The West Tennessee Healthcare Board of Trustees of the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital District held their monthly meeting at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, Friday.
Highlights of the meeting included:
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: Mammagraphy Unit
The Board approved a resolution presented by Deann Thelen, CEO-JMCGH, to purchase a 3D mammography unit for the West Tennessee Imaging Center at a cost of $660,000 from budgeted District funds.
Quality Dashboard
Dr. Jackie Taylor, Chief Physician Executive, presented the WTH Quality Dashboard and a COVID-19 update.
Committee Reports
The Board heard summary reports from the Medical Care Review Committee and the Foundation, and the IT Governance Committee presented by Vicki Burch and Phil Bryant respectively.
CFO Report
Jeff Blankenship, CFO, presented a summary of the financial performance of the health system for October.  With declines in volume during the month (inpatient discharges, surgery cases, etc.), revenue declined from prior months.  With decreased revenue and costs still high with agency staffing, etc. the system incurred an operating loss of -6% for the month. For the first four months of the fiscal year, the system’s operating margin has been a loss of -1.2%.  As the system adjusts to reduced pandemic volume, management is working through adjustments and planning to bring the financial performance in line with budget goals by the end of the fiscal year.
Management Report
James Ross, President and CEO, expressed his gratitude and appreciate for the staff of the organization during this Thanksgiving season. He also reported that JMCGH and Dyersburg Hospital had recently been recognized by the Vermont Oxford network for work in reducing opioid exposure in babies. Mr. Ross and the leadership team provided updates on the following strategic projects: Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital collaboration, Select Specialty LTACH partnership, and the North Hospital opening.
Congratulations to Ruby Kirby, CEO of Bolivar General Hospital, and Dr. Claude Pirtle, Chief Medical Information Officer, in being recognized by the Rural Hospital Association of Tennessee (RHAT) recently for their work in improving rural healthcare.
(PHOTO: James Ross, CEO, West Tennessee Healthcare)
