
7 minute read
It appeared to be a typical, run-of-the-mill board meeting at Hospital System “X.” Patient admissions had been slowly on the rise; healthcare teams seemed to be handling the increasing demand for services as the hospital facility continued to display an inviting appearance.
Early in the meeting, the hospital CFO presented the data requested by board members; suddenly things took a dramatic turn. Several months of data had revealed that a profit drain had developed within the system. And worse news was that month-to-month figures showed this was not just a temporary “blip” in financial performance, but that it had become a consistent and expanding downward trend. Hospital System “X” still was operating in the black, but not to the satisfaction of the board. They immediately called upon top management to identify the problem areas and propose appropriate solutions.