Eller Delivers “State Of Healthcare”
Sonora, CA — Sonora Regional Medical Center President and CEO Jeff Eller highlighted many of the hospital’s recent accomplishments in his “State of Healthcare” report delivered to the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
Eller says that half of California’s community hospitals are currently losing money and one in six have closed in the past decade.
Meanwhile SRMC brought in $145,041,000 in 2008 and expenses totaled $144,370,000 (Net Income = $1.1 million) In comparison, 2007 saw $126,436,000 in revenue and $127,352,000 in expenses (Net Income = -$916,000).
Some of the accomplishments Eller discussed include the following:
-Forest Road Health and Wellness Center recruiting three new physicians and expanding specialty services (orthopedics and urology).
-Prompt Care Forest Road opening to reduce the traffic that typically goes to the Emergency Room.
-Sonora Regional Cancer Center recruiting two new physicians and raising over $60,000 for the Cancer Patient Support Fund.
-Project Hope Providing 1,175 free health visits.
There were initially concerns that the transfer of Emergency Room services from Tuolumne General Hospital would result in a 50% increase at SRMC. Eller says the patient volume has been up only 11.3% in the Emergency Room, noting a successful campaign encouraging patients to consider Prompt Care as an alternative.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com
