The Bamberg County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) experienced a “fairly significant” loss of income as a result of the departure of General Surgeon Dr. John E. Ross to the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg; Andrew Wood, BCMH Interim CFO told members of Bamberg County Council at their May 2, meeting.

Wood reported the hospital recorded 95 surgeries cases in March which represented a drop of 52.7 percent from February. He noted the hospital had a “good month in March” with net income for the month at (-$350,059) and year to date for the six month period ending March 31, 2011 at (-$1,525,197). In March cash collections were $1,808,578 (up $6,452 from February), leaving a cash balance at March 31 of $959,818. Adjusted Occupied Average Daily Census (AOADC) was 40.4 patients for the month of March and year to date (6 months ending March 31,2011, 53.7 patients.

The hospital received no financial support from the County in March and year to date the hospital has received $608,765 in support from Bamberg County. In April the hospital had (3) three surgery cases. Cash collections in April amounted to $921,545 and cash balance on hand as of April 30 was $518,716. County support for the hospital in April was $0 and year to date $608,765. Adjusted Occupied Average Daily Census (AOADC) for the month of April was 23.75 patients. “Next month should be better,” Wood said.

At the end of the financial report, Hospital CFO Cliff Bauer informed County Council members and those in attendance at the meeting that BCMH has three surgeons on staff at the hospital and Dr. John Ross would like to come back and do some surgeries. “OB GYN and general surgery cases can be done at BCMH,” Bauer said, adding “OB GYN cases can be done even in a little broader scope.”

Also during the meeting:

• In an update of the Bamberg County Finance report, County Administrator Rose Dobson-Elliott reported that county expenditures were at 72 percent and revenues were at 65 percent. Unknown fuel and Public Works were the only two areas that were noted as over budget. “There is nothing that’s standing out,” Dobson-Elliot said.

The County Administrator reported a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application has been submitted to Columbia for the Family Circle Community Water Project. A 10- percent cash match or approximately $50,000 will be required to receive the grant and the County is looking for sources to come up with the match, of which the status should be known in September.

• Councilman Chris Wilson, who is Bamberg County representative on the LSCOG (TAC) Committee reported the Highway 78 widening project is moving forward and work should start the last of this year or first of next year. Wilson reported on a meeting held at the Orangeburg Aquatic Center with Bamberg City Officials stating “the ball is back in the City of Bamberg’s court,” adding “ the City of Bamberg has to decide how they will use the funds from the Highway 301 widening project.” Wilson also noted Intersection of Highway 321 and Highway 78 project in the City of Denmark is moving forward and should start the last of this month or first of next month.