The Rural Health Clinic is in operation and collections are getting better, CFO Chad Carpenter told the Pocahontas Memorial Hospital Board of Directors at its meeting Thursday night.

Although there has been improvement in billing for current services and charges are being captured for service rendered, there has still been little response from the community when it comes to outstanding bills.

That lack of response led to the board approving another $102,598 in write-offs and exonerations, which will be sent to the hospital's collection agency.

"Bills are being sent out every week," Carpenter said.ﾠ "Those who owe bills should come in and talk to Debbie [Peacock] and get help with financial assistance. The hospital can combine bills for patients and work with them to set up a payment plan."

Moving forward Carpenter reported that the facility is showing a year-to-date profit of $140,180. Daily charges are reported at their highest in the two year reporting cycle.

Carpenter told the board that the business office is working on getting money in faster, which is reflected in days in AR, or accounts receivable, which stand at 89, a healthy number that has not been seen in several years.

Out-patient visits topped the chart, as did cash receipts of $1.09 million.

Pocahontas Ambulance Service continues in the black. The PMH Clinic continued to show a loss in February, but that, too, will be changing with the implementation of the RHC and all clinic services under roof at the hospital.

One area that continues to improve the facility's finances is keeping patients in-house that had here-to-fore been transferred to other facilities.

"We have less transfers," CEO Barbara Lay told the board.ﾠ "We are keeping the patients here, and out-patient visits are higher than they've ever been."

In addition to improved finances, Lay told the board of efforts to improve staff through the Studor Group's Leader Evaluation Goals training.

Patient satisfaction is being tracked as a means of feed-back for improvement, as well.

Lay reported on her attendance to the PMH Auxiliary meeting and commended that group for their work on behalf of the hospital.

Continuing its commitment in outreach to the community, the board will help to sponsor the "Above the Influence" program, a project of the Prevention Coalition.

Administration looked at various opportunities for funding "critical needs" for the improvement of the facility itself.
Although there is money available from several sources, Lay told the board that the hospital would like to continue to work with Pendleton Community Bank, an institution that has seen the hospital through trying times.

COO Terry Wagner reported that patients and staff are pleased with the clinic move.ﾠ Services are contained in one area and patients are closer to the lab, which negates travel back and forth to the old clinic.

Recruitment of another physician continues, and the board approved the administration's request to pursue a National Health Service Corps Site application.ﾠ If that application is approved, physicians, as well as nurses, will be eligible for student loan repayment.

Newly hired Chief Nursing Officer Kerrie Ridgeway addressed the board.

"I am thankful and appreciative to be here," Ridgeway said. "I look forward to working with everyone."
The board meets again on Thursday, April 26, at 6 p.m. in the hospital conference room.

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