WARREN, Ark. (1/27/25) – The Bradley County Medical Center Board of Directors held its first meeting of 2025 on Thursday, Jan. 23 inside the conference room at the hospital with financials, executive updates, policy approvals, and more on the agenda.
The meeting began with approval of last month’s minutes before transitioning into Controller Matt Pace’s financial report. The gross patient revenue totaled $3,453,626 with net operating revenue checking in at $1,918,885. The hospital reported a net income loss of $71,385 for the month of December. There was over $116,000 in sales tax revenue collected to bring the sales tax fund to $5,201,761.50. Most services were a little down in December aside from physical, occupational, and speech therapy treatments along with Rural Health Clinic visits.
CEO/CFO Leslie Huitt was pleased to report volumes in January are up compared to November and December. Overall, December was a better month for the hospital financially. Cash increased $788,000 and is up 11.5% in year-to-date cash. Accounts receivable is down 39% and net days in AR is at 49.87, which is the lowest it’s been in at least four years. Contractual adjustments were down considerably in December, which helped the income statement when compared to November.
Huitt is still awaiting updates on the Arkansas Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The BCMC Emergency Department transitioned from ESS to in-house physicians on Jan. 15 with everything going well so far, including a great review from Dr. Nasir Zareen, who wants to be on the schedule more often. Additionally, Huitt has been asked to serve on an Arkansas Hospital Association Governance Committee. That committee meets to discuss issues to take to the state legislature, one of which deals with hospitals running a retail pharmacy. Huitt concluded by informing the board that a doctor interested in practicing at the Rural Health Clinic would tour the facility.
Chief Nursing Officer Jamie Wolfe brought the board up to date on flu, COVID, and RSV, which are all on the rise at the moment. He told the board that the hospital got recognized by UAMS for stroke education and community outreach, which was extremely successful this year. He concluded by commending the staff for being prepared for the recent winter weather and being able to be staffed during that time.
The next check in came from Chief Operating Officer Leeanna Williams. She told the board the old Labor and Delivery area will house the Respiratory Department and Sleep Studies, which have increased recently. This should help the patient experience with Respiratory being in one area, but the move will take place over the next few weeks.
There were separate policy approvals for Patient Pay for Functional Dry Needling, Home Health Acceptance/Admission of Patients, and Home Health Acceptance to Service. All three were passed by the board unanimously. The only policy manual presented for annual approval was Emergency Preparedness and the board approved it unanimously. The board then reviewed the Medical Staff Bylaws and unanimously approved the changes made.
Next the board had two items up for the approval of the use of sales tax funds with new mammogram monitors and new flooring in surgery up for a vote. Both were passed by the board unanimously. There was some discussion about housing for ER doctors, the yellow building that formerly housed Senior Care Intensive Outpatient, the house the ambulance service uses, and the schematic design, but no action was taken.
Medical staff recommendations were approved, and the meeting was adjourned.
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