SENECA — Despite a bad economy and turmoil in the health care industry, Oconee Medical Center (OMC) finished its fiscal year in the black and ahead of budget.

For the fiscal ending Sept. 30, the center’s profit was $4,521,689, which was more than $400,000 better than budget and was $1.5 million more than last year’s margin.

Total revenues for the year were just under $147 million, which was 4.5 percent better than budget and $13.5 million more than last year.

OMC saw a definite increase in both volume and revenue after the new patient tower opened in June. That opening, however, also resulted in significant increases in staffing and supply costs.

This past fiscal year, OMC paid out $54.6 million in wages.

The hospital also finished the year strong with September discharges 24 percent above budget. Emergency visits were 10 percent above budget, and Home Health and the Cottingham House for Hospice Care were both 27 percent above budget.

Vice President for Finance Greg Scarbrough told board members recently that revenues were about 3.5 percent above budget at $13 million for the month, but due to end-of-year adjustments the monthly margin was only $71,967 compared to a budgeted margin of $189,443.

Construction

Vice President of Operations Hunter Kome reported at the most recent board meeting that work on The New Life Center for Joint Health is on schedule.

Renovation of the old progressive care and critical care units on the second floor continues with demolition nearly complete. Opening of the unit, which currently operates out of the new tower, is expected in spring. Triangle Construction is the contractor.

Work has also started on a new shop for the Biomedical Equipment department that maintains and repair beds, infusion pumps and other types of clinical equipment. The unit will be moving from the second floor of the old building to the basement of the new tower.

Trehel Corporation is the contractor for both this project and the renovation of an office in the Omni Center for a new urologist and gastroenterologist. Opening is targeted for mid-November.

Flu preparations

Vice President of Quality and Collaboration Reba Cartee updated the Board on flu preparation efforts. OMC has vaccinated about 1,100 employees for seasonal flu and expects H1N1 vaccine to start arriving any day. Frontline caregivers will be vaccinated first, and vaccine will be offered to other staff as it becomes available.

brett@dailyjm.com | (864) 882-2375