BAMBERG - Bamberg County Hospital has experienced its first profitable month due to operations in at least three years, Chief Financial Officer Carl Menist reported during the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees Tuesday night.

The hospital earned $87,000, with a loss in the Nursing Center of $22,000. Menist attributed the upswing to improved financial controls and increased revenue.

Menist said the loss on the Nursing Home side is attributable, at least in part, to six rooms being unavailable because they were being refurbished.

He also noted there have been a savings of $16,800 due to the recent downsizing in staff, as well as a decrease of $200,000 in other expenses.

“We’re encouraged. We’re not finished. We still have a long list of things to do.” Menist said.

Board member Luann Carter remarked that the meeting was the most encouraging she’d attended in a long time.

Hospital CEO Kurt Meyer reported that work on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services correction plan is ongoing, with the next deadline occurring on Oct. 10 for improvements to the Kearse wing. Meyer also reported the business office staff has moved back to the hospital from an off-campus location on McGee Street.

Work has also started on a budget for the hospital’s next fiscal year. Plans include budgeting a 5 percent increase for supplies and a cost-of-living raise for staff.

In other business, trustees approved the purchase of a $3,295 countertop ice machine for the Nursing Center. Finance Chairman Al Palmer reported that the Hospital Foundation purchased a large-screen television and a Wii gaming system for use in the Nursing Center.

T&D Community Correspondent Phyllis A. Overstreet can be reached via e-mail at paoverstreet@bellsouth.net.

You must be logged in to comment.