Erlanger Health System CEO Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson told the County Commission on Tuesday that some surgeons are willing to return to Erlanger. She said the financially-troubled hospital is working on $23 million in surgical area improvements to help lure them back.
She stated, "We have been in touch with some surgeons and they have pledged to come back."
She told the commissioners, "We will get Erlanger turned around, and we will get Erlanger turned around in short order."
Ms.
Woodard-Thompson said it is possible that Erlanger could be in the black by July. She said she expects the hospital for sure will be in the black within 12 months. She said it will take 2-3 years "to get back to where Erlanger should be."
The hospital has lost over $17 million so far this fiscal year. One of the reasons given has been an exodus of physicians under the prior administration. Surgeries were down by 15 percent from February 2011 to February 2012.
Ms. Woodard-Thompson asked the commission for a $3 million appropriation to Erlanger, which used to get $1.5 million each from the city and county. The city no longer contributes to Erlanger after the expiration of the sales tax agreement.
She asked the county to provide the full $3 million.
She said Erlanger had $82 million in uncompensated care this year and it is slated to go to $92 million next year.
The CEO said the new surgical area will include surgery rooms that are side by side and with a dedicated staff. She said the surgeons want to have nurses with them "who know what they need before they ask."
She also said that the surgeons need to have rooms where they can operate continuously. She said, "When they are in the lounge, they are not making money and we are not making money."
Ms. Woodard-Thompson said the initial new surgical area will be for the lucrative vascular surgery specialty, and the next area will be for orthopaedic. She said some surgeries will be moved to the outpatient area. She said surgical suites are planned later.
Erlanger also plans to expand the surgery section at Erlanger East, she said.
Commissioner Greg Beck said it is the third time that Ms. Woodard-Thompson has been called in to rescue Erlanger from fiscal woes, and he said she has done so each time.