Craig Daily Press

SamanthaJohnston (Samantha Johnston) says…

Globe:

The TMH annual report is scheduled for release next month. You will receive a publication similar to what you are referencing from YVMC. We waited until April this year so that we could include some information about the new project that won't be avaible for another couple of weeks.

TMH produces an annual report each year - you may have missed it last year. I have copies if you'd like any past editions.

I will post on this forum the day that the report is printed to ensure that everyone here knows where and when to find it.

Thanks,
Sam

Samantha Johnston
TMH, Service Excellence Officer
(970) 826-3109
samantha.johnston@tmhcraig.org

On District unveils building plans

SamanthaJohnston (Samantha Johnston) says…

Stan:

During the mill levy campaign, I discontinued to answer your questions because it became overly apparent to me that no matter what I say, I am not credible to you. You pointed out my past career as a journalist and you pointed out that you think I lack integrity. I don't intend to continue the same useless banter on this forum where I answer your questions and you call me a liar. I am not certain why you continue to ask me questions if you don't believe I'll give you a truthful answer.

If your intent is to post questions that you want people to think about, or to encourage them to believe that we are misleading the public, then I would suggest that you post the questions in that format instead of directed at me, as I don't intend to answer them here.

What I would be most agreeable to is a face-to-face meeting, workshop, whatever it takes to go through this information in detail and to get to the root of the issues that you have. Then you can share the results on the forum with the public however you choose. The questions that you pose here are far beyond a simple yes or no answer and require extensive history and knowledge of our finances. To simply post a figure here in response to what you say won't satisfy anyone but you. So, let's just meet face-to-face. I'll even buy the coffee - with my own money of course.

I am certain that InnoVative Captial, HUD, the feasibilty auditors - anyone in the list of those versed in our finances would be more than happy to shed whatever light you need. If you contact me, I can provide telelphone numbers if you do not already have them.

If you would like to meet with me, I'm available at your convenience. I will be more than happy to post our meeting time and date to those who read your questions on this forum as well if they care to join the conversation and understand the financials at the level that you do.

Sam

Samantha Johnston
TMH, Service Excellence Officer
(970) 826-3109
samantha.johnston@tmhcraig.org

On District unveils building plans

SamanthaJohnston (Samantha Johnston) says…

Highway1340:

To be clear, I have never asked the public to "just trust" The Memorial Hospital. I would be remiss if I suggested that the public at large move forward blindly trusting any entity. If the public has questions, they should ask - without a doubt. It is our job to provide truthful answers.

I believe in this community and I believe in the projects that this community has supported. I am excited about the direction of Craig and I look forward to what it will become with responsible development and growth.

As a hospital official, it is sometimes very difficult to anticipate the questions that people have and what information is "good enough" and what needs more explanation.

I would urge anyone who has a true interest in financials to attend a board meeting (the board of directors meets the last Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Platinum Room of the VNA), or to contact myself or CFO Barry Bergman for a better understanding of the financial picture.

Two pieces for you to understand: yes, the hospital has received DOLA grant funding and other "misceallaneous" revenue items that have inflated the total bottom line. What you will see is that while the picture that is painted today looks rosy because of that, the pro forma for the new project doesn't show imaginary revenue in years to come.

The $28,000 number we are all talking about is nothing secret - it's the overall gain from operations. A year ago, we were negative $350,000. What that shows is that while $28,000 a year isn't enough on its own to make the payments, it’s a marked improvement and we know our revenue will improve conservatively over the coming years.

For several years, TMH has been saving a minimum of $58,000 per month for the new hospital project. Beginning in 2008, the monthly amount was increased to $100,000. We have built some reserves for the project based on this alone.

The increase in revenue we're talking about isn't based on aggressive projections because we think we'll get more patients or provide more services with a new hospital - if that happens, it's a bonus. The increase is an increase in the Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement we are currently getting for the services we currently provide. So, the minute we move into a new hospital, we automatically get higher reimbursement for those two programs for the same exact services we are providing today. We certainly don't expect that we'll provide fewer services to the community, so we will capitalize on increased reimbursement for a similar patient volume.

In the coming weeks, the public will get the chance to view our projects and to see the direction we are heading and to provide input. The process of solid schematic design has been a long and tedious one because of the sheer number of rooms and complexity of the spaces that need to be developed.

Please look for the information forthcoming and don't hesitate to contact me with questions.

Samantha Johnston

On District unveils building plans

SamanthaJohnston (Samantha Johnston) says…

CindyLou and Globe:

Thanks for your inquiries about when you might see something from the hospital with regard to the new hospital project.

Much as the school district has done, the hospital is nearing the final stages of the schematic design phase of the project. This is the phase where all of the offices, departments, etc. are placed into the hospital footprint and the layout of the hospital is planned. This has been a very intense project that has taken many months simply because there are so many departments, rooms, work flow patterns, security issues, etc. that must be worked through in order to maximize the space available for the project. Project architects will be in town next week to go through the final details of a plan that we think is the best one possible. At that point, we will begin the public meeting and input process and the public will have every opportunity to view the work that is being done. I appreciate your eagerness to see our project. I expect our public meetings to begin within the next three weeks.

The Memorial Hospital, architects and project manager met with HUD at the beginning of last week and received the go-ahead to submit the final HUD application. The HUD process requries a pre-application meeting so that the HUD representatives can ensure that the project is viable and something that they are willing to back before they entertain the final application and move to the contract phase. HUD was very enthusiastic about the project and the final application will be submitted within 30 days.
I understand that the financing of the new hospital is of concern to many of you. Our finances are being scrutinized by our lender (InnoVative Captial), HUD's financial team and our auditors - they will be reviewed by three outside entities and I think you will find that TMH has developed a solid plan for how to make this project work.

If you have further questions, don't hesitate to ask. I am available at my office (970) 826-3109 or by email at samantha.johnston@tmhcraig.org.

Samantha Johnston
TMH, Service Excellence Officer

On District unveils building plans

SamanthaJohnston (Samantha Johnston) says…

Nativegirl:

I appreciate your thoughts about NW Colorado Emergency Physicians. You are correct – TMH used to use this billing service for all ER billing and collections.

However, because of experiences just like yours and efficiencies like grannyrett discussed, effective May 1, 2007 (this year), all ER billing was absorbed by the current patient financial services office located in The Memorial Hospital and it is overseen by the TMH Business Office Manager. I am not certain what your particular situation is, but I suspect that your services were probably prior to May 2007, which is how you would continue to have communication with NW Colorado ER Physicians.

On a side note, there are several services billed independently of TMH that include: Xray (Rocky Mountain Radiology), anesthesiology (billed by Dr. Tamara Rice and CRNA Mike Lyon) and specialty services such as urology or orthopedics that are billed from the individual doctors’ primary clinics. All inpatient, day surgery and emergency room visits are billed through TMH. No services after May 1, 2007 are billed through NW CO ER Physicians.

As always, we are happy to assist you with your medical billing questions. Feel free to call (970) 824-9411 and ask for Patient Financial Services.

Samantha Johnston
TMH, Service Excellence Officer
(970) 826-3109
samantha.johnston@tmhcraig.org

On NW CO ER Physicians Billing and NCO Financial Headache!

SamanthaJohnston (Samantha Johnston) says…

native:
Apparently you missed the newspaper article on Tuesday that stated that the deputy was given a careless driving citation, as was the driver of the other vehicle.

On Accidents attributed to icy road

SamanthaJohnston (Samantha Johnston) says…

Native and craigsmike:

I hope that you both take the time to get the facts about this particular situation. I think you will find that you have made judgments prematurely.

On Accidents attributed to icy road

SamanthaJohnston (Samantha Johnston) says…

CindyLou:
Thanks. It works.
Sam

On Pictures over story

SamanthaJohnston (Samantha Johnston) says…

xrsareus:
The plan for the current hospital facility is unknown at this point. The current facility is a county asset, so TMH Board of Trustees and Moffat County Commissioners will go through the proper process to divest a county asset.
To date, we do have a letter of interest from the VNA as the facility would allow them to expand their wellness and aging programs, etc.
Once the election is over and we know whether we will be proceeding with a new hospital, there will be a lot more discussion about what to do with the old building - this will likely be a very public process.
Let me know if you need more information.
Thanks,
Sam

Samantha Johnston
TMH, Service Excellence Officer
(970) 826-3109
samantha.johnston@tmhcraig.org

On The New Hospital

SamanthaJohnston (Samantha Johnston) says…

Stan:

I have answered direct questions for six weeks now with regard to the hospital. I have been honest and forthright and have put hours into researching the things that people want and deserve to understand.

In previous posts you have questioned my integrity as a journalist and my political motives - it is clear to me that you do not find me to be a credible or honest source, so I doubt that I can bring any validation to further issues you raise.

You seem to have a very good handle on this information and I think you have made your position with regard to this issue clear.

We have all had the forum to say our piece - I think it's time to let the voters decide this issue.

Sam

Samantha Johnston
TMH, Service Excellence Officer
(970) 826-3109
samantha.johnston@tmhcraig.org

On The New Hospital