Hospital sees increase in patients
Staff reporter
For the first time in two years, St. Luke Hospital saw a significant increase of patients admitted to the hospital.
Chief executive officers Jeremy Armstrong reported March 25 to the hospital board that the hospital had nine patients at one time during the past week or so.
HIPPA requirements do not allow hospital officials to divulge the nature of the hospitalizations.
Armstrong also reported that steps are being taken to have St. Luke Physician Clinic classified as a rural clinic.
In other business:
— The board decided not to have a strategic planning session to update the hospital's master plan and to continue working with the current plan since a new master plan update is in the works.
— Chief financial officer Hilary Dolbee presented a report based on February's revenues and expenses.
Cash was down because the board had paid for a roof and made a down payment for the new CT and records management system.
Inpatient revenues were down five percent in February but revenue for March will be better, Dolbee said.
Clinic revenue had increased and the living center census remained consistent.
— Chief nursing officer Linda Kannady reported that a second cardiologist and an audiologist are now seeing patients.
— The board approved the credentials for cardiologist Charles Beck, family practice physician Don Hodson, and pathologist Boyd Smith.
— A 30-minute executive session was held to discuss the acquisition of real estate. When the meeting reconvened, the board instructed Armstrong to negotiate as instructed by the board during the executive session.
— Two executive sessions to discuss personnel were held for 10 minutes and 30 minutes, respectively.
When the meeting reconvened, the board accepted a recommendation made by consultant QHR.
