Howard Memorial Hospital Board Welcomes New Member, Reports Strong Financials and Quality Recognition

The Howard Memorial Hospital Board of Directors held their regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening, highlighting leadership changes, quality recognitions, and a strong financial performance for the month of July.

The board voted to nominate Miranda Serrano as their newest member, filling the seat vacated by Gabriel Green, who stepped down due to family and career commitments. Serrano’s nomination will now go before the Howard County Quorum Court for formal approval.

Quality Ratings and Recognition

In a report to the board, Director of Quality Beth Schooley shared that while the hospital experienced a temporary drop in its star rating in June, it rebounded in July, regaining its 5-star rating. Schooley also announced that the hospital received a Certificate of Excellence from the Rural Hospital Flexibility Program, recognizing HMH as one of the Most Valuable Quality Improvement Participants.

Medical Staff Update

The board approved the appointment of Dr. Jill Ferguson for consulting services with Delta Pathology, following a recommendation from Dr. Carla Pomphrey.

Strong Financial Performance in July

CFO Bill Craig delivered a positive financial report for July, citing a strong month in collectible revenue and other key financial indicators. Notably, hospital cash receipts exceeded $3.5 million, which included $1,376,736 in Sustainability Plan/ARPA Funds received on July 16.

Additional highlights from Craig’s report include:

• $193,549 above budget in collectible revenue from patient services
• A profit of $72,154 reported by LHC, with the hospital’s share of the joint venture totaling $23,811
• The Emergency Department posted only a 10% miss, showing continued improvement
• Positive metrics in Average Daily Census, Swing Bed Volume, Outpatient Visits, and Surgery Cases, all reporting above expected levels for the month

The board’s agenda reflected continued progress across both operational and patient care domains, reinforcing Howard Memorial Hospital’s commitment to quality healthcare and fiscal responsibility in Southwest Arkansas.