In spite of a nearly $5,000 annual increase in rent, along with increases in nearly every other utility, the Pocahontas Memorial board voted last Tuesday to rent Pocahontas Medical Clinic on Duncan Road near the hospital facility.

The vote means that the hospitalﾒs clinic on Ninth Street in Marlinton will close, as will clinic space in the Walkup building, also near the hospital. The company planning to bid for the hospitalﾒs home health agency, Amedisys, wants to use the Walkup building, PMH administrator Don Muhlenthaler said.

A local contractor had estimated $7,300 to remodel the clinic, as well, he continued.

Board members agreed to pay $1,000 a month in rent for three years. Rent increases to $1200 for the next two years, $1,400 for the two years after that and will increase to $1500 in year eight. Both PMH and Dr. John Sharpﾒs representative have the option to back out of the lease 120 days prior to any increase.

The lease for the building in town is up June 30.

The move passed 5-1, with board member Cathy Mosesso dissenting.

Mosesso said she was ﾓhaving a hard time saying weﾒre going to spend more money.ﾔ

County commission representative David Fleming did not attend the meeting.

CEO search narrowed

Mosesso said the committeeﾒs search for a CEO to replace Muhlenthaler, who retires in August, has been narrowed to nine from about 80.

Interviews for the first four begin next week, she said.

Finances remain the same

PMH is still in financial trouble, posting a 2009-10 fiscal year loss of $1.2 million. According to the financial report submitted by the hospitalﾒs fiscal officer Marvina Irvine, revenues are down from the prior year by $98,000, and are $1 million below budget.

Operating expenses are below budget, as well; however, she said, salaries and benefits are above budget by $145,000.

Two of PMHﾒs three branch companies are showing a profit, Our Ambulance posted a $8,151 profit for the fiscal year thus far, while the clinic is operating in the black at $29,547. The home health agency, about to be sold at auction May 18, shows a nearly $41,000 loss for the fiscal year so far.

A new fiscal year begins July 1.