Show Low Census Apparent Cause Of Hospital Oper Operating ting g Deficit The high daily dally percentage of unused beds at nt the I I. I W. W Allen hospital Is the main deterrent to operating that tha institution with without without without out a continued high tax levy It appeared to the Grand county commissioners following surveys by the commissioners and a report report report re re- re- re port given by Ed Mehle hospital manager at the commissioners meeting Monday Total expenditures at the hospital hospital hospital hos hos- pital for Cor the first six months of 1958 were Total charges to patients during that period were with actual ac collections or money received reedy reedy- ed through patients being 55 The difference between the amount collected and arid the expenditures left an operating deficit of for Cor the six month period Percentage of collections collections collections col col- during the period were considered high being above most county hospitals Most of this deficit however will vill be covered from tax money received from a four mill mm levy fixed by the county for the hos hos- pital This levy will vill bring in approximately approximately ap ap- ap proximately for the entire entire entire en en- tire year The four foul mill levy is the legal limit permitted by the state for fOl hospital operation During the past few weeks Mr Mehle at the request of the commissioners obtained statistical statistical statistical statis statis- data from oth other r hospitals and from printed reports as a means of comparing expenditures and income at the I. I W. W Allen Institution and other hospitals of near the size While a complete complete com corn piete analysis of these comparisons comparisons comparisons has not yet been made the fact that the Grand county hospital has a larger number of unused beds Is very much ap ap- ap I ap-I parent Comparing this Institution institution institution tion with American Fork Payson Payson Pay Pay- son and Tooele figures figure show that the American Fork has 34 beds and the daily dally census beIng being being be be- ing 24 patients Payson with 36 beds and the average daily dally census census census cen cen- sus being 22 patients Tooele having 36 beds and an average of 24 patients These are averages averages averages aver aver- ages for 1957 The hospital at Moab has 36 bels with an average average average av av- av- av census of 9 patients The fact that the hospital was over built for the needs of this area seemed apparent from Crom these statistics but it is the belief of the commissioners and Mr Mehle that a large number of people were going out of town for hospitalization hospitalization hos- hos rather than avail themselves of the facilities at Moab While actual statistics as asto asto asto to the probable extent of this practice practice- are not available it was pointed out the indications were that several people were going out of town in spite of the fact that the local hospital Is well equipped for almost all types of patient needs and Is well staff staff- ed l. l Proficient doctors are arc also available In Moab with all facilIties facilIties facilities facil facil- at the hospital ready for Cor their us use in meeting the needs of patients Another fact revealed by the statistics showed that the I. I W. W Allen hospital charges for beds was lower than many hospitals of oC comparable size Payroll expenditure expenditure ex ex- figures show that compared compared com corn pared to the same hospitals Moab has a small number of hospital hospital hospital hos hos- pital employees and a pay lower roll The American Fork hospital 47 persons with an annual annual annual an an- nual payroll of Payson Payson Payson Pay- Pay son 36 employees with a payroll payroll pay pay- roll of Tooele 32 perSons persons persons per per- sons the payroll being I I. I W. W Allen hospital 31 persons with an annual payroll payroll payroll pay pay- roll of I IThe The statistics compiled by Mr 1 Mehle and other hospital reports reports reports re re- re- re ports are to be presented to the next meeting of the County hospital hospital hospital hos hos- pital board where the situation will vill be further discussed I |