April marks the first month of profit in over a year for the Salem Memorial District Hospital, as reported by Jo Ann Hammonds, SMDH chief financial officer during the May 17 regular board of directors meeting. The hospital saw a cash profit of $17,000 as well as a book profit of more than $400,000, according to Hammonds.
Presented in the summary of operations report, the hospital now has 65 days of cash-on-hand with a $5.3 million total, which marks a continued improvement as SMDH inches closer to the national average of 71 days. Hammond also reported to the board that if cash collections stay on track, the hospital will be in position by August to pay off Medicare advances from COVID. Until those funds are paid back, the hospital will only get a 50% reimbursement from Medicare.
Also in the April statistical summary of operations, it was reported that there were 89 in-patient admissions, compared to 102 budgeted and 99 in April last year.
The acute care occupancy for the hospital is at 54.1% with an average of 13.5 patients per day.
Outpatient registrations were 1,093 compared to a budget of 1,611 and 1,745 in April last year.
The emergency room had 625 visits, admitting 53 patients. Additionally, ambulances made 215 runs, transporting 173 patients.
In the month of April the laboratory performed 5,686 there were also 1,138 radiological procedures.
Also at the meeting, the board discussed the use of the lagoon. The Department of Natural Resources has already indicated to the hospital that the time is coming ever-nearer that the lagoon will no longer be allowed; however, according to the board, that time has not yet arrived. The City of Salem has already expanded its sewer network out to the hospital in anticipation of SMDH’s impending need to find a wastewater treatment option other than the lagoon. When that time comes, the hospital will pay to connect to the city. As it stands now, it would cost the hospital somewhere around $20,000 to connect to the city, whereas the cost of a one year lagoon permit from DNR is less than $600. The board opted to stick with the lagoon for another year while continuing to bring the hospital back into the black. The next year’s permit is to be paid in mid-July when the current permit expires.
Ashley Sullins, SMDH chief nursing officer, told the board that visitors have been asking about when masking requirements will be removed for visitors. Sullins pointed out that masks are a requirement for receiving Medicare funds—the hospital is also still holding to Centers for Disease Control guidelines. Regarding COVID in Dent County, there were less than 10 cases being tracked as of May 16 with a positivity rate of 10.34%, all employees are either vaccinated or have approved exemptions, SMDH is currently out of COVID tests.
The board appointed Ray Bruno, board president, to serve on the Hospital Foundation Board, filling a position left vacant after Dennis Fiebelman did not seek re-election in April.
Also at the meeting the board approved staff privileges to Margaret Meier, MD.
The board also approved an easement to Intercounty Electric Co. for a new transformer project. Bids are due June 2 at 2 p.m.
The board approved the purchase of a Medivator Endoscope Reprocessor for $20,445; however, they postponed a decision on the Telemetry System until the board learned more about the system.
The board then adjourned into closed session.
