MOSES LAKE — While September expenses cut into September revenue, Samaritan Healthcare turned a profit in September and remains in the black for 2017 to date.

The hospital made $208,478 in September, but that fell far short of the 2017 budget target, said chief financial officer Alex Town. For 2017 through the end of September, the hospital is turning a $3.1 million profit. That’s higher than the budget target.

Inpatient revenue went down in September, Town said, mainly reflecting a decrease in surgeries. Inpatient revenue for the year to date is over budget, mainly because of an increase in obstetrics cases.

Hospital utilization has increased, which has led to increased expenses, especially in areas like staffing, Town said. Salary expenses have gone up because the hospital has had to hire nurses and other health professionals on a temporary basis, and doctors have been hired temporarily also. That led to an increase in physician fees.

Chief executive officer Teresa Sullivan said the need for temporary staffing is a common problem among hospitals, in the Pacific Northwest and around the country. Commissioner Joe Akers asked why there was so much movement. “How do we get them to stop being travelers, and become residents (permanent employees)?” Akers asked.

Town said in his opinion it was partly a new generation of personnel, especially in nursing, who want to try out different specialties. Director of nursing Becky DeMers said a traveling nurse usually receives a higher salary, although they don't have the additional security. Working as a temp also allows more flexibility, Sullivan said – temps can choose not to work weekends or holidays.

Physician fees also increased, mostly tied to the emergency room. DeMers said two “mid-level” health professionals (physician assistants or nurse practitioners) left Samaritan and ER doctors plugging the gap until replacements were hired.

While expenses have been higher than budgeted for the year to date, they’re trending down, Town said.

In other business, commissioners approved $162,000 to remodel space at Samaritan Clinic for the hospital’s obstetrics department. Currently all obstetrics services are housed at Parkview Pediatrics, but Dr. Jill Bross (owner of the Parkview building) has decided to resume her private practice, Sullivan said.

Total project cost will be about $260,000, Sullivan said, including some remodeling at the Parkview Pediatrics building.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].