Copper Basin Medical Center is still in the red, but it’s getting better, according to CEO Ray Ford. He and District Board Chairman Joan Pack attended last week’s county commission meeting to provide an update on the hospital. The key announcement was that the operating room is set to open July 13.

Ford presented financial information showing that the hospital made a profit in March and April for the year that began in October, with April doing better than projected. The year-to-date loss is more than $666,000, but Ford said the loss was $850,000 when Brim took over, so progress is being made. Monthly losses in November and December amounted to more than $600,000.

Ford explained that gross revenues do  not provide a good picture because much of that is taken off for discounts required by insurance companies and Medicare. For example, he pointed out, one patient billing was $28,000, but they had to write off $22,000 of that.

Ford said they are basically on target with the plan to turn the finances around, with emphasis on improved billing and collections. He said he still feels the way he did when Brim was analyzing the hospital – that there is a good payer mix. He said he feels there will be adequate revenue, especially when the operating room is opened, to build the hospital up. In fact, he said, the building will probably have to be replaced in 5-10 years and he feels that can be done.

The hospital still owes a lot, he said, but it is no longer at the point where everything has to be paid COD.

Ford said the average patient count for the 25-bed hospital is 14, with 22 a few days ago. The hospital has around 100 employees, down from 110. He said there are four surgeons ready to use the operating room, with a fifth asking for privileges. He said he expects two surgeons from Cleveland to be doing most of the work, which will start with outpatient general surgery. The OR team is ready, he said.

He also presented a report on how the $1.4 million line of credit approved by the county, Ducktown and Copperhill is being spent. Through April $1.1 million has been drawn down to pay off the IRS, a $100,000 loan from a doctor, CT scanner repairs, vendors over 60 days, Emergency Room contracted doctors, and other back bills.  Nearly $30,000 has been used to purchase equipment for radiology and the operating room, but much of that will be reimbursed by grants.

Projections through the end of the budget year in September are that there will be monthly profits, but not enough to overcome the initial deficit.

Before Ford began, Chairman Greg Brooks chastised him for not coming sooner, saying, “I’m glad you showed up after five months when you were here begging for money. We put our butts on the line and all we asked was for you to be at the meeting every month with an update.” Ford said he did not understand that he was expected to attend the meetings, adding he thought they were to send a report. Pack explained that reports are available the month after each month is analyzed. Ford said the District Board meets on the same day as the commission. “If I understood that was your expectation, I would have made accommodations. I guess we misunderstood what ‘report’ meant.”

John Pippenger and Mark Bishop said they understood that written reports were to be submitted. Ford added that Board Chairman Dr. Uhlik would have to get somebody to cover patients if he attended the meetings. County Executive Mike Stinnett said he would get reports to the commissioners, adding the March report was in this month’s commission packet. Ford said the reports are sent as soon as they are approved by the Board.

Ford said he had planned to give a report in person at the meeting in the Basin next month, which will be a full quarter after Brim took over. At the end of Ford’s report, Brooks said mailing monthly reports is fine but they appreciate it when he can come in person.