Howard Memorial Hospital finished the first financial quarter in the black. Hospital CFO Bill Craig reported on the December financials at Tuesday’s monthly meeting and said that despite some of the clinics being closed for the holidays, the month ended with a favorable variance of $132,904. The average daily census finished at 1.4 patients per day above budget and an additional reimbursement generated from an audit of Commercially Insured Accounts receivable totaled $13,000. During the CEO Report, Debra Wright discussed making the community aware of the various specialty clinics the hospital has to offer. Other topics included various data training, providing allergy testing in the near future and a new Sepsis Initiative that will assist in early recognition and additional screenings.