$495,000 PACT SIGNED A.V. HOSPITAL HIRES CONSULTANT TO EXECUTE FINANCIAL TURNAROUND PLAN.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LANCASTER - Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley Hospital directors on Wednesday approved the hiring of a consultant for $495,000 to help the hospital implement a financial turnaround plan. The firm H Works will help the hospital improve its management of cases; maximize its capacity and ``through-put,'' or getting patients in and out; maximize surgery efficiency and profitability; and elevate el·e·vate tr.v. ele·vat·ed, ele·vat·ing, ele·vates 1. To move (something) to a higher place or position from a lower one; lift. 2. To increase the amplitude, intensity, or volume of. 3. patient care productivity. ``We are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. long-term solutions to existing system-wide problems. There are many systems that currently that do not meet the needs of modern-day hospital operations. By pursuing house-wide efficiency improvements, Antelope Valley will become the ultimate health care provider in its region,'' Chief Executive Officer Les Wong said in an announcement. The board voted 4-1, with director Steve Fox Steve Fox may refer to:
intr.v. dis·sent·ed, dis·sent·ing, dis·sents 1. To differ in opinion or feeling; disagree. 2. To withhold assent or approval. n. 1. , to hire the H Works firm for a year. At the Wednesday meeting, the board also approved, with Fox abstaining, the hiring of a health-care law firm to handle medical staff and compliance matters. H Works has assisted hundreds of hospitals and health systems across the country to improve clinical operations, hospital officials said. The total length of the project is about 12 months, but changes should be noticeable within two to four months, said Dr. Abdallah Farrukh, the hospital board chairman. Fox said the hospital has hired too many consultants over the last year. ``The entire period the administration has been in power, all they have done is hire consultants,'' Fox said. ``The administration just spends and wonders why we are in the red every month. The answer is obvious to any layman LAYMAN, eccl. law. One who is not an ecclesiastic nor a clergyman. : You can't control your costs.'' The hospital hired The Camden Group last December, at a cost not to exceed $225,000, to help the hospital stem its financial losses. The Camden Group's turnaround plan recommended elimination of the equivalent of 150 to 160 full-time positions, which would save the hospital $8 million to $10 million annually. Wong said the hospital will cut staff as workers retire or quit and will not resort to layoffs. Other recommendations include renegotiation of contracts with managed care firms, which could generate about $6 million to $8 million more in revenue annually, and reduction of the number of Medi-Cal reimbursement Reimbursement Payment made to someone for out-of-pocket expenses has incurred. denials, which can result in $1 million of additional revenue. The Camden Group's recommendations would result in nearly $17 million in increased revenue and more than $11 million in spending cuts Noun 1. spending cut - the act of reducing spending cut - the act of reducing the amount or number; "the mayor proposed extensive cuts in the city budget" . The hospital ended the past fiscal year in June with an $5.7 million loss, its first loss in eight years. Since July, the hospital has lost more than $9.1 million. Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com |
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