Efforts to recruit a new surgeon had been ongoing for several months in response to a 2008 medical staff needs assessment, according to hospital Chief Administrative Officer Parker Templeton.
He reminded Hospital Service District 1 commissioners Thursday during their monthly meeting that earlier in the fiscal year, they had agreed to retain the Merritt Hawkins physician recruitment firm for assistance. As a result, Templeton said, several candidates have been screened and two have been interviewed.
However, he said, he made the recommendation to postpone the search indefinitely to the recruitment and retention committee after review of demographics, population and the ratio of general surgeons. The committee approved the recommendation during its meeting on April 13.
“It’s been four years since we did a thorough medical staff needs assessment and I think before we pull the trigger on a specialist that’s going to cost us a good bit of money we want to make sure we have a solid business plan around it,” he said. He added that a new assessment is scheduled to be conducted in the fourth quarter of the year.
Recruitment efforts will continue with a focus on visiting physicians in the field on ear, nose and throat as well as gastroenterology. Templeton said.
In other business Thursday the board heard from Chief Financial Officer Ron Bailey that a $185,942 loss was realized in March, the sixth month of the fiscal year. The year-to-date bottom line continues to run ahead of projections at $318,472 as compared to a $67,507 budget projection. Gross patient revenue was just over $3.4 million from 80 admissions, 896 emergency room visits and 1,263 outpatient visits.
Post a Comment
