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2004 June 30
KGH announces
successful financial outcome for 2003/04 but warns of future uncertainty
KGH Ontario’s
‘most efficient’ teaching hospital
(Kingston, Ont.)—Kingston
General Hospital’s board of directors announced a nearly balanced
year-end financial result yesterday at the hospital’s annual general
meeting, but warns that the teaching hospital’s future financial
picture is less than secure.
Efficiency measures
and $17.6 million of government funding during the 2003/04 year allowed
the hospital to end the year in a nearly balanced position. KGH recorded
a deficit of $490,000 on total expenditures of $263 million.
“We are grateful
to government for the funding provided during the year,” said Carol
Mackillop, Chair of Kingston General Hospital’s Board of Directors.
“We are also very proud that more than $10 million of the government
funding received was tied to our top place ranking as the most efficient
teaching hospital in Ontario.”
In the past several
years KGH has initiated a number of efficiency efforts that are now paying
off. The Taking Control program, which sought cost-cutting ideas from
staff in 2002 is an example. “The program was a resounding success,”
said Joe de Mora, KGH President and CEO. “We have KGH staff to thank
for their extraordinary efficiency efforts, which saved the hospital more
than $8-million during the two year campaign and helped us obtain extra
government funding.”
De Mora also praised
the government’s efforts to acknowledge efficient hospitals. “The
government showed a genuine commitment last year to reward hospitals that
are leading the way and becoming more efficient. We intend to continue
to look for savings and integrate services wherever possible with our
partner hospitals locally and in the region we serve.”
While the hospital’s
near balanced budget is good news, Mackillop said the hospital’s
financial future is uncertain. “Unfortunately, some of our funding
last year was a one-time allocation and our costs are escalating, so this
year’s financial concerns are not resolved. While KGH is leading
the way in efficiency and integration, we still need consistent, adequate
multi-year funding to meet the growing needs of Kingston and Southeastern
Ontario for the best possible health care,” said Mackillop. “At
this point our funding has not been announced from government this year,
which makes it difficult to determine the steps we need to take to balance
the budget this year. With so many efficiency efforts already underway
it becomes more and more difficult to achieve additional savings without
affecting patient care.”
Carol Mackillop was
elected as Chair of the KGH Board of Directors for the second year. Mackillop
thanked outgoing members of the board for their service to the hospital,
including Lee Macnamara, past President of the KGH Foundation; Peter Hartel;
Tom Williams, Veronica Padfield-Harris, past President of the KGH Auxiliary;
and Dr. David Dexter, past President of the Medical Staff Association.
Members of the 2004/05
Board of Directors are Vice Chair, John Hudson, Mohamed Bayoumi, Florence
Campbell, Carol Clemenhagen, Linda Ann Daly, Sarah Jane Dumbrille, Richard
Fleming, Elaine Forshaw, John Gordon, Paul Howard, Susan Nobes Tindal,
Ruth Rappini, Paul Tetro, John Trousdale, and Dr. Stuart Vandewater.
Ex-officio members
of the Board include: Joseph de Mora, President and Chief Executive Officer;
Richard Kizell, President of the KGH Foundation; Dr. Dick Zoutman, President
of the Medical Staff; Dr. Peter Munt, Chief of Staff and Chair of the
Medical Advisory Committee; Jeanne Fraser, President of the KGH Auxiliary;
and Dr. David Walker, representative of the Principal, Queen’s University.
KGH highlights for
2003/04:
- KGH assumed responsibility
for Kingston Regional Cancer Centre on Jan. 1, 2004
- Construction began
on the new $23 million dollar Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit
(GIDRU) building and surgical suites, including OR 2010, for computer-assisted
orthopedic surgery; CT/angiosuite to support minimally invasive surgery;
and renovations to HMRC
- Stem cell transplant
unit opening later this year will ensure that Kingston and regional
patients will not have to travel to Ottawa or Toronto for treatment
- Admissions up in
2003/04 with average occupancy rate exceeding 97% (excluding obstetrics,
pediatrics and SARS restrictions)
- KGH is North American
leader in regional stroke protocols with 20 % of ischemic stroke patients
receiving clot busting therapy, compared to 9.5% nationally
- New pilot regional
Cardiac Care program initiated to provide same high level of care to
our regional patients, who are transferred to KGH for angioplasty after
receiving a clot-busting drug in their community hospital
- KGH Urologist
and researcher, Dr. Curtis Nickel, nets $8-million in grants from U.S.
National Institute of Health to investigate non-traditional methods
of treating prostate and bladder disease
Kingston General Hospital
is a 452-bed teaching and research hospital affiliated with Queen’s
University. KGH is the only specialized care hospital in Southeastern
Ontario, serving a population of more than 500,000, and also serves as
the community hospital for the city of Kingston. KGH provides an array
of acute and ambulatory clinical services including cardiac, stroke and
trauma care and an integrated regional cancer program. Dedicated to providing
compassionate, high quality health care in a dynamic academic research
environment, KGH has a robust program of innovative research and up to
1000 health care students annually. KGH has been recognized as the most
efficient teaching hospital in Ontario. For more information, visit our
web site at http://www.kgh.kari.net
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Contact: Nancy Druick, Communications Specialist, KGH, 549-6666, ext.
1245
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Outstanding care, always.
