Hospital board members
concerned about finances
by Andrea
Schneider/Staff Writer
Claiborne
Progress
Published:
Thursday,
July 3, 2008 10:45 AM CDT
TAZEWELL — The
Claiborne County Hospital Board of Directors met Tuesday, June 24, 2008 for
their regular meeting and the hospital’s finance report caught several
members off guard.
The finance report for the month of May 2008 showed a net loss of $160,915
for the hospital and nursing home combined. This was compared to a budgeted
net income of $97,844 for the two combined.
The year to date financial report also showed the hospital’s revenue is $8
million more than last year, yet at this time last year there was a $500,000
gain when this year there is a $600,000 loss.
Board members could not fathom such a drastic difference and questioned what
could be done to fix whatever was causing this.
The budget was on the agenda to be discussed, but because of the issues with
the current finances the board decided to reconvene at a later time to focus
discussion solely on next year’s budget. They were scheduled to meet Tuesday
July 1 at 5:30 p.m.
In other business Dr. Brent Neal reported during the hospital staff report
that the staff had voted Dr. Rhonda Sivley as the new Chief of Staff. She
was present at the meeting and noted that she was grateful that she had been
chosen.
It was also reported that during the Medical Staff meeting the staff voted
to have Vista Radiology continue to provide their services as long as Vista
meets three guidelines: Vista must provide a care group that works at
Claiborne County Hospital, there must be limited locums, and coverage must
be provided from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Samuel Feaster M.D., President of Vista Radiology, along with another Vista
representative, was present at the meeting and he spoke to the board saying
he enjoyed working with Claiborne County Hospital and hopes to continue
working with the hospital “as long as we are wanted.”
He noted that Vista is currently already meeting some of the guidelines such
as having a care group working at the hospital and the limited locums. He
said that he himself was one of the care group members.
“We are here for the long run and we are committed,” said Feaster. Feaster
also noted that Vista had received a letter saying their contract was not
going to be renewed. He then asked the board if they could resend a letter
to Vista confirming that the contract was actually going to be renewed, they
approved sending the letter.
In Dr. Neal’s report he had two other items for the board to approve. The
first item was the approval of giving credentials to some employees and the
second was to make a change in the wording of the staff’s bi-laws. Neither
item had discussion and both were unanimously approved.
Dan Colon, Hospital Administrator, reported in the Administrator’s report
that the hospital has set a goal of $4,000 for Relay for Life. He noted that
so far the hospital has done fundraising through bake sales and car washes
and there are plans for future fundraisers such as a bike/run, which is
scheduled for July.
Colon also noted that the hospital had to make an emergency $8,000 purchase
to refurbish the coil system in the hospital’s air conditioning unit.
After briefly discussing an appropriate time to reconvene the board
adjourned.
