Pinckneyville Hospital sees small profit in November

Pinckneyville Community Hospital remains ahead of budget for the current fiscal year. The year-to-date operating loss is $143,842 and the net income is $221,070. The budget anticipated a year-to-date operating loss of $371,515 and a net loss of $143,383.

Net income/loss includes funds from sources other than operations.

While the year-to-date figures are ahead of budget, the November figures are slightly under what was anticipated for that month. The hospital showed an operating loss of $26,789 and a net income of $3,298 in November. The budget projected an operating loss of $25,409 and a net income of $7,019.

Chief Nurse Executive Eva Hopp reported that the flu hit early this year, raising the average daily patient census to 10 with a high of 18 patients. Hopp said the increased census is one reason she is suggesting PCH hire additional personnel in the Emergency Room as part of the ongoing budget process.

Hopp also expressed concern about whether or not the hospital will be able to open an operating room in the new facility without a washer/sanitizer for equipment.

The board discussed the need and suggested Hopp find out whether the equipment is required and bring the matter up again during the budget for immediate or future purchase, as needed.

In other business, the board:

• approved a contract with EmCare for emergency room physician coverage effective Feb. 1 at an hourly rate of $174. The previous ER staffing service was not a good fit and opted to terminate the contract early. Board Chairman John Shotton asked how to avoid similar issues in the future. Hopp said the best gauge of how the ER staff is performing is patient feedback. Patients are surveyed after treatment.

• discussed the need for additional security at the new facility once the computer networking equipment is installed there. Hospital Administrator Tom Hudgins said the Police Department would provide such a service for a fee and he can check on that. Board member Dave Pirsein suggested comparing the cost of electronic security.

• agreed with the suggestion from board member Dr. Bill Roe that the hospital's attorney look over the employee code of conduct policy to see if it can be simplified.

• passed an amendment to the bylaws that clarifies on-call medical staff must respond to the hospital within 20 minutes.