Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston has concluded the first month of the new fiscal year with a positive financial outcome thanks to a 34% increase in inpatient revenues for January, board members heard at their latest monthly meeting.
TCMH chief financial officer Linda Pamperien presented the financial report for January during the Feb. 27 meeting. The overall revenues for the month were up $905,945, an 11.3% increase. Outpatient revenue was also up $443,274, a 6.8% increase from budgeted monthly expectations, she shared.
According to Pamperien, the hospital had 105 admissions in January, up 34 admissions from the same time frame in 2023.
She reported that the hospital's profit/loss report shows a positive bottom line for January and year-to-date, with a gain of $92,013. The earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) for the respective month and year-to-date were positive at $319,210.
“These numbers mark a promising start to the year and are a testament to the dedication and hard work of the hospital’s staff, who are committed to providing exceptional care to our patients and watching their departmental bottom lines,” Pamperien remarked.
Prior to the regular business meeting, Bethany Adams and Alyssa Meller, National Rural Health Resource Center representatives, gave an overview of the Delta Region Community Health Systems Development program grant received by TCMH. The grant will review hospital operations and performance and can assist with planning, outreach and operations based on each grant recipient’s needs.
“National Rural Health Resource Center has demonstrated a notable track record of success in comparable rural hospital settings, which is an encouraging sign," said TCMH interim CEO Bill Bridges. "Our staff is eager to learn from the organization’s best practices and new service line concepts."
Bridges reported to board members that Dr. Amanda Lemp, a family medicine and obstetrics physician, and fiancé Andrew visited over the weekend. Lemp met with the staff of the TCMH Family Clinic in Licking and toured the new clinic under construction there. The clinic construction will be completed in early summer, and Lemp will begin practice at TCMH in August.
She will practice family medicine with inpatients and outpatients from birth to the end of life, including practicing obstetrics with surgical privileges.
An open house and ribbon cutting for the TCMH Surgery Center is scheduled for March 29. The event is open to the public. Hospital staff will provide tours of the surgical center before it goes into full-time use by the hospital.
“We are confident that the new surgery center will greatly enhance the delivery of crucial healthcare services to our patients,” Bridges said, noting that planning and completing the surgical center has been underway for several years at TCMH. “It's an incredible milestone that will bring long-lasting benefits to our rural community.”
Bridges presented a letter of resignation from Steve Pierce, a member of the TCMH board of trustees, and board members accepted the resignation with a motion — a formality required by the Texas County Commission. According to Bridges, commissioners will select a candidate to fill the vacant seat.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to Steve for his service to the hospital, staff and community during his board tenure,” Bridges said.
Also present at the meeting were Chief Nursing Officer Courtney Owens, Public Relations Director Helania Wulff, Quality and Risk Management Director April Crites, Chief of Staff Dr. Tricia Benoist and board members Dr. Jim Perry, Joleen Durham Allan Branstetter and Ross Richardson.
The next meeting of the TCMH board of trustees will take place at noon March 26 in the hospital board room.
