Indigent care status uncertain
By JACQUIE BRASHER

Emanuel Medical Center CEO Len Daugherty informed the Hospital Authority board Tuesday, Aug. 28 that the future of the Indigent Care Trust Fund was still uncertain. He said he had attended a meeting of the Georgia Chapter of Healthcare Executives in Atlanta recently and about $20 million in funding for the ICTF at Grady Memorial was expected to be cut. Later in the meeting, Daugherty said that the outcome for ICTF in rural areas was "uncertain" and that funding could be cut as much as 10 or 15 percent. "We have no way of knowing," he said.

Daugherty also informed the board that the Leapfrog patient study had ranked EMC 65th out of 1,293 hospitals across the country in customer satisfaction.

In the financial report, Rhonda Durden reported a net loss of $314,000 for the month of July, with $1.9 million in collections. Collections for the Emergency Room was $176,000. (The hospital's line of credit is $1.6 million; the hospital currently owes $1 million.)

Chairman Mitchell Fagler reported, "For the eightmonth period prior to Brihm coming on board, collections from January to August 2006 were $14,527,107. Collections for January to August of this year after Brihm...revenue enhancements were $17,913,679." He said this was an increase of 23.3 percent in collections.

Board member Clark Dixon asked, "So how are we still where we are financially?" Daugherty said operating expenses were a factor. Durden said that there was "substantial usage of cash reserves and the line of credit" at the end of FY 2006 (June 30). Fagler added, "Prior to August or September of last year, we were getting $150,000 to $200,000 every single month from the line of credit. But since that time...we haven't had to get anymore from that line of credit."

The board discussed putting the medical office buildings on Victory Drive up for sale. The original motion was to have the buildings appraised and put on the market. Dr. Anthony Howard expressed reluctance in giving the board permission to put the buildings up for sale. Dr. Ray asked for a reason for the sale and Fagler replied, "To get out of the rental business." Daugherty added, "In this particular case, we're trying to figure out ways to increase as much cash as possible." Dr. Ray said he was not against selling the buildings but thought that the "doctors should get first shot" at the properties. A motion was then made to get the buildings appraised only. Motion was approved.

The board approved the following:

• Buy-out of the lease on the hematology machine for $6,000.

• Purchase of a defibrillator and stretchers with funds from SPLOST.

• Stereotactic breast biopsy privileges to Dr. Somsak Wattanawanakul and Dr. Brad Headley.

Re-appointments

Dr. Pairach Pintavorn, Dr. Tracyan Mendez, Dr. Alvin Bryan.

Temporary privileges

Dr. Earl Taylor.

Resignations

Dr. Wayne Mosley, Dr. Robert Polglase.

After an executive session to discuss personnel, the board reconvened with no action taken.

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