WHMC sees downward spike in patient volume

COLFAX - The Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics experienced an operating loss of $1,042,000, due to lower patient intake during the harvest season this summer.

Board Commissioner Kathy Wride reported the finance committee meetings to board commissioners at the Wednesday, Aug. 21, board meeting.

Wride said that cash disbursements for July came to $5,930,342.70, noting two payments came through, normally only getting individual months.

"An extra $330,000 did get through there, and then health insurance was little high," said Wride, noting it is nothing unusual.

Finance committee recommended that the board approve cash disbursements for July. The motion was moved and approved.

Wride reported the hospital had 35 surgeries for the month of June, primary care clinic visits were down 8% from July and 15% year to date.

Wride reported in-patient days were down approximately 30% from last month and 25% year to date.

"On the financial statement side we had a net loss of $890,000, operating loss $1,042,000, net patient revenues 70% under budget and expenses 1% over budget," she reported.

"Is there something specific that made us lose that much money," Board President Georgie Leinweber asked.

"It's almost always a multitude of factors," said Hospital CEO Hank Hanigan.

Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics Chief Financial Officer, Abby Smith, said all of the hospital's loss is volume based.

Discussion during the Finance Committee included the low number this month and how, as a small rural hospital, there is a fixed operating cost.

"Even though we saw our revenue, which was our gross, charges were under budget by at least $1.3 million. All of that is volume based," Smith said. "We didn't have patients that we were seeing."

According to Smith, due to low volumes in July and August the hospital can expect to see a loss through the next month as well.

"July and August are traditionally, historically low volume months," said Smith, noting the farming based community is harvesting during those months and there are not a lot of elective services.

Smith is optimistic with new providers and new services that the hospital can pick up some of the volumes.

"I do think hopefully, if all goes as planned, November we should be posting some positive revenue figures and recouping some of these losses," said Smith.

Wride reported the year to date net loss is $50,000, with an operating loss a little over $2.4 million.

The net patient revenue year to date is 9.6% under budget, expenses are 12% over budget, purchase services 85% over budget due to contracted labor usage.

"Total contracted labor of $1.2 million, with family birthing center utilizing $490,000 of that," Wride reported.

Wride reported MSU used $194,000, Lab $190,000 and OR $133,000.

"Cash on hand is about $149,000," said Wride. "The following projects were completed this month, cardiac monitor system upgrade, commercial machine, our storage for hardware and our firewall hardware as well the AR collection campaign."

Wride reported 103 patients were offered a discount, the accounts totalled $126,552, and 14 paid in full representing 59 accounts for a total of $30,490 collected.

"I think it was well worth the time Abby, thank you so much," said Wride about the change to payment plans implemented by the hospital.