By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Two months into the fiscal year, Sitka Community Hospital is reporting income coming in almost $600,000 better than expected.
“That’s pretty darn good,” hospital CEO Rob Allen said. “It would be nice to see that continue, but we’re coming into our slower months.”
After a strong July, the hospital reported August income at $415,000, which is quite a bit higher than the $109,000 expected in the budget.
“After adding in city support, the bottom line was $502,000 which was $309,000 better than the budgeted bottom line of $192,000 (for August),” Allen said. “Year to date, we’re at $800,000 in the black ... and $957,000 in the black year to date including the tobacco tax money.”
The hospital currently has $4.1 million in the bank, the highest it’s been in a year and a half, he said.
The main growth was seen in the area of inpatient volume, including 389 combined swing bed and acute care days, compared to the 239 expected, for July and August.
“Everywhere else was close to budget,” Allen said. Long-term care was a little higher than expected, as well.
Clinic visits were at 1,702 for July and August, down from the 2,226 expected, and home health was at 343, down from the 510 in the budget.
Allen said in general things have been going well at the hospital.
“It’s been busy,” he said. “It’s been good to see that growth in inpatient (volume) and we’re pretty close in everything else.”
After the Assembly’s 6-1 vote to move forward on SEARHC’s proposal to purchase the SCH health care business, there were some resignations and a few other workers have given notice. However, Allen said, the workforce has been mainly stable.
“Everybody’s kind of waiting to see what happens with the election, and the letter of intent,” Allen said. “The level of uncertainty has changed. There’s still unknowns but people feel better knowing how it might unfold.”
After the Assembly voted to move forward with the SEARHC offer, there have been several meetings between SCH staff and SEARHC officials to answer questions.
