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Hospital deficit less than expected so far

It’s a little too early to tell where it’s going to end up, but so far the North Bay General Hospital’s deficit is $2 million less than expected, year to date.
BayToday Staff
It’s a little too early to tell where it’s going to end up, but so far the North Bay General Hospital’s deficit is $2 million less than expected, year to date.

Hospital treasurer Gary Jodouin told the board of directors meeting Monday night the hospital has predicted a $4.1 million deficit for 2003-2004, but, at the red ink added up to $2.1 million at the end of September.

But, Jodouin cautioned, the projected deficit could still be reached if things become considerably busier in the hospital over the next few months.

Hospital president and CEO Mark Hurst agreed that timing would mean everything.

“Some of that is the way the budget is allocated, divided up on a one-twelfth basis, where there are some months that are busier and more heavily weighted than others,” Hurst said.

“When we get more into the winter, we hope there are not flu problems, and so on, but traditionally the colder and nastier the weather gets, the more the temperature fluctuation, and often that impacts on the utilization of our emergency department, so it will get busier and more costly as the months go by.”

Best under the circumstances
Having pointed that out though, Hurst said, it’s better, when talking to the province to be under budget, year to date, “so that when you’re negotiating or discussing things with the government you’re credible. You’ve set a budget and you’re at least tracking to be either on, or at the present, below the budget you’re tracking.”

Hurst believes the current hospital budget is “realistic” and the best that could be come up with under the circumstances.

“After all at the end of the day a budget is the best determination, given the facts you have at the time, but it would be premature and too early to predict where we’re going to be at year’s end,” Hurst said.

“Obviously I hope that we do provide the services that we need to provide in as cost effective manner as we can, and if can do it with less resources over the course of the year, that would be great, but it’s a little earlier to predict.”