OMC’s bottom line for July

Oconee Medical Center enjoyed a positive bottom line of nearly $295 thousand during the month of July. A report provided the board of directors by Kevin Herbert, hospital finance director, attributed cost reduction efforts. According to Hunter Kome, chief operating officer, key was the managing of the cost of labor through flexing of staff based on the daily numbers of patients. OMC paid out $443 thousand less in salaries than what had been budgeted for the month. The July results notwithstanding, the number of patients in the hospital and those undergoing surgery continues to be below budget and less than the previous year. And lower patient volumes over the course of the hospital year have resulted in a negative $1.3 million bottom line for the year to date.