Last night the Board of the Laurens County Memorial Hospital held its second meeting after its merger with the Greenville Health System.
According to Laurens County Memorial President Rich D’Alberto, things seem to be going well in all areas here at the Laurens campus. “We are still learning, but so far the transition has been very good, all our employees got paid with only a few minor errors on the checks, the Greenville Health System could not be more accommodating and giving us everything that we asked for, I am very pleased,” said D’Alberto.
Last night’s meeting began with the financial summary for the month of June, which reported income from operations was a loss of $608,274 VS a budgeted loss of $109,067. The hospital had a lower bottom line than the budget due to 10% lower net revenue.
The board was informed that within a few weeks purchase of a one-acre parcel of overgrown land adjacent to the hospital is to be completed. Chair Mike Ellison said “When the purchase of this property is finalized, we will have it cleaned up and will use it to display some new signage.” The Greenville Health System is working on the standardizing signs for every campus. Laurens County Memorial CEO Rich D’Alberto described the new signs as a uniform green color with side curves and a new concept of emergency room signs that are long and red and posted on the road at entrances leading to the emergency department.
Board member Dr. Suzanne Smith reported on the Quality and Academics meeting she attended at the Greenville Campus last Tuesday. She said the meeting mainly dealt with quality and safety issues and financial reports from four hospitals. Attendees received a recent Consumer Reports article that rates 36 of South Carolina’s 77 hospitals. Laurens County Memorial was one of eighteen found in the middle of the list, with only four higher and four below.
Smith emphasized that the ratings were based on patient surveys, and noted that when considering the rating of each hospital consideration must be given to its location and demographics, the types of patient care, and the severity of each patient’s condition.