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Flu boosts hospital numbers |
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Written by Reporter1
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Thursday, 19 November 2009 |
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Page 2 of 2
outbreak of flu cases in the area.
Hospital Executive Director Marvin L. Baird reported admissions to the hospital were up 11.4 percent from the previous month. But the eye-boggling statistics came with the fact that the number of patients seen by emergency room physicians in October over the same month in 2008 was up 56 percent, and that the number of patients admitted to the hospital for care shot up 145 percent from a year ago.
Baird said the hospital had just under 1,200 patients in the emergency room in October and up to that point had been seeing between 950-1,000 patients per month. Year-to-date, the ER visits are up 0.7 percent while the admissions from the emergency department are down 3.3 for the year.
The lion's share of admissions to the hospital come through the emergency room, according to Baird.
Admissions overall for the 2009 calendar year are down 6.1 percent despite the climb in October, with a 20 percent drop in in-patient observation, a 14.3 cut in newborns, and a 5.4 percent slice in the non-Medicare patients. Baird said patient census days rose 8.7 percent in October from September and 12.9 percent from October of 2008. The average daily census for the critical care access facility was 16.42 patients in October compared to a yearly average of 15.33 per day.
Surgical cases also were up in October at AMH from the previous month, with in-patients seeing a 16 percent hike and outpatient surgeries going up 10.6.
The total number of outpatients seeking service at AMH was up 3.2 in October from figures a year earlier and year-to-date are 1.4 percent higher than 2008.
Baird said the addition of orthopaedic surgeon Dr. David Coats in August and Dr. Nick Nussbaum, a general practitioner in Monroe earlier in the year, have contributed significantly to the hospital's improved status by bringing additional services and patients to the hospital.
He added that there is a strong possibility another general practitioner may be added to the AMH staff next year. A physician who is currently paying back his public health service obligation in a medically-underserved area in Missouri has indicated interest in locating in Adams County. The doctor is originally from southern Wells County.
Statistics from the AHN nursing home and retirement facilities showed approximately the same numbers from a month ago.
The Woodcrest Nursing Home has 119 of 120 beds filled while the Village of Heritage is also busy with 59 of 61 beds occupied.
Baird said the hospital continues to search for ways to reduce the number of open villas and apartments at the Woodcrest Independent Living areas as 32 of 42 villas are currently filled while 39 of 48 apartments are spoken for.
At Evergreen Court Apartments, the AHN assisted living facility, 26 of 34 rooms are filled.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 November 2009 )
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