January 10, 2024 |
Photo – MHCC – Bigfoot99 file photo
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County is trying new ways to increase revenue, says the CEO.
At the January 2nd Carbon County Commissioners meeting, MHCC Chief Operating Officer Rex Walk updated the board on the steps he has been taking to strengthen the hospital’s financial health.
Walk took over as Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s CEO after the resignation of Ken Harmon in May of last year. Since that time, Walk has been trying to bring in more money for the financially strapped facility.
During the January 2nd meeting, Walk said he will meet with the hospital’s medical providers and board of trustees to find a way to lower costs. Walk said he has ideas to make better use of the provider’s time in 2024. The hospital CEO said he won’t keep doing the same things over and over again.
Walk said he is working on ways to improve various systems at the facility. The hospital CEO said he will start by creating a better phone system to allow patients to pay their medical bills.
The hospital CEO said patients have repeatedly expressed frustration about not being able to get ahold of someone when calling the hospital to pay their bills.
Walk said he has increased the number of patients doctors in Rawlins will see each day. The hospital CEO said he believes patients will appreciate the additional appointment availability.
Walk said in 2023, he brought appointment scheduling for all MHCC clinics across the county into the hospital. Walk said the plan failed to consider the unique needs of each clinic. The hospital CEO said that program will end soon.
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County Marketing, Communications, and Foundation Director Stephanie Hinkle said staff are looking at every aspect of the hospital’s operations to determine where improvements can be made.
CEO Walk said he is creating a new quality assurance program to facilitate the necessary improvements. Walk said he stopped the previous QA program shortly after arriving in May.
When Walk took over as CEO of Memorial Hospital of Carbon County, the facility had over $16 million in unpaid medical bills. To keep the hospital operational, Walk procured a $1.2 million emergency loan from the Wyoming Department of Health. The hospital CEO said he has begun to repay the loan.
MHCC Foundation Director Hinkle said the hospital has been working with the University of Colorado to investigate if the facility qualifies for rural health clinic status. Being designated a rural health clinic provides additional Medicare and Medicaid payments. Hinkle said the process has started. The hospital foundation director said later this month, the board of trustees will decide if rural health clinic status is the best option for the hospital.
During the January 2nd county commissioner meeting, CEO Walk did not provide a detailed update on the hospital’s financial situation. Walk said he will have new Interim Chief Financial Officer Scott Miller go through the finances at a future meeting.
