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September 28, 2009

No furloughs at Saints

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer

Employees at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center will not be furloughed, but hospital officials will refocus on new strategies to save money.

Last week, hospital officials were considering a temporary furlough for some management staff members as a means of controlling costs during a time of low patient counts. However, hospital administrator Rick Wallace said Monday other arrangements will be made.

“With furloughs, it’s a temporary fix to a longer-term problem we’re facing relating to the economy and health care. That will be a factor in the future,” Wallace said. “Even though it would be nice to have the immediate satisfaction of a reduction in costs we have refocused our strategy.”

Wallace said the hospital is taking a more balanced approach and will examine how to grow market share. There is no way the hospital can cut costs independent to growing market, he said. The hospital will focus on increasing volumes.

“Again, part of that is seasonal, and at some point we will be back to normal fall levels,” he said.

One example of several strategies being considered is expanding the emergency room to make a fast-track clinic for people who use emergency room as a primary-care facility. That would assist the hospital in managing non-emergency patients who come into the emergency room, separate from true emergency patients.

“Some people don’t really require emergency care and they shouldn’t have to pay emergency room costs. It isn’t fair to the system, or to the patient,” Wallace said.

There are other strategies also in play, Wallace said. He has asked his department managers to focus on their areas to be sure they are not missing something they should be doing and to continue to provide quality care St. Mary’s has a reputation for doing, he said.

Hospital census already has started back up. Last week, patient count was up to 112. After several were released during the weekend, Monday’s count was 92.

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