Dr. Tricia Benoist Officially Joins TCMH
August 30, 2018
New Tool in TCMH Lab Leads to Better Patient Care
September 7, 2018
“To say that we are proud of our providers and staff would be an understatement,” Wes Murray, TCMH chief executive officer said to the board on Tuesday. “We recognize that it can be very tough to manage expenses when we are in the slower summer months, but our staff has done an amazing job of stewarding our hospital’s resources.”
TCMH just closed the third consecutive month of positive financials that would not have been possible without the support and dedication of the staff that work hard day in and day out.
In July, Jason Loden, DO, our new general surgeon began working at TCMH full-time. When a new physician first starts seeing patients there is always some additional revenue, but usually the startup costs associated with the start of a new physician are larger.
The TCMH surgical department did have some increased costs in July due to the startup of Dr. Loden, but the staff did a great job of making the financial bleed minimal by watching their overtime and supplies expense.
Dr. Loden’s volume is growing every week as well as the positive feedback in the community. His reputation of having an excellent bedside manner with patients and positive daily interactions with staff is spreading quickly.
“The word will continue to spread that Dr. Loden is here and doing a great job and so will his volumes,” Murray said. “We anticipate a strong financial performance in the coming months ahead in that department, and expect that will continue when the new surgery center opens sometime later next year.”
The addition of Teresa Loden, DO, board-certified pediatrician for the TCMH Medial Complex in Houston, and Doug Crase, MD, board-certified family medicine physician for the TCMH Family Clinic in Licking in August, are a huge win for TCMH and our local communities.
The anticipated growth for both new physicians as they get their practices built up will continue to help the hospital meet financial targets in the coming months.
Linda Pamperien, chief financial officer at TCMH, presented the financial report for the month of July.
“Outpatient revenue was again significantly higher than anticipated for the month of July,” Pamerien said. “The emergency department, radiology, and surgery were all busier than expected.”
“Overall revenues were up $135,365 from our budgeted expectations in July,” Pamperien said. “Inpatient volumes were down $187,340, but outpatient revenue was up $372,097.”
TCMH ended the month of July with a positive bottom line of $55,363 and a reduced year-to-date loss of $429,559.
Murray was delighted to have the opportunity to introduce Tricia Benoist, MD, who specializes in family medicine and obstetrics, to the board of trustees.
Dr. Benoist signed a four-year contract with TCMH on Tuesday that will go into effect officially on November 15, 2018, the day after Mercy Clinic in Houston will permanently close their doors in the community.
“We have always treated the Mercy physicians in Houston as if they were our own,” Murray said. “As soon as we were made aware that Mercy was making plans of exiting the community, we immediately began conversations to see how we could go about retaining them.”
TCMH is currently engaged in negotiations with Dr. Benoist’s current partner at Mercy Clinic in Houston, Matthew Brown, MD, who also specializes in family medicine and obstetrics.
Dr. Benoist will be located in the TCMH Medical Complex in Houston starting on November 15, 2018.
“We don’t always know how we are going to make new changes work with our limited space, but full clinics are a positive sign of growth and that means we are taking care of a lot of the citizens in our community,” Murray said.
Murray mentioned that most TCMH patients like getting their care, care for their children, and care for their loved ones right here at home.
“Our community is very fortunate to have this hospital here as a great option for their healthcare needs and we will continue to work hard to make sure they have as many resources here as we can possibly offer,” Murray said.
Present at the meeting were Murray; Pamperien; Jonathan Beers, DO, chief of staff; Rachel Davis, director of public relations; Amanda Turpin, quality director; board members, Jim Perry, OD; Omanez Fockler; Janet Wiseman; and Mark Hampton.
Jay Loveland, board member and Doretta Todd-Willis, chief nursing, were not present for the meeting.
The next meeting of the TCMH board of trustees is Tuesday, September 24 at 12 p.m. in the hospital board room.