Pocahontas Memorial Hospital boardﾒs agenda was a laundry list of policy issues last Tuesday and with little discussion, the board passed the policies recommended by leaders from Minnie Hamilton Health Systems.


The policies deal with cash flow, grievances, pharmaceuticals, board members and administration.


MHHS personnel had more changes in store for the board.

The hospitalﾒs interim administrator, Barbara Lay, told board members there shouldnﾒt be a problem in bringing the billing department back to PMH.

Billing is being done by HMS, a Tennessee firm. Board members and administrators alike have complained about the timeliness of billing to patients, noting that part of the cash flow problem the hospital has had is due to accounts in arrears.

Cash flow remains a problem, as the hospitalﾒs chief financial officer reported that revenues are below budget by $255,000 and operating expenses are above budget by $30,000; however, cash receipts increased nearly $99,000 over the previous month. Older accounts have decreased, as well, Irvine reported.

Year-to-date figures show an operating gain of $5,300.

Our Ambulance shows a loss of $54,603 and PMH Clinic is $5,364 in the black for the month.

Irvine had other news for board members.

She has tendered her resignation and will return to Pendleton Community Bank.

But Irvine said her resignation has nothing to do with the financial health of the hospital, nor does it relate to the change in management.

ﾓIﾒm going back to whatﾒs familiar to me,ﾔ Irvine said later. ﾓI think the group from Minnie Hamilton has the expertise to turn [the hospitalﾒs finances] around. I have confidence [in them].ﾔ

She said she had enjoyed learning about another area of business and the people at PMH.

ﾓThe people here are good to work with and Iﾒve learned a lot,ﾔ she said, but she noted that it would take her the number of years she had in bankingﾗ27ﾗto get the knowledge MHHS administrators have at the ready.

The board was visited by the Ladies of the PMH Auxiliary, who shared their annual report.

Frances Dilley and Jean Weatherholt, both retired nurses, said their group could use new faces and new blood.

But the impressive list of items the auxiliary has purchased for the hospital was a testament to their own energy and dedication.

From wastebaskets to a kitchen range and plans for a new dishwasher, the auxiliary has raised nearly $90,000 for items at PMH since 1992.

The board also elected officers for the new fiscal year. Dr. Robert Must is chairman, Donald McNeel is vice-chair and Cathy Mosesso is secretary/treasurer.