Samaritan shows profit

MOSES LAKE - Samaritan Healthcare is turning a profit after the first seven months of 2013. The financial statement presented at the Aug. 22 board meeting showed the hospital has a net income of $3.1 million through the end of July.

The hospital generated $38.7 million in operating revenue through the first seven months, which is above the budget projection. Operating expenses for the period were $35.5 million, which also was above budget projections.

Net income through the end of July was below budget projections. The hospital sustained a loss of non-operating income, losing $123,000 in the period. Hospital CEO Tom Thompson said as a public entity the hospital is limited in its investment opportunities, being restricted to bonds.

The hospital's operating margin is about eight percent; "on every dollar we make eight cents," Thompson said.

In other business, Thompson reported hospital officials are working on ways to streamline admitting and patient billing practices.

At the top of the list of proposed changes is ensuring that patient admitting information transfers with the patient when they come to the hospital. People shouldn't have to provide all the same information at the primary physician office and the hospital, Thompson said, calling it "critical" to patient care.

Hospital officials also want to ensure that a patient who's been to the hospital more than once during a billing cycle just gets one bill, he said, and that patients who use Samaritan clinic and hospital get one bill.

Thompson reported hospital officials are looking at expanding the tele-medicine program, which provides video and audio consultation with health care professionals outside the region.

The hospital already has a sizable tele-radiology program, Thompson said, and hospital officials are looking at adding tele-pharmacy, which would allow pharmacy prescriptions 24 hours per day. Other possibilities include tele-neurology, where doctors could consult in the case of a stroke, among other neurological disorders.