The Board of Trustees of the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital District held their first meeting for 2021, Tuesday.
Highlights of the meeting included:
Special Report
Teresa Freeman, VP/CNO, JMCGH and Dr. Scott Guthrie, provided a special report on a clinical research project in the Neonatal ICU. Dr. Guthrie and the other members of the Neo-ICU team are doing some ground-breaking work in treating neonates and are being recognized nationally for this work. Great job, team!
Medical Staff Privileges
The Board approved recommendations for medical staff privileges at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital as presented by Dr. Jackie Taylor, Chief Physician Executive.
Resolution: Board Member Appointment at Camden
The Board approved a resolution presented by Tina Prescott, COO, for Ms. Laurie Pierce to be appointed to the Camden Hospital Advisory Board for a three year term.
Resolution: Telemetry Software Upgrade
The Board approved a resolution presented by Tina Prescott, COO, for the purchase and implementation of telemetry, monitor, and wireless upgrades for a cost not to exceed $636,260 from budgeted District funds.
Resolution: Rechargeable Batteries and Charging Stations
The Board approved a resolution presented by Jeff Blankenship, CFO, to acquire rechargeable batteries, charging stations, and supplies in order to reduce the number of disposable batteries used in the organization daily (reducing costs and waste) at a total cost of $676,544 to be paid over period of six years.
Quality Dashboard and COVID-19 Report
Dr. Jackie Taylor, Chief Physician Executive, presented the WTH Quality Dashboard. Dr. Taylor also provided an update on COVID-19 activities.
Committee Reports
Mr. Danny Wheeler provided a summary report from the Finance Committee. Mrs. Vicki Burch provided a summary report from a recent West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation meeting.
CFO Report
Jeff Blankenship, Chief Financial Officer, provided an update on the organization’s financial performance through December.
COVID-19 related volumes continued to be high and combined hospital census for the system was approximately 12% over prior year.
Longer patient length of stay and higher acuity contributed to the increase in census. Surgery, outpatient and clinic volumes continue to track below prior year, generally. Revenue for the system was up 2%, driven primarily by increased acuity.
Expense was up 7% for the same reason. Increased acuity drives additional staffing and drug cost. The system continues to incur agency staffing and other COVID-19 related costs in excess of normal operation.
As a result, the system’s operating margin for December was negative: -5.3% vs. 3.9% budgeted, before consideration of any relief funding.
“The system expects to complete its reconciliation of relief funding for calendar year 2020 in the next 30 days,” Blankenship said, “With the completion of that work, we will be able to understand better how much of the relief funding will apply to the losses experienced to-date. Through December, the system’s operating margin was -2.8% vs. 2.0%, reflecting an operating loss.”
President’s Report
James Ross, President and CEO, provided additional information regarding the supply of COVID-19 vaccine in the state. We hope to receive more soon. Mr. Ross recognized Jennifer Varner and Dylan Wilson on being recognized recently by the American College of Cardiology for a Quality Improvement Award, and he announced that our TAVR program was recognized as the 1st accredited TAVR program in Tennessee.
The Board and Medical Staff leadership praised employees and leadership for the amazing work being done, especially during the pandemic.
