If financial losses were symptoms, Delta Health System would surely be suffering from them and chronically so with an uncertain prognosis.
As of Aug. 1, 2022, DHS—all facilities and medical groups—has a net income of a negative $13.2 million, according to Delta Health System interim CEO Iris Yeldell-Stacker.
Stacker, whose predecessor, the now King’s Daughters Medical Center of Brookhaven CEO, Scott Christensen, did not deny the task before her is a “daunting” one.
She told the Washington County Board of Supervisors during their regular Monday meeting, “I don’t have exceptionally good news, but I do have a plan.”
Rather than discuss DHS’ finances on a month-to-month basis, Stacker submitted a report and talked about the fiscal year to date.
It’s possible Stacker chose that avenue because of the fact her predecessor had not submitted a financial report to the BOS since February which encompassed the months of October, November and December 2021.
However, the month of June was spent “chewing up” DHS’ financials and making corrections, Stacker noted.
“In the actual month (of June) we had to correct a $5 million adjustment on contractual and $1 million adjustment on contract labor,” she highlighted.
Of that, the $13.2 million, DHS–The Medical Center has a net income of a negative $334,000; Northwest Regional Medical Center in Clarksdale has a net loss of $3 million; Highland Hills Medical Center in Senatobia has a net loss of $2.2 million; and DHS’ medical groups consisting of Washington County, Clarksdale and Senatobia have a combined net loss of $7.6 million in the year to date.
Stacker attributed the significant losses to COVID and the surging wage demand for nurses, in large parts.
Two factors that have resulted in the medical center having to “right-size” its nursing staff and operate with only one medical floor.
In addition, DHS CFO Scott Goodin left his post this past Wednesday Stacker announced.
Despite what seems to be a very turbulent shake-up in DHS leadership, Stacker is forward looking and confident she can only make DHS better from here, starting with the opening of DHS’ pain clinic on Tuesday.
