DAYTON—When they met on Nov. 27, the Columbia County Hospital District Board of Commissioners approved a request from CEO Shane McGuire to apply for a loan to purchase a GE ultrasound machine for regular diagnostic and cardiac testing.

So far this year there have been 362 ultrasound referrals, which adds up to eight months of work for an ultrasound technologist working one day a week, McGuire told the commissioners. All the physicians have been asking for ultrasound technology, he added.

McGuire said the cost for the ultrasound equipment is about $90,000.

He also reported that utreach and business enhancement initiatives continue at CCHS. He said his team presented the swing bed program and behavior health service lines when they visited St. Joseph Regional Medical Clinic and Tri-State Memorial Hospital discharge teams in Lewiston and Clarkston on Nov. 17.

“I took my road show on the road again, said McGuire. “This always leads to higher census for us.”

McGuire said that an agreement has been reached for the design of the hyperbaric wound care services center. A place for the liquid oxygen plant has been identified, along with specifications for the design team.

“We talked to the state about hyperbaric services, and they are willing to review our design when we are ready,” McGuire said.

McGuire said the cost for the service is yet to be determined, and that he hopes to get an estimate from Leonie and Keeble, LLC, without having to draft full construction documents.

Nephrologists and staff at St. Joseph in Lewiston will help with the new in-patient program at Dayton General Hospital, McGuire said.

McGuire met recently with the DSHS construction review services about converting all six rooms in the east hall annex to swing beds, which will add rooms that were lost due to the construction project.

“They were open to both options and explained that the next step would be to fill out an application for project review, and get a CRS number,” McGuire said. The hospital is licensed for twenty beds, he said.

“Tom Dingus from the hospital’s accounting firm AZT, will help with the business plan, McGuire said.

The hospital renovation project is on track for a Phase I completion at the end of December, according to the project manager, Carl Moses. Phase II demolition effecting Radiology, the business office and the café is scheduled for the first week of January.

The new pharmacy department has been completed, and is being occupied; flooring is being installed in the rehabilitation gym and in the bathrooms; and the wall surfaces in the therapy pool area are being finished.

“Revenue continues to be good,” McGuire said about CCHS finances.

In his cash flow and financial statements to the commissioners, McGuire said that October’s cash grew by $510,000 with net accounts receivable dropping with improved collections. There was a net operational income of $40,810 with a net income of $175,610 after non-operating revenue.

The year-to-date bottom line shows a net income of $792,117. After performing an interim cost report, there is a net payable back to Medicare of $280,000.

“This indicates Medicare believes they’ve overpaid us on costs to provide services,” McGuire said.

McGuire said accounts payable was up by $15,422, which has been impacted by computer system conversions.

The year-to-date gross patient revenue in October was $1.4 million over projected budget, and conservative estimates on net collections continue. $3,102,225 has been withheld from gross revenue, which is $1,000,349 more than budget, according to McGuire.