DEMOPOLIS &045; The members of the Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital Board of Directors were presented with a positive report card for December operations yesterday.

Chief Executive Officer and hospital administrator Mike Marshall presented the report, which he said was good but not where the hospital wanted it. He said the hospital made strides in areas that were previously identified as concerns.

Marshall said the hospital controlled expenses and influenced things that were not in the hospital’s control. He said the hospital needs to increase its turnover rate by getting more patients in and out and that factors outside the realm of control kept the month from being as productive as it could have been.

Marshall said self-pay patients and charity patients disrupt the goals set for net revenue. He said this effects the gross revenue that is falling behind what the hospital has set.

Marshall said the hospital was a non-profit organization and that the money brought in over expense is reinvested in equipment of set aside for future use. He said profits don’t effect anyone’s pay, but not meeting the goals in the financial budget could cost the hospital money. He said, though, that the hospital would not turn down service to individuals even if it hurts the organizations goals.

Marshall said the things the hospital had control over were taken care of well during December. He said the hospital is rectifying all factors that are within its power to change.

Marshall said he sent a memo to department heads asking them to propose 5 and 10 percent cutbacks in their departments several months ago as a theoretical practice. He said if trends continue the 5 percent cutbacks, which didn’t include any personnel cutbacks, would make up for the $1.5 million that the hospital could lose if trends continue.