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THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. TUNE 25, 2008 - PAGE 3A
Medical Center In The
Black In '08, Same In '09?
By Mark Beardsley
BJC Medical Center will finish
this fiscal year in the black, and
officials expect the same thing
for next year.
Meeting Monday afternoon,
the BJC Medical Center Author
ity approved without comment
a budget for 2008-09 that starts
July 1.
Based on expectations of two
percent higher admissions, simi
lar volume in the emergency
room, a four percent price in
crease and two percent more
bad debt, the budget projects a
$124,000 bottom line at the end
of the year, explained Bill Wil
liams, chief financial officer.
The hospital has operated in
the black since 2004, according
to Williams.
Gross revenue is budgeted at
$58.4 million, but net revenue
at $29.7 million, meaning the
medical center expects to be re
imbursed less than 50 cents for
every dollar billed.
Bad debts and charity costs are
expected to total $6 million.
The end result also depends
upon the medical center getting
$600,000 — the same as this year
— in state funds. While Gov. Son
ny Perdue has ordered agencies
to cut their budgets by five per
cent, Williams said the governor
“has said he will not reduce the
upper payment limit.’'
The budget also includes four
percent merit pay increases for
employees on their anniversary
dates. It includes no significant
changes in employment.
In the course of listing the high
lights of the budget, Williams re
vealed that he expects BJC to end
the year $250,000 in the black.
Companies Express Interest
In Helping Build Hospital
By Mark Beardsley
A Chattanooga CPA firm is ana
lyzing proposals from three firms
that might be interested in help
ing build a new hospital in Com
merce.
It could be months before local
officials know how serious the in
quiries are, officials say.
“We have some suitors, but
nobody’s offered a ring yet,’’
quipped chief financial officer Bill
Williams.
After the Jackson County Board
of Commissioners balked at is
suing bonds to build a new hos
pital last year, the authority sent
requests for proposals to 15-20
major players in the health care
business seeking a partner — even
a takeover — that would result in a
new hospital.
“A new hospital is our number
one goal,’’ Williams declared.
Five companies sent responses.
Two dropped out after Decosimo
CPAs started asking questions,
Williams said.
The process is in the very pre
liminary stages.
'There is no deal. There may not
be a deal,’’ Williams said. “Hon
estly, you can’t say there will be
at this point. There are complex
negotiations with a couple of key
objectives from our point.’’
The names of the responding
entities are not being released due
to confidentiality agreements, ac
cording to Williams.
CEO Jim Yarborough said all five
who initially responded “recog
nized the need to grow our staff’’
and liked the growth potential of
the area.
“We are looking for a company
that has the wherewithal to build a
new hospital,’’ said Williams.
—BJC Backs Its Surgeon
Cont. from Page 1A
four plaintiffs) could make these
allegations.
“We will defend our position in
regard to these allegations,’’ he
told the board.
After the meeting, both
Yarborough and chief financial
officer Bill Williams said Ash’s
surgical record is exceptional.
The numbers (of surgical cases
resulting in death or compli
cations) do not fall out (of the
norm),’’ Yarborough said.
This is a doctor who has a one
percent death or complication
rate,’’ Williams added.
Yarborough lamented the “bad
publicity’’ created by the lawsuit
and expressed hope that some of
Dr. Ash’s patients will stand up
for him. He also pointed out than
none of the alleged problems
resulted in a death and suggested
that some of the allegations might
constitute “legal malpractice.’’
Williams predicted that the
plaintiffs and their attorney will
“look bad in front of the judge,’’
once the facts are known.
“Most of these charges are
groundless,’’ he declared.
Williams also took exception
to statements in the lawsuit that
Ash is primarily responsible
for turning the medical center’s
finances from red ink to black.
He produced statistics indicat
ing that for May, for example,
Ash ranked fifth in inpatient
revenue and sixth in outpatient
revenue among hospital staff
members.
“The most important issue (in
the financial turnaround) is the
recruiting of internists and is relat
ed to their inpatient admissions,’’
he said. “In the total scheme of
things, his (numbers) are not a
major amount.’’
Williams indicated that prelimi
nary discussions with the hospi
tal’s insurance company indicate
a strong interest in fighting the
allegations, although he conced
ed that whether to fight or settle
may be the decision of the insur
ance company, not the hospital
authority.
In addition to alleging malprac
tice against Ash, the suit claims
that the medical center was neg
ligent in its credentialing of Ash
and participated with Ash “in a
pattern of racketeering activity’’
against the plaintiffs.
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Community Calendar
To place events on the Community Calendar, call 706-387-5406 or e-mail mark@mainstreetnews.com
Thursday, June 26
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Saturday, June 28
Farmers' market: 7 a.m. to 11
a.m., South Elm Street, Com
merce (across from Spencer
Park). Locally grown fresh
produce will be offered. The
market is open the first and
third Saturday of each month.
It is also open today for the City
Lights Festival.
City Lights Festival: all day
at Spencer Park in downtown
Commerce. Music, food and
entertainment sponsored by the
Commerce Downtown Develop
ment Authority.
Tuesday, July 1
JCCO meets: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Hospital conference room.
Jackson County Community
Outreach is a grassroots com
munity organization.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, July 3
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Friday, July 4
Independence Day: All
overnment offices and many
usinesses closed.
Saturday, July 5
Farmers' market: 7 a.m. to
11 a.m., South Elm Street, Com
merce (across from Spencer
Park). Locally grown fresh pro
duce will be offered. The market
is open the first and third Satur
day of each month.
Monday, July 7
Commerce Council meets:
6:00 p.m., City Hall. This "work
session" prepares the city coun
cil for its regular meeting the
following Monday.
Nicholson Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Maysville Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Tuesday, July 8
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, July 10
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, July 14
Commerce Council meets:
6:30 p.m., Commerce Room,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce High School
media center. The Commerce
Board of Education operates
the city's independent school
system.
Tuesday, July 15
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, July 17
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce. The Pilot Club of
Commerce meets on the third
Thursday of each month.
Saturday, July 19
Farmers' market: 7 a.m. to
11 a.m., South Elm Street, Com
merce (across from Spencer
Park). Locally grown fresh pro
duce will be offered. The market
is open the first and third Satur
day of each month.
Monday, July 21
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Hospital. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
The Commerce Library Board
oversees the city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart patients
and their families.
Tuesday, July 22
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, July 24
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Monday, July 28
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planning Commission makes
recommendations to the city
council on zoning requests and
land use matters.
Tuesday, July 29
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, July 31
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Saturday, Aug. 2
Farmers' market: 7 a.m. to 11
a.m., South Elm Street, Com
merce (across from Spencer
Park).
Locally grown fresh produce
will be of ered. The market is
open the first and third Satur
day of each month.
Monday, Aug. 4
Commerce Council meets:
6:00 p.m., City Hall. This "work
session" prepares the city coun
cil for its regular meeting the
following Monday.
Nicholson Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Maysville Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Tuesday, Aug. 5
JCCO meets: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Hospital conference room.
Jackson County Community
Outreach is a grassroots com
munity organization.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Wednesday, Aug. 6
Chamber breakfast: 7:30
p.m. Jefferson Civic Center.
Open to all members of the
Jackson County Area Chamber
of Commerce. Members $5,
guests $10.
Thursday, Aug. 7
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce Elementary
School media center. The work
session prepares the Commerce
Board of Education for its
regular meeting the following
Monday.
Monday, Aug. 11
Commerce Council meets:
6:30 p.m., Commerce Room,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce High School
media center. The Commerce
Board of Education operates
the city's independent school
system.
Tuesday, Aug. 12
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, Aug. 14
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Saturday, Aug. 16
Farmers' market: 7 a.m.
to 11 a.m., South Elm Street,
Commerce (across from Spen
cer Park). Locally grown fresh
produce will be offered. The
market is open the first and
third Saturday of each month.
Monday, Aug. 18
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Hospital. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
The Commerce Library Board
oversees the city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart patients
and their families.
Tuesday, Aug. 19
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, Aug. 21
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce. The Pilot Club of
Commerce meets on the third
Thursday of each month.
Monday, Aug. 25
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planning Commission makes
recommendations to the city
council on zoning requests and
land use matters.
Tuesday, Aug. 26
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, Aug. 28
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Li
brary.
DFACS Looks For New Director
By Brandon Reed
The Jackson County Department of Family and Children Services
board is looking for a new director.
Current DFCS director Cathy Bitterman will soon retire. The board
learned last Wednesday that DHR regional director David Kelley has
already begun advertising to fill the position.
The board chose a two-member panel to interview applicants and to
recommend a slate of two to three candidates to the DHR Commis
sioner, who will select the new director.
Kelley will be one of three people filling in during the interim.
The board also learned that the total number of child protective ser
vice referrals for May was 71, up from 41 in April, bringing the total
number of cases for the year to 1,327. There were 208 food stamp ap
plications submitted in May, up from 192 in April. The office has seen a
total of 88 placement cases this year.
Bitterman also informed the board that the county has the 12th best
“food stamp accuracy rate’’ in the nation, an improvement from 49th
last year.
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