Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
The Oct. 24 meeting of the Washakie Medical Center Board of Directors began with the board receiving thanks from the Washakie Hospital Foundation.
Representatives of the foundation Keith Van Brunt and Mary Jo Hake came to the meeting to express thanks to hospital employees who participated in an optional payroll deduction campaign to raise donation funds for the organization.
Van Brunt said, “Our initial goal was for employees to have 5 percent participation and raise about $2,000. But we have such an amazing community that we had almost 29% participation and we raised $13,033 dollars, which is absolutely amazing, and we just don’t know how to say thank you enough because it affects a lot of people.”
Van Brunt, in an interview Tuesday, said, “The Foundation has different funds. One is General Fund of which helps around the community with projects such as mental health education, search and rescue drone, diaper bank, Sleep In Heavenly Peace and others. The Cancer Fund is cancer specific and those funds are gifts to those annually to help with uncovered expenses associated with cancer therapies travel, food hotel, and etc.
“At this time there hasn’t been a determination on which fund the Washakie payroll deduction is going to as it could be one or a combination of funds. It has not been determined as it will not start until after the first of the year.”
NEW FLIGHT OPTION
Hospital CEO Jay Stallings announced that a new medical flight option would be available soon. He said, “First Flight of Wyoming is an ambulatory flight service.
Stallings stated that First Flight of Wyoming was formed by a partnership between Cody Regional Health in Cody and St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, Montana. At the time of the meeting, he said he did not know how a subscription to this service would compare price-wise with Guardian Flight.
Stallings added, “We are very fortunate here in this area to have air transport, but it’s no guarantee. Having another option should help with availability.”
FINANCE REPORT
Deb Coronado filled in for Chief Financial Officer Jennifer McMillan to go over last month’s finances.
Washakie Medical Center’s gross revenue in September was $5 million, up $100,000 from the prior month.
Net revenue was $3 million, down $100,000 from the prior month.
Total expenses for the hospital in Sept. were $2.7 million, under forecast by $390,000.
The net income of Washakie Medical Center for the month of Sept. was $52,000. The net loss of the hospital for the year is $658,000. All losses are covered by Banner Health.