MOSES LAKE - Samaritan Healthcare is expanding its staff by four positions in response to increasing demand.

Hospital CEO Tom Thompson recently reported hospital officials have been hiring staff, starting by offering positions in-house, to expand the capacity of the hospital's acute care unit to nine patients. The new staff is the equivalent of three full time positions and one part-time position, said community relations director Connie Ophiekens. "Acute care" is the designation for patients who must stay in the hospital overnight or longer.

Thompson announced the expansion to the hospital board during its last meeting. He said the additional staff will "prevent the transfer of patients that should and can be taken care of in our hospital."

In other business, chief financial officer Tom Legel reported the hospital generated $32.81 million in revenue for the first six months of the year. That was about $2 million more than 2012, and above budget projections. Expenses were $30.21 million for the same period, which also was more than 2012, and above budget projections.

Thompson announced Anne Neethling was hired as the new director of the emergency department. Previously Neethling worked in Issaquah.

Desiree Hamilton has been appointed as perioperative nursing director; perioperative nurses work in the operating room, and with patients before and after surgery.

Hospital board members receive a quality care report each month; during the month hospital officials talk to patients about what they liked and didn't like during their hospital stay. Quality officer Laurie Polneau said coordination of patient care and responsiveness of hospital staff were identified as areas that need improvement, and hospital officials have written new procedures to address those areas.

Thompson announced that obstetrician and gynecologist Brian Truon joined the staff of Samaritan Clinic July 1, and Andrea Carter, certified in family medicine with obstetrics, will reopen her practice at the clinic Aug. 5.