A downward trend in adjusted patient days at Allen County Hospital that started in 2005 has reversed itself slightly with Allen County Regional Hospital’s opening, Administrator Ron Baker told Allen County commissioners Tuesday.
But, “we haven’t picked up to where we need to be,” Baker said, noting that most of the influx has been among outpatient services.
The disruption of Allen County taking control of the hospital from Hospital Corporation of America and the move to North Kentucky Street has been a factor, he said.
Meanwhile, swing-bed care has been a lifeline.
Baker explained the service is used by patients who have had major procedures, usually elsewhere, and are rehabilitating at ACRH. An illustration is something such as a hip replacement necessitating extended therapy, often as much as four to six weeks.
That’s how ACRH can participate in orthopedic procedures though it lacks an orthopedic surgeon. Both a surgeon and the equipment he or she needs comes at a high price.
“A screw (to mend a broken bone) doesn’t cost 20 cents, it’s more like $200,” Baker observed, and that full-blown inventory can range to $400,000 worth of joints, plates, screws and other devices.
Consequently, Iola area residents go elsewhere for surgery and then come home for extended rehabilitation and care.
Greater swing-bed and outpatient numbers also have driven an increase in physical and occupational therapy needs, which led to additional personnel in that department.
That prompted a management observation: Baker said he was eager to hire additional personnel when demand dictated, but wanted to be certain of need beforehand, an approach that permits him to say that during his career in hospital management he has not had to lay off any employees.
In his zeal to enhance swing-bed use, Baker said, “We need to get out to the urban hospitals and let them know about the resources we have here.”
WILL THE Affordable Care Act reduce reimbursement to ACRH by the federal government, through Medicare?
“It’s hard to say at this point,” Baker said.
Statistics are sobering. About half the nation’s hospitals, including ACRH, are critical access, but consume only 5 to 8 percent of the Medicare budget. Critical access hospitals are small hospitals with 25 or fewer hospital beds and receive higher reimbursements from Medicare as compared to larger hospitals.
