CVPH admissions up, profit down

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January 28, 2010

By JEFF MEYERS The Press Republican Thu Jan 28, 2010, 10:44 AM EST

PLATTSBURGH — CVPH Medical Center saw an increase in admissions for the 2009 calendar year while earning just over $4 million in profit, a slight drop from 2008.

The hospital treated an average of 1,048 patients per day, including 11,128 total admissions for the year, according to figures released at the annual CVPH Corp. meeting this week.

That total represented an increase of just over 700 from the 10,524 patients admitted in 2008.

“We’re meeting the needs of the community and meeting them well,” said Board of Directors Chairman Paul Sands, who praised the hospital’s efforts to “weather the crisis” in facing a series of cuts in state aid, as well as the unclear future of health-care reform.

“CVPH has met and continues to meet those challenges.”

BOARD CHANGES

Sands, who is stepping down as chair and board member for the corporation, also praised the hospital for its efforts to expand the surgical wing and open the new Miner office building.

Sands will continue to chair Community Providers Inc., the parent organization for the Medical Center. John Masella will take over as chair for the CVPH Board of Directors, and Herb Carpenter will fill the vacant seat on the board.

CVPH President and Chief Executive Officer Stephens Mundy took time to praise the hospital’s more than 2,300 staff members and 236 physicians, as well as the continued support of the community.

“This is your Medical Center, not our Medical Center,” he said to the dozens of community members in attendance, noting that the administration, staff and physicians are there to effectively manage the community’s assets in the hospital.

CHALLENGES

CVPH does face several major areas of concern, he added, citing current and pending budget cuts and the uncertain future of health-care reform.

Some proposals brought forward for reform on the national level could have a positive impact on the hospital, Mundy said, but with so many uncertainties, it is difficult to plan for possible changes in health-care delivery.

FINANCIAL PICTURE

Joyce Rafferty, vice president of finance at CVPH, presented the 2009 financial figures and highlighted a reduction in the length of stay per patient, even while seeing the increased admissions and treating patients with more severe illnesses.

Spending less time in the hospital is beneficial for both patient and the facility. Patients typically heal better at home rather than during an extended hospital pay.

Also hospitals are reimbursed at a fixed amount for care based on the discharge diagnosis, meaning longer stays tend to be more expensive for the hospital.

The Medical Center’s bottom line of $4,018,775 in profits represents 1.6 percent of the overall cost of operating the hospital, a decrease from $4,112,327 in 2008.

It costs around $600,000 per day to keep CVPH operating, Rafferty said.

MEDICAL ADVANCES

Cynthia Gardner, vice president of patient services, described the hospital’s success in initiating an “hourly rounds” program, which has nurses and other staff visiting patients on an hourly basis to check on their needs.

Wouter Rietsema, vice president of medical affairs, identified advances in customer service in the Emergency Department, including efforts to treat an increase in patients during the height of the H1N1 flu epidemic.

Debra Donahue, vice president of planning and professional services, also highlighted services that have helped decrease the overall length of stay for patients, including a newly formed joint camp for patients recovering from total joint-replacement procedures.

FUNDRAISING

Pat Russell, vice president of the CVPH Foundation, released figures that showed the foundation had raised more than $151,000 for its annual campaign and was approaching its goal of $71 million for its capital campaign for the new surgical wing.

Mundy concluded the meeting by stressing his confidence that the Medical Center is well-positioned to meet the community’s future needs and challenges.

E-mail Jeff Meyers at:

jmeyers@pressrepublican.com