Revenues decrease with fewer inpatients at TCMH

Texas County Memorial Hospital ended the month of April with a 5.8 percent decrease in overall revenues hospital board members and administration heard at their monthly meeting on Tuesday.  
Linda Pamperien, TCMH chief financial officer, presented the April financials which reflected a decrease of $437,175 in overall revenues from budgeted expectations for the month.
“Our inpatient volumes took another big hit this month and were down $892,172, a 49.2 percent decrease from budgeted expectations,” Pamperien said. 
The contractual adjustments at TCMH – the difference between the charge for care provided and the amount of money the hospital receives for the services – were higher for the month.  
“Our outpatient revenue was up $434,325 for the month with significant increases in emergency room and radiology services,” Pamperien said. “However, as our outpatient volumes increase, it generally causes our contractual adjustments to increase.” An increase in emergency department volumes at TCMH typically increases the contractual adjustments at the hospital.
Pamperien noted that the hospital’s overall expenses were down $230,739 for the month.  
“We continue to see a reduction in our COVID expense,” Pamperien said. “Our COVID expense was under budget by $148,841 for the month.”
The hospital ended the month of April with a negative bottom line of $419,822 and a year-to-date loss of $1,393,496.
Pamperien discussed the onboarding of Dr. Hollis Tidmore, general surgeon, and the need for additional surgical equipment to perform extended various vascular procedures. The board approved the purchase of $44,118 in additional vascular equipment for the hospital. 
April Crites, TCMH quality director, discussed the most recent patient satisfaction scores. According to Crites, educational sessions are planned for staff to address customer service, performance improvement, and 30-day readmissions. 
Mr. Chris Strickland, TCMH chief executive officer, explained that TCMH is working closely with the quality division of the Missouri Hospital Association (MHA). 
“MHA helps us identify areas for improvement and offers suggestions,” Strickland said. “Healthcare Services Group, our insurance carrier, is also assisting with quality and improvement training for greater quality improvement at TCMH.”
Strickland explained that patient care and quality are top priorities. “The hospital’s goal is to always ensure that the best possible care is provided to the patients in our community,” Strickland said. 
Courtney Owens, TCMH chief nursing officer, introduced Chantel Garrison, new emergency room director, to the board of trustees.  
“Chantel previously worked at TCMH, and we are very happy to welcome her back in this new role,” Owens said. “We are confident she will do a tremendous job leading the emergency department.”
Helania Wulff, TCMH director of physician recruitment, said the hospital continues to actively recruit physicians. Another family medicine physician who intends to practice obstetrics as part of a future practice will visit the hospital in June. Three family medicine physicians have made site visits to TCMH this year.  
Jeff Gettys, TCMH Healthcare Foundation director, highlighted recent projects by the Healthcare Foundation and reminded everyone of two upcoming TCMH Healthcare Foundation events. 
The Foundation’s annual golf tournament will be held on Saturday, June 11 at the Houston Municipal Golf Course with tee times at 8 am and 1 pm.  
July 1 is the application deadline for scholarship applications for Fall 2022. Multiple $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to students pursuing a career in healthcare. 
Gettys reported that the Houston branch of Simmons Bank donated $1,500 to complete the installation of an automatic door in the TCMH physical therapy department. The automatic door will improve access to the department for physical therapy patients. 
Present at the meeting were Pamperien; Crites; Strickland; Owens; Wulff; Gettys; Jonathan Beers, DO, chief of staff; Renina Pearce, medical staff coordinator; board members, Jim Perry, OD; Steve Pierce; Allan Branstetter; Jay Loveland.
The next meeting of the TCMH board of trustees is Tuesday, June 28 at 12:00 p.m. in the hospital board room. 
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