West Tennessee Health Care approves 2015 budget
WEST JACKSON, Tenn. — West Tennessee Healthcare is starting fresh, as they unveil plans for their 2015 budget. This year was a financially difficult one for the system, but now many employees are breathing a sigh of relief. “Included in this year’s budget is $3.5 million that will be awarded to our employees in some type of compensation increase,” said West Tennessee Healthcare CEO Bobby Arnold. Compensation, including reinstating paid time off for all workers and salary increases for some employees. Arnold says he doesn’t expect any more cuts will be made. “Right now we have no further plan for any type of job reduction or work force reduction,” Arnold said. There are also some jobs available, especially for those just entering the medical field. “In clinical areas, we still are having the opportunity to offer employment to new graduates,” Arnold said. Overall, Arnold says in order to stay in the green, they’ll have to watch everything closely. “We’re going to have to be diligent,” said Arnold. “We need to continue to be prepared and be as efficient as we can while continuing to provide the very best care that we can.” The system fell into the red last year due to costs related to mandated care for uninsured patients. Arnold blames the state’s decision to opt out of expanding Medicaid funding as a key cause for the losses. West Tennessee Healthcare lost around $45 million in caring for uninsured patients last year.
