By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Shawn Lerch, Miners’ Colfax Medical Center (MCMC) CEO, informed the crowd assembled on Tuesday evening, August 23rd, about the various and many aspects of MCMC that continues to grow not only in size, but revenue. Lerch reported an increase of almost $10 million in patient revenue over last year which translated to a total overall increase of $2 million in operating revenues.
Lerch began the presentation by setting forth the mission and values of the organization. Construction began on the current Long Term Building site in 1904 and the Miners Hospital facility opened in 1905. He noted the current acute care facility on Hospital Drive is a primary health care facility. He went on to explain in detail how the MCMC team is proceeding to service the patients of the area by offering services that are needed by the area.
Lerch noted the hospital’s outreach clinic for black lung is ranked at the top nationally, as the result of the hard work provided by Candice Evans and her crew. He noted the acute care facility is rated in the top 100 facilities for acute care critical access hospitals with the MCMC Long Term care facility rated in the top five nationally. More improvements for the long term facility are underway and will be completed soon with one being an upgrade to the courtyard and an expansion in the memory care unit.
Lerch is looking at improving the facility with behavioral health services and partnering with other doctors to bring more oncology and urology to the area and Cardiac services are slated to begin in early September.
Retention of staff and recruitment of new staff is also a top priority for MCMC. Payroll for the hospital climbed to over $15 million in 2016 as did revenues. The efforts of all departments saw a decrease in expenses over the year. Overall, MCMC saw a net increase, which is even more impressive when noting a decrease in state funding.
Lerch also noted that the ICU is temporarily closed because of staffing issues. The hospital is searching for critical care nurses to staff the ICU and will have the ICU reopened in September.
Lerch thanked the crowd and offered up the treats provided by the dietary staff and tours of the new facility.
