Hospital switching to electronic records system 

During the Jefferson County Health Center Board of Trustees meeting Monday, CEO Deb Cardin gave an update on the health center?s efforts to qualify for the Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Program.

The program, which provides a financial reward to hospitals for the meaningful use of certified EHR technology, is designed to support the transition of hospitals as they go from paper to electronic records. The program was enacted by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

?We actually started this quarter with attestation,? said Cardin. ?It has been 60 days ? 30 more days and we?ll meet meaningful use and be able to submit the bills for the new purchases.?

Cardin said she anticipated the health center would receive 90 percent of the money spent transitioning to paperless records back in financial incentives.

To meet the meaningful use criteria over the 90-day period, the health center must demonstrate its use of certified electronic health records: in a meaningful manner; for electronic exchange of health information to improve quality of health care; and to submit clinic quality and other measures.

The hospital will need to meet meaningful use for a full year to attest for the program in subsequent years.

In other business, the Jefferson County Health Center received the final distribution from the trust of Dr. Frank McClurg, bringing the total amount the hospital received to almost $381,000.

McClurg was a practicing physician at Jefferson County Hospital for many years, retiring in December 1975. His portrait hangs in the hallway to the medical office building.

?That?s a huge amount and we are extremely grateful,? said Cardin.

Chief financial officer Gene Irwin gave the financial report. The health center?s gross account receivable decreased by $268,819 to $4,191,972 as of June 30. In addition, there is a physician clinic account receivable of $115,993 for a total gross account receivable of $4,307,965. Total allowances were $1,172,000 for a net account receivable of $3,135,965. Days of net revenue in net account receivable total 55 days, which is three days less than last month. The hospital has a total of 54 days of net revenue in net account receivable, and the clinic has one day. Days of gross revenue in gross account receivable total 46 days. The hospital has a total of 45 days, and the clinic has one day.

Acute care patient days was 6.7 percent below budget in June with 152 actual patients of the 163 in the estimated budget. Skilled care patient days came in at about 19 percent above budget for the month with 202 actual patients of the estimated 170.

Negative trends in June included sleep lab at 7.4 percent below yearly budget estimates and cardiac rehab at 20.7 percent below budget.

Lab was 20.5 percent above yearly budget estimates, and physical therapy was up 8.6 percent.