By John R. Schirmer
Leader staff
Howard Memorial Hospital continues to plan for the opening of two new buildings on the hospital campus.
CEO Debra Wright told the hospital board July 28 that the Medical Office Building and Compass Geriatric Behavior Office should be open in mid-August. Tentative plans call for an Aug. 17 opening if furniture deliveries and other details fall into place.
Dr. Brian Caldwell will be the first physician in the Medical Office Building. The Murfreesboro native has been working in the HMH Emergency Department as he awaits the opening of the office facility.
Dr. Martin Johnson began his satellite dermatology clinic this week and plans to have a clinic the first and third Tuesdays of each month, according to Wright. He is located in the office once occupied by Dr. Syed Javed in the first Medical Office Building at 119 Medical Circle.
Cardiologist Dr. Andre Paixao with Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock will begin seeing patients Aug. 19 and plans to have a satellite clinic every first and third Wednesday, Wright said. He will also be located at 119 Medical Circle.
Wright reviewed the specialty clinics offered by Howard Memorial. They include cardiology, dermatology, OB/GYN, oncology/hematology, pediatrics and urology.
Howard Memorial recorded outpatient and ED visits above budget for June, according to CFO Bill Craig. The hospital had 146.6 days cash on hand for the second consecutive month. The target was 145 days. Days revenue in accounts receivable amounted to 31 days, below the target of 45.
Outpatient visits were 5.4 percent above budget at 89. ED visits were 17.8 percent above budget at 128, Craig said.
The hospital’s outpatient revenue factor for june, 9.6503, “is record breaking,” Craig said. He explained that revenue factor is “a financial ratio that quantifies our hospital’s growth in outpatient business.”
HMH patient cash collected was about $1.25 million for the month.
Unfavorable variances for June included an average daily census of 4.3 patients per cay compared to a budgeted figure of 6.7 patients.
For the month, the hospital reported a net loss of $17,250 compared to a budgeted net loss of $85.051.
Josh Tice of Edward Jones Investments discussed the hospital’s CDs and other investments. Board members wanted additional information from Craig and Tice and will consider the matter at their August meeting.
