Revenues increase with higher inpatient volumes at TCMH

Texas County Memorial Hospital revenues were above budgeted expectations by over 10 percent, hospital board members heard at their monthly meeting on Tuesday.

Linda Pamperien, TCMH chief financial officer, presented the April financials, which reflected an increase of $821,306 in overall revenues from budgeted monthly expectations.

“Our inpatient volumes increased $180,163, a 13.7 percent increase, and our outpatient revenue increased $658,509, a 10.1 percent increase from our budgeted monthly expectations,” Pamperien said.

According to Pamperien, the hospital had 83 admissions in April, up 61 admissions from the same time frame in 2023. Additionally, monthly expenses were down $47,309 at TCMH., a 1.3 percent decrease. Pamperien stated that a reduction in employee overtime contributed to decreased expenses.

“Our hospital staff is dedicated to managing their departmental budgets while delivering

outstanding care to our community,” Pamperien said.

The financial report reflected that the hospital’s profit/loss report showed a positive bottom line for April, with an increase of $53,615 and a year-to-date loss of $81,129. The earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) for the respective month were positive at $288,952, and the year-to-date EBIDA was positive at $848,084.

April Crites, TCMH quality and risk management, reviewed quarterly patient satisfaction scores with board members.

“We are pleased to see the hospital’s ambulatory surgery scores have increased over five

percent,” Crites said. “Additionally, our providers have experienced an almost nine percent increase in patient satisfaction.”

Crites also presented the hospital’s first quarter quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) data. She mentioned that social services and case management have started addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH) as part of their first-quarter QAPI plans. The healthcare team asks social determinants of health questions when a patient receives care to determine the social situation the patient will return to at home and whether their health will be adversely affected when they return home. The TCMH healthcare team works with patients and their families to try to assist the patient.

“The medical-surgical, intensive care and obstetrics departments are assessing SDOH during patient interviews for inpatients 18 and over to improve patient care and outcomes,” Crites said.

“Currently, inpatients are being evaluated in six key areas, including access to food, housing, transportation, utilities, medications and safety.”

Dr. Tricia Benoist, TCMH family medicine and obstetrics physician and chief of staff, explained that the obstetrics department has been informally working on social determinants of health for years.

“We educate the patients about car seats and safe sleeping habits; if needed, we provide

them with the necessary tools. We also ensure they know about and are signed up for the WIC program.”

Board members learned that the Department of Homeland Security provided a homeland security risk and vulnerability audit at the hospital. Homeland Security personnel were on site for several days at TCMH, and the service was free of charge. During the audit, the team’s efforts to breach the hospital’s information system by external sources were unsuccessful. TCMH will receive a formal report from the Department of Homeland Security, which will include recommendations for enhancing security measures in the future.

Bill Bridges, TCMH interim chief executive officer, reported to the board that the new Licking Family Clinic is nearing completion. A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 11. The ribbon-cutting will include a public open house with tours of the new clinic. The first day of healthcare services in the new clinic will be Monday, July 15. Whitney Hall, PA, cares for patients from birth to the end of life. She will be joined by Amanda Lemp, DO, a family medicine and obstetric physician, in August. Lemp will practice family medicine with inpatients and outpatients from birth to the end of life, including practicing obstetrics with surgical privileges.

Bridges announced the hiring of Jason Edwards for the open position of registered dietician.

“Jason previously worked at TCMH, and we are happy to welcome him back,” Bridges said. “We are confident he will do a great job as our dietician and be a tremendous resource for our staff and patients.”

Present at the meeting were Pamperien; Crites; Benoist; Bridges; Helania Wulff, marketing, public relations and physician recruiting director; and board members Jim Perry, OD; Ross Richardson; Joleen Durham; and Jennifer Hugenot.

The next meeting of the TCMH board of trustees is at noon Tuesday, June 25 in the hospital board room.

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