The year-end figures are in and Eastern Plumas Health Care administrators are pleased with what they see.

“I’m really proud of this; we did it,” said Jeri Nelson, the district’s chief financial officer.

This is a strong balance sheet that shows $1.6 million in combined savings and 34 days cash on hand.

Account receivable days are below budget at 53, and accounts payable are at their lowest level of $833,760.

“This is a very, very good balance sheet,” she told the board of directors during its monthly meeting July 26.

Chief Executive Officer Tom Hayes said that this year’s figures are remarkable especially when compared to last year’s.

“It’s really a significant change,” he said, noting that the ending balance is $1.5 million higher than last year.

Though revenues were less than budgeted, cost savings were higher.

Director Jay Skutt, who is a member of the finance committee, said, “We didn’t meet budget goals for revenues, but we more than made up for it by cutting costs.”

Hayes said that the health care district “really tightened its belt” and it must continue to do so even though the bottom line has improved.

“We can’t get complacent,” he said.

Clinic visits were fewer than budgeted: 26,397 instead of 27,242. But staff is hopeful that the arrival of the new doctor, Michelle Kim, next week will see that number increase.

The number of emergency room visits was slightly higher than anticipated: 3,227 compared to the budgeted 3,200.

The number of acute in-patient admissions and hospital stays was lower than budgeted, but skilled nursing patient days were higher.

Debra Moore’s Portola Reporter article, above, courtesy of www.plumasnews.com