WCCH weighs options for future
PHOTO: The Wyoming County Community Hospital is considering ways to cut back on spending and generate revenue. Photo by Kristy Kibler.
By Maria R. Hayes Empty hospital beds are losing the Wyoming County Community Hospital approximately $10,000 a day, and it might have to lay off workers to make up that loss revenue.
“We’re coming up $10,000 a day short,” Chairman of the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors A.D. Berwanger said. “$10,000 a day times 365 days a year is $3.6 million. We simply can’t lose that. We can’t afford that.”
Recent patient censuses have shown dwindling numbers at the hospital, which serves Wyoming County and the surrounding areas.
For example, the hospital’s acute care unit on the third floor holds 46 beds. It needs to have 30 patients a day to break even, according to Berwanger, but the numbers haven’t matched up. It’s been averaging 18 patients since September 2011. One day in November, it had three beds filled; once in late January, it had ten.
“When we’re only averaging 18 patients, we need to adjust the staff in order to reflect the actual cost,” Berwanger said. “That’s what’s being studied.”
The hospital has not confirmed that it will be laying off workers yet or stated who might be laid off.
“In light of the financial condition of Wyoming County Community Health System and the continuing challenges faced by hospitals and healthcare entities across New York State, the Board of Managers continues to review the system’s staffing levels and operating plans for 2012,” said hospital officials in a statement after a Feb. 28 board meeting. “Any required adjustments to staffing levels will be announced when finalized.”
The board is also looking into affiliate health care systems for the hospital, which would bring in services that the hospital does not currently offer and generate more revenue. They have had interviews with Strong Memorial, the Catholic Health System and the Erie County Medical Center, but haven’t made a decision yet.
“One of the reasons that we’re short on revenue is we don’t have enough business,” Berwanger said. “Prime revenue enhancers come from two areas - orthopedics and urology.”
Currently the hospital has a urology clinic that’s open on a very limited schedule and one orthopedic surgeon. The hospital is trying to develop a relationship with health care providers to arrange for them to bring in physicians like urologists or orthopedic surgeons to create more opportunities to gain revenue.
“What we need is the revenue from the diagnosis, the revenue from the treatment and the revenue from the recuperation,” Berwanger said.
The hospital’s renovations are continuing and the success of the hospital’s Capital One Campaign has helped. The campaign has gathered $4.7 million, with less than $100,000 left to collect.
“Its success was a sign to the board of supervisors that we needed to move forward with this project,” Berwanger said. “No matter what, there is always going to be a hospital here.”
The board is looking to the future of the hospital. In preparation for the retirement of current Chief Executive Officer Dr. Leon Kuczmarski, the county entered into an agreement with the Bonadio Group, a CPA firm, last year. They provided Don Eicenhaur, who has been working with the board to help analyze the financial situation of the hospital.
Eichenhaur specializes in working with troubled hospitals and will be working as interim CEO. Because he will not have the same authority as an official CEO, Berwanger will be sharing in his responsibilities.
Eichenhaur specializes in working with troubled hospitals and will be working as interim CEO. Because he will not have the same authority as an official CEO, Berwanger will be sharing in his responsibilities.
“I attend more meetings. I’m involved in the day-to-day decisions made about planning, employees and personnel,” Berwanger said. “I’m actively involved with discussions as the affiliation process moves forward.” The new responsibilities are in addition to his responsibilities as chairman of the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors. He will receive an additional $20,000 annual stipend for his work, which was decided on and passed by the board of supervisors at their Feb. 14 meeting. Hiring an outside consultant would cost $5,000 a month at minimum or $60,000 a year. Berwanger’s knowledge of the county and connections in the state best qualified him for the position. He has served as chairman of the board for 11 years, 10 of which he has also served as the county administrator. “In those eleven years that I have served as chairman, I have dealt with all of the labor management issues, all of the legal issues, all of the decisions regarding programs here at the county, minus the hospital,” Berwanger said. “I’ve got plenty of experience in dealing with the public sector. I think [the hospital] is more people, but there aren’t too many issues I haven’t seen regarding issues of public employment.” Berwanger’s total compensation will increase to $74,000 annually, including $10,000 for his supervisor role; $4,000 for chairman’s duties; and $40,000 to serve as county administrator. The county administrator serving prior to Berwanger received $78,000 a year, plus benefits. He has been paid $40,000 a year since taking the position. Berwanger makes one third of what someone would normally make in his position, according to town supervisor Joseph Kushner of Eagle. He also does not have a county vehicle or secretary.