Veterans Memorial Hospital experiences positive bottom line for month of February, moving forward with technology in medical records, sign language

by Brianne Eilers

The month of February ended up with a positive bottom line for Veterans Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Waukon, showing a profit of $57,669, which translates to a 4.5% profit margin. “Last year at this time, we broke even, and then the bottom essentially fell out,” noted VMH Administrator Mike Myers.
Acute patient days and skilled patient days were both down, as were surgeries. Areas showing some growth included deliveries, outpatient lab and outpatient physical therapy. Gross patient revenue was under-budget by 4.5%, and total expenses were under-budget by 3.5%. “The big thing is, looking at our expenses, everyone has done a nice job of living at our below their budget,” Myers commented. Myers noted that March has been looking to be a strong month financially, as well.

In other matters, VMH has signed a contract to begin installation of an electronic medical record system, with RazorInsights. Myers noted that the company is specific to critical access hospitals. He said he hopes that the system will be up and running by June, allowing VMH to meet the requirements for meaningful use.
Myers also recently went to Washington D.C., where he visited with representatives and learned about legislative issues in healthcare. “There were several challenges to rural healthcare that were brought to the forefront,” Myers said. “Both in the President’s budget and ways to address the shortages, the ‘doc fix’, the SGR. And while all of our Representatives voiced their support, the reality is I don’t know what they are going to do,” Myers said. He further explained that legislators had thought they’d worked out a way to fix the ‘doc fix’, but had until March 30 or 31 to work it out, and if not, doctors would be taking “a huge cut.” Myers further noted that he thought there was a possible one-year fix going through the legislative process.
VMH is subscribing to a video sign language service, which would be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, to better serve patients and their families who have a hearing deficit. Myers explained that the service will come through use of an iPad. Myers noted that the service is instantaneous, and that this is a big step forward for the hospital. VMH is also close to completing the initial draft of its strategic plan.
Myers also noted that “the State of Iowa has “made some impressive improvements in quality for patients.” He explained that VMH has made significant improvements in the reduction of medication errors and reduction of falls, as the hospital has been focusing on those areas in conjunction with all Iowa hospitals. Myers noted that they continue to focus on those areas, and that hospitals in Iowa are leading the way in some of those areas.