Hospital Dealing with Same Work, Less Income

How to deal with the same workload and $13 million less income is occupying much of Theresa Rutherford's time.

St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital's President and CEO told a Chamber First Friday Luncheon audience that they are working to provide the same or greater level of care while dealing with reduced income.

(THERESA RUTHERFORD)

Rutherford said there's much to be excited about, including the $7 million renovation of the Emergency Department. A major component will be private rooms in the ED. She said, "When I'm not well, I don't necessarily want to be in a shared area." The ED renovation is a three-part project that will be completed toward the end of 2019.

The hospital is pleased now to be a part of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Network. Rutherford said five physicians from St. Anthony's have been accredited and the affiliation gains St. Anthony's access to results of research done by the M.D. Anderson team.

Rutherford said progress continues on the hospital's Health Center north across Temple Avenue from the hospital. She said she thinks you can "probably see the green insulation on the addition to the Center from The Cross." A variety of services now available in various locations will be consolidated into the one facility. She hopes the project will be completed around November 1.

Regarding some of the specialist services available, Rutherford said they are welcoming another urologist to Effingham, with plans to make sure that if one of the urology docs is to be out of town, the other will be available to provide services. She also noted the video network that helps lead to diagnoses when the physician can't be physically present.

Rutherford shared about the shared program with Liberty University where future physicians come to Effingham and work with local doctors on their way to completing their studies. All 10 of the students here this year have a match for their residency, and Rutherford said nine more Liberty students are coming to St. Anthony's next year.

Rutherford was asked about the recent decision by Bonutti Ortnhopedic to affiliate with Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. While she said she was not happy with the decision, she said, "Our doctors made a business decision; I have no input on that." She noted that all of the doctors at Bonutti's still have privileges at St. Anthony's, so there no need to go somewhere else for a procedure. 

Rutherford acknowledged that the face of medicine is changing. She said the nationwide trend is "more large systems, fewer local facilities." She noted that St. Anthony's has long been a part of Hospital Sisters Health System, involving a number of hospitals in the regon, and the affiliation of M.D. Anderson as indications of that trend. 

Rutherford said that St. Anthony's needs to continue to recruit, and needs to continue to grow. She said if someone needs services that the local hospital doesn't provide, "come to me and I will give you input" on where to obtain those services.

Rutherford said she understands that if people had the choice, they would eliminate going to the doctor and to the hospital. She said they are working to "reduce the friction" of seeking medical care.