Hospital approves to keep same audit company for upcoming audit

Published: Claiborne Progress

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

by Ashley Collingsworth Staff Writer

In the first weeks since Restoration Healthcare took over the Claiborne County Hospital, interim administrator Tim Brown reported some good news at the August board meeting.

Brown reported that the numbers were up in the hospital and brought up the annual audit coming up in September. The audit will give the system a better feel for the accuracy of the statements they have been poring over since taking over.

As the board discussed the audit, the question of keeping the same company was brought to the table.

When last year’s audit was completed, it was unknown to both the company and the hospital board that the contract with the company had expired. With the audit coming up the board needed to decide whether to keep the same company or bring in a new one.

Brown felt it would be best to use the same company that they have used for several years.

“We know the organization and have a history with them,” Brown said, “We will just have to bring them up to speed on what has happened this year so they can structure their auditing.”

Brown said that they are comfortable with them on these engagements and that usually in that business you see a turnover of staff but in this company you have a 30-year veteran on the team.

Board member Rob Asbury made a motion to keep Burke, Pearlman, Nebbin & Huggins, PLLC. as the audit company. Board member Mike Robertson seconded the motion and all approved.

Brown also introduced Tracee McFarlan, which is new to the hospital. He said that she spent the first week and a half there looking over processes for payroll as well as cashiers receipts to make sure the cash was in balance.

Board member Mike Robertson asked if they had a chance yet to look over the nursing home numbers and Brown said that they had not yet had the chance.

Robertson suggested going back to look and see if the amount of revenue is comparable and Brown agreed also suggesting that they will look into bringing someone in to look over the numbers with him.

Brown said the independent audit would look over all of the issues in question including those numbers.

Also discussed was the increase in numbers in the hospital from July to August. Expenses are in line with the past already surpassing June.

Brown said that admission is up from June to August and the length of stay looks good. Brown also reported that the nursing home numbers are up with 87 as well as home health visits. The number of CT scans for the month is the second highest month at 871.

Other items approved were the credentialing of several doctors and records now being up to standard.

The next scheduled meeting for the board of directors will be Tuesday, September 22.