ER that breaks down admission rate, utilization rate by physician. I’ve gone through and looked at it, and there’s really a broad variance across. Some physicians have a much higher admission (rate) than other physicians do. Once he gets on board we’ll sit down and look at those numbers.”
“Obviously these people are using us for a doctor’s office,” Vann commented.
“Absolutely,” Jones said. “That’s a common problem everywhere. That’s just an issue, the ER becomes a clinic for a lot of people.”
Jones said hospital personnel were looking at up-front collections and monitoring how payments are being collected.
He said MRMC officials have discussed with UAMS the possibility of an urgent care clinic. “They’re willing to help us with some type of an urgent care clinic, even an after hours clinic, because a lot of this does happens after hours after the physician’s office closes.”
Stephanie Schmittou, interim chief nursing officer, reported that her department “has definitely been making some changes” and have found ways to be lean while still providing patient care.
Schmittou explained the care transition plan. “Care transition basically starts when the patient enters the hospital. It’s our goal to teach them what’s wrong with them as they go. If they get a breathing treatment, a respiratory therapist should be telling them what that breathing treatment is for. If they’re getting a new medication added, we’re teaching them why you’re getting this medication and how you need to take it.”
Following the meeting, the board adjourned into executive session to discuss some potential retirements. Steve Nipper, board chairman, reported Monday afternoon the board talked about potential retirees, but no action was taken.
In other business:
•Molly Burns, Foundation president, announced that on April 6 the Arkansas Community Foundation’s ArkansasGives Day will include the hospital and 16 other local charities.
•Board members approved credentials and re-appointments presented by Karen Weido, medical staff coordinator.
•The next board meeting will be at 12 noon Monday, March 27, in the hospital board room.