The medical center, which was put up for sale in early 2020 following operating losses of $12 million through two quarters of the fiscal year, has an operating margin of over $2.6 million through December.
Though $11 million from the CARES Act assisted in improving the hospital’s finances, higher than anticipated revenues in certain departments has officials optimistic about UTMC’s financial sustainability moving forward.
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Blade: UTMC begins participation in national coronavirus treatment study
The University of Toledo Medical Center has begun recruiting patients to participate in a National Institutes of Health study seeking to identify which coronavirus treatments are most effective and deserve more attention in clinical trials.
The medical center is one of the first sites in the nation to enroll patients in the trial, known as the Big Effect Trial, which aims to have 40 sites with participants soon. The study will look to weed out ineffective treatments and expedite therapeutics that show significant benefits to patients struggling with the virus by testing hospitalized adults who need oxygen or mechanical ventilation and consent to participation.
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Blade: UTMC looks to emerge from dark year
Dr. Postel said UT leadership has “ambitious” plans for the hospital in 2021.
First, he said, officials are looking to hire more nurses, physicians, and staff members. The hospital has already embarked on a new marketing campaign called “Open for You,” and refurbished its website.
And most notably, the hospital has purchased a $28.5 million, multi-year contract with Epic, an electronic medical records software company, for an upgrade to UTMC’s medical records system that will go fully live in June, 2022.
“We’re also hoping that these bold steps send a loud message to our employees that the University of Toledo Medical Center is here to stay. And that this is a good place to work,” Dr. Postel said.
UTMC is also exploring a “real” possibility of upgrading to a Level 2 trauma center.
Mr. Swaine praised his staff, physicians, and the community for support during a difficult year and said the future looks bright for the hospital as it attempts to emerge from nearly being sold.
As far as Save UTMC organizing goes, Mr. Finkbeiner feels the group’s services are still needed, though he feels better about where UTMC is headed.
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Blade: Renewed optimism: UTMC-Toledo Clinic partnership finds early success
Concerned about where the hospital was heading and in response to a request from Dr. Christopher Cooper, dean of the medical school at UT, to find out what the South Toledo community wanted from its hospital, Mr. Finkbeiner created the Save UTMC coalition in December, 2019.
That grassroots coalition, led by Mr. Finkbeiner, Dr. Willey, and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2415 President Randy Desposito, began to pressure UT to amend its bylaws and allow nonfaculty physicians to bring some services back to the South Toledo hospital. It also pushed back against the school’s affiliation with ProMedica, and asked state legislators to halt a potential sale of UTMC, which they saw as a community resource that belongs to them, the taxpayer.
The activism worked.
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Blade: UT officials approve budget
During budget presentations Monday, UT officials said UTMC surpassed surpassed financial experts’ revenue expectations for the last half of 2020.
Officials predicted the former Medical College of Ohio Hospital would see reduced patient volumes, lost pharmacy retail, and more UTMC physicians and residents transferred to ProMedica hospitals as part of an affiliation agreement between the university and the nonprofit, private health-care system. Instead, patient volumes in recent months have been consistent or surpassed 2019’s numbers, pharmacy retail has increased, and transfers from UTMC have been put on hold — to the benefit of UTMC’s patient volumes and bottom line.
But perhaps most unforeseen was UTMC’s recent partnership with the Toledo Clinic, which is expected to help bring in much needed income in the coming years.
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Blade: UTMC rolls out new marketing campaign
Former Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner is one of the leaders of the Save UTMC community group. He’s encouraged by the campaign.
“It is very exciting; it’s long overdue,” Mr. Finkbeiner said. “I think we put ourselves significantly behind others in the community that used advertising to put their best foot forward like ProMedica, St. Luke’s, and Toledo Clinic. I’m delighted the board and president have decided we need to get in the game and put a positive image out there.”
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UTMC campaign focuses on serving community
“A new campaign to promote The University of Toledo Medical Center focuses on the hospital’s commitment to providing excellent care to the community.
With the tagline “Open for You,” the community-focused teaching hospital that has served northwest Ohio since 1964 is promoting its mission of service and excellence in healthcare through a new 30-second television spot, billboards, and print and digital advertising in local media.
“We want to be clear that we are open and ready to serve members of our community,” UTMC CEO Rick Swaine said. “As Toledo’s only independent hospital, we need the support of our neighbors to trust us with their healthcare needs and those of their family.”
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Blade: McLaren St. Luke’s sues ProMedica over denial of coverage
“The court filing outlines a 13-year campaign to prevent or suppress competition from St. Luke’s. According to the complaint, ProMedica has also attempted to neutralize competition from the University of Toledo Medical Center by engaging in an affiliation agreement, which has shifted large numbers of the UTMC faculty to ProMedica.
“Our community is fortunate to have access to several high-quality hospitals and many skilled health care providers — allowing patients a choice of where they can receive care,” Maumee Mayor Rich Carr said in a prepared statement. “Restricting that choice will negatively impact thousands of individuals and families — disrupting the trusting relationship they have built with their doctors and undermining competition that drives innovation and quality improvement.”
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Blade: Questions remain as UT board considers temporary budget extension
Carty Finkbeiner, a former Toledo mayor who heads the Save UTMC coalition, said last week Dr. Postel and UT Chairman Alfred Baker met via teleconference with local and state lawmakers, as well as other UTMC supporters, to discuss UTMC.
Although he’s still concerned about UTMC’s future, Mr. Finkbeiner said he came away from the meeting feeling, for the first time, that the university and community were getting on the same page.
“it was an extremely positive, forward looking conversation about the future of UTMC,” Mr. Finkbeiner said.
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Blade: Save UTMC group details ideas for hospital
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz told the crowd Saturday that university leaders have since invited him, along with Save UTMC members and Ohio elected officials at the state and federal level, to meet Wednesday and discuss plans for UTMC.
Mr. Kapszukiewicz said such a meeting likely wouldn’t have occurred months ago without the efforts of Save UTMC members, who have aggressively pushed back against the university.
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