Month of December a positive one for VMH

by Brianne Eilers

The month of December ended on a more positive note for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon, ending up with a profit of $40,314. VMH Administrator Mike Myers pointed out that December has also been the strongest month financially for this fiscal year. VMH is currently showing a $56,330 bottom line, which translates out to a 0.9% profit margin.
Acute days, skilled days, and deliveries were all down from last year, but total surgeries, outpatient physical therapy and outpatient MRI were all areas that were up. Days in Accounts Receivable are up slightly. Inpatient revenue was down 8.2% from what was budgeted, but outpatient revenue was nearly at what was budgeted, being 0.6% over budget. Expenses were also under budget, which Myers credits in part to the wage freeze. “Last (fiscal) year, December, January and February were all three not really good months,” Myers noted. So far, the month of January is looking better than last January.
VMH is in the beginning stages of planning for next fiscal year’s budget, and Myers said they are looking at “a variety of assumptions and some different scenarios” to come up with their budget. “It will be a challenge going forward,” Myers noted.

In other matters, VMH will be putting up a donor board for large contributors outside of the Capital Campaign. This board will be similar in design to the donor board that features contributors to VMH’s Capital Campaign. This new board will include recognizing past donors.
The radiology department is moving forward, and Myers noted, “Most of the bugs have been worked out.” Myers added that he had spoken with a physician on call during a weekend, and that they were getting reports back within five minutes. Gundersen Lutheran has also been helping VMH work out some of the issues with the new equipment.
The new birthing tub should be in sometime in March. The current tub has been used for “quite a few” births.
The Board of Trustees elected its officers. Dennis Lyons will serve as chairperson, Dave Stangeland will serve as vice chair, and Patty Fosaaen will serve as secretary.
On a final note, Myers and Dr. Dave Schwartz will be traveling to Washington D.C. in April to attend a conference and hear the latest developments on health care reform.