Vidant Health 2013 operational plan works to deliver an integrated system of care | Eastern NC Now

For Immediate release:

Plan focuses on providing high-quality, patient- and family-centered care and engaging physicians and employees to achieve objectives

    GREENVILLE     The Vidant Health Board of Directors approved the fiscal year 2013 operational plan today that provides the strategic direction and financial resources needed to guide and fund the health system next year.

    David Womack, board chairman, thanked the board committees for their direction and contributions over the past several months in bringing together an operational plan and budget that "emphasizes quality and access to care while focusing on clinical effectiveness, community benefits, patient- and family-centered care and patient and employee satisfaction."

    The Vidant Health budget projects total operating and non-operating revenues of $1.609 billion, operating expenses of $1.515 billion, excess-of-revenues over expenses of $94.0 million and an operating margin of 4.5 percent, which will be reinvested back into facilities, new services, equipment and system employees.

    Vidant Health will focus capital reinvestment (more than $157 million in the next year) on information systems, diagnostic services, the new Children's Hospital addition at Vidant Medical Center, normal equipment replacement and much-needed upgrades in the core infrastructure of the system's hospitals.

    The system estimates providing care to 71,516 inpatients, 914,407 combined emergency department and outpatients visits, perform 47,710 surgeries and deliver 6,162 babies during the next fiscal year.

    Art Keeney, finance committee chairman, explained the budget emphasizes building on the high-quality patient care already provided throughout the system and recognizing the importance of the system's 10,613 full-time-equivalent employees. The budget funds salaries and benefits of $834 million for the system's employees. He further indicated that Vidant Health is moving toward a more integrated system of care versus a collection of individual sites to provide the highest-quality care in the most cost-effective setting.

    "Our goal is to keep care as close to home as possible," Keeney said.

    Vidant Health includes Vidant Medical Center, Vidant Beaufort Hospital in Washington, Vidant Bertie Hospital in Windsor, Vidant Chowan Hospital in Edenton, Vidant Duplin Hospital in Kenansville, Vidant Edgecombe Hospital in Tarboro, Vidant Pungo Hospital in Belhaven, Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie, and The Outer Banks Hospital at Nags Head, where it is a 60 percent owner. Vidant Health also manages Albemarle Health in Elizabeth City. The boards of Albemarle Health and The Outer Banks Hospital will adopt their budgets separately.

    Vidant Health also includes Vidant Wellness, Home Health and Hospice, Vidant Medical Group, and is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.

    Contact: Beth Anne Atkins, Vidant Health Strategic Development, (252) 847-7735 or beth.atkins@VidantHealth.com

    Vidant Health, a mission-driven, not-for-profit corporation, owns, leases or has a majority membership interest in nine eastern North Carolina hospitals and has a management agreement with one other. The health system includes Albemarle Health, Vidant Beaufort Hospital, Vidant Bertie Hospital, Vidant Chowan Hospital, Vidant Duplin Hospital, Vidant Edgecombe Hospital, The Outer Banks Hospital, Vidant Medical Center, Vidant Pungo Hospital, Vidant Roanoke-Chowan Hospital, Vidant Home Health and Hospice, Vidant Wellness Centers, Vidant Medical Group and is affiliated with the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. On the web at www.vidanthealth.com.