PCH slightly exceeds budgeted loss in August

Pinckneyville Community Hospital showed an operating loss of $263,600 and a net loss of $196,081 in August. August's financial report brought the year-to-date operating loss to $295,660 and net loss to $22,470. Net income/loss includes funds from sources other than operations.

Hospital Administrator Tom Hudgins said the budget projected a loss of approximately $200,000 for the year as of August.

There were a couple of factors contributing to the loss in addition to capital purchases for the new facility. PCH paid out $70,000 more than was budgeted for employee benefits in August. Hudgins said that there are some months when claims are higher than others. The year-to-date cost of benefits is still below the budgeted amount and he expects it to remain within budget for the year.

Also, PCH had to write a check to Medicare for an adjustment from last year before Medicare would cut a check to PCH for the most recent cost adjustment which will exceed the amount paid to Medicare.

In other business, the board:

• heard from CFO Kara Carson that the first phase of a two-phase plan leading to a point of service collection policy for scheduled services will begin next month. Beginning Nov. 1, PCH will call patients to help them complete a pre-registration process. Staff will verify demographic information and review current insurance information in advance so patients will better understand what will be owed. Carson said she plans to begin phase two-- point of service collection for scheduled services at the beginning of 2015. The new policy will require non-emergency patients to make their co-payments at the time of service. Currently, staff is undergoing training for the new system. Up-front collections would help the hospital avoid bad debt, which has reached approximately $1 million each year for the past several years. She is also considering using a True Bridge, an adjunct of CPSI, the company which generates patient billing statements, when the employee who currently handles private pay collections retires. True Bridge is not a collection agency. PCH could try True Bridge for six months without penalty.

• approved the annual county tax levy ordinance for the 2015 fiscal year. The amount requested is $197,500, the same as the previous year. Hudgins said the board is committed to not raising the levy to pay for the new facility.

• renewed property insurance with First National Insurance and Consolidated Insurance at a total cost of $48,593. That breaks down to $40,843 for property insurance and $7,750 for earthquake insurance through Atlantic Specialty. The cost increased less than $100 from last year.

• heard from Chief Nurse Executive Eva Hopp that employees have undertaken many initiatives suggested by the insurance company to help eliminate liability. She was meeting with the hospital in Mount Vernon this week to learn more about palliative care which could help make sure PCH meets Medicare's readmission standards. If too many patients are readmitted after receiving care, the hospital could be penalized by Medicare. Hopp cited a recent news report about St. Louis, Mo. hospitals. She said 17 of 18 were penalized for readmissions. Barnes was the only hospital that wasn't penalized. It is a common problem when patients refuse services after leaving the hospital. Hopp also suggested the board consider hiring ward clerks to help patients with paperwork instead of paying RNs to do so. It would be a money saver. She is also considering a tiered seniority system for CNAs who could collect sterile specimens, do Accu-Cheks and and perhaps Foley insertions, as they do in other area hospitals. She will discuss the issue further with Human Resources. Hopp reported that there has been 92 percent compliance with the hospital's flu shot policy.

• heard from Dr. Gregg Fozard that the new sample drug logs are in use at Family Medical Center.

Pinckneyville Community Hospital rolls out pre-registration

<p>On Nov. 1, Pinckneyville Community Hospital will begin calling individuals in advance of their scheduled services in order to complete a pre-registration process.<br /><br />“Pre-registration will be outpatient services that include Imaging, Oncology, Infusion and Surgery,” says Tom Hudgins, CEO/Administrator. “Pre-registering in the days prior to a scheduled appointment will save the patient time while checking in for their appointment.” <br /><br />Registration staff will be verifying demographic information, as well as reviewing current insurance information in advance.  This will allow the patient the opportunity to have a better understanding of what balances may be owed for the particular service being received.<br /><br />For information about Pinckneyville Community Hospital’s pre-registration process, please contact Business Office Manager, Marie Perkey, at 618-357-5924.<br /><br />Pinckneyville Community Hospital is a critical access hospital that is leading the way to a healthier tomorrow.  The hospital provides local access to quality and convenient healthcare by providing a 24-hour emergency department; 25 bed medical floor offering inpatient, observation and swing bed program; Family Medical Center; oncology; surgery; therapies; radiology; laboratory services and over 15 specialty clinics close to home.</p>