ERLANGER RED INK2011 fiscal year• July: $1.3 million loss• August: $1.5 million profit• September: $1.3 million loss• October: $2.1 million loss• November: $3.2 million loss• December: $3.9 million loss• January: $2.1 million loss• February: $600,000 loss• March: $4.1 million loss• April: $700,000 loss• May: $2.6 million profit• June not available2012 fiscal year• July 2012 $1.8 million lossSource: Erlanger Health System financial reports
Erlanger Health System, which has struggled to improve its surgical volume over the last six months, had another disappointing month in July, with both inpatient and outpatient surgeries below budget.
However, the public hospital improved its surgical mix -- the percentage of revenue coming from surgeries. Six months ago, under 29 percent of hospital revenue came from surgeries, but in July, 31 percent of revenue was from surgeries.
The hospital chalked up nearly $1.8 million in losses in July, the first month of the fiscal year, according to financial reports released Monday.
The hospital had losses nearly every month last year. Final figures for the fiscal year that ended June 30 will not be released until September, but the hospital had lost about $15 million through the end of May.
Last fall, doctors at Erlanger moved lucrative surgeries to other hospitals. Hospital executives have said their goal is to woo them back.
In an internal memo to employees Monday, interim CEO Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson acknowledged the July results, but said the hospital has made significant improvements.
"One of our key initiatives this year was to improve our surgical mix of patients," she wrote. "Based on current reports and upward trends, I have every reason to believe Erlanger is making even greater strides and look forward to reporting our August numbers."
The hospital's finance committee and board will not hold August meetings.
Erlanger's July results in most categories, including outpatient visits, emergency room visits, and helicopter transport patients, were below budget and below July 2011 figures, according to the monthly financial report.
Costs per admission were above budget and net patient revenue was below budget, the report shows.
The hospital treated more commercially insured patients last month. That number was more than 8 percent above budget and an increase of more than 14 percent over the same period last year.