PASCAGOULA, MS (WLOX) -
Chris Anderson is the CEO of Singing River Health System. Dealing with the uncertainty of recently passed health care reform takes up much of his time.
"Our goal isn't just to be here and successful for the next 12 months, it's to be successful for our community for the next generation and the next," Anderson said. "And yet most of the rules and regulations that govern how we work and how we're paid are up in the air."
One of the biggest facing health systems across the country is the cutbacks in federal funding they receive. But another challenge they face is the money they have to pay the state, according to Anderson.
"Singing River Health System will pay $9 million in taxes to the State of Mississippi this year as a result of their inability to make the Medicaid budget work without that," Anderson said.
There are plenty of successes. A new Healthplex facility, complete with a fitness center, a medical imaging center, and still to come, a neuroscience center under construction in Ocean Springs.
"We're going to bring together under one roof, neurology, neurosurgery, pain management, re-hab and a number of different services. And bring them all into one place," Anderson explained. "Right now, they are scattered out in different locations."
Anderson said the services the system provides will always be needed.
"As people live longer and age, they're still going to have health conditions, we can treat a lot more. We can replace hips and knees, we can repair hearts," Anderson said.
As a public hospital, treating the poor is a challenge in a down economy.
"It's been incredibly difficult." Anderson said. "We have seen small margins get microscopic. I would suspect most health systems and hospitals would tell you the same thing."
One thing will always remain true though.
"One of the things I tell every single person that joins us is that we call take care of patients." Anderson said. "That's my job, whether you're in housekeeping, dietary, nursing, lab, our job is to take care of patients."
While continuing to invest in the future, here are some rather telling figures. Singing River Health System spends between $15 million and $20 million every year on capital improvements. That includes, not only brick and mortar buildings, but the latest in diagnostic equipment and medical technology.
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