The Bradley County Medical Center Board of Directors met Feb. 24 for its regular monthly meeting, approving prior meeting minutes and reviewing financial, operational and administrative updates for January.
Board members approved minutes from the Jan. 22 meeting before hearing the hospital’s monthly financial report presented by Controller Matt Pace.
Pace reported that patient volumes increased across most service areas during January, though the ice storm temporarily reduced outpatient visits. The hospital recorded $3.2 million in gross patient revenue and $1.6 million in net operating revenue, ending the month with a net loss of $143,918. He also reported that $118,000 was added to the hospital’s sales tax fund.
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Leslie Huitt said outpatient volumes were strong prior to the winter weather event and noted that higher inpatient numbers helped offset revenue losses caused by the storm.
Huitt also commended staff and local emergency agencies for their coordinated response during the storm, which included the successful helicopter transport of a patient. The helicopter landed on U.S. Highway 278, with assistance provided by Emergency Ambulance Service, Inc. (EASI), the Warren Police Department, Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, Pafford Medical Services, the Arkansas Department of Transportation and BCMC personnel.
Huitt updated the board on developments related to the Rural Health Transformation Program. She recently met with the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, a group of hospital and clinic chief executives collaborating on funding proposals. One proposal under consideration involves securing new generators
for multiple hospitals. The group is meeting weekly ahead of an anticipated funding announcement expected in April.
Additional collaborative initiatives being discussed include expanding telehealth services, sharing specialty providers and coordinating physician recruitment efforts among participating facilities.
Chief Operating Officer Leeanna Williams reported continued growth in the hospital’s Cardiac Pulmonary Rehabilitation program, noting increased interest from a lung specialist who plans to refer additional patients. Williams also announced that Tiffany White recently joined BCMC as marketing director.
During the meeting, Huitt requested approval for $240,000 in capital budget funding related to new laboratory analyzers. She explained that although the machines are already onsite, the hospital can lease them at no direct equipment cost by purchasing reagents through the current vendor — a requirement BCMC already meets through existing purchasing volumes.
Startup reagent expenses total nearly $76,000, and installation of a Medwater system added approximately $18,800, bringing total implementation costs to about $102,000. Huitt said the arrangement will save the hospital approximately $138,000. Board members unanimously approved using sales tax funds to cover the expenses.
The board also approved two annual policies and two independent policies before entering executive session. The next Bradley County Medical Center Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for March 26.
