MetroHealth ends a year of financial, operational turnaround

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The financial health of the MetroHealth System improved dramatically in 2009, turning around from an operating loss to income and beginning to fill jobs again rather than cutting them.

A year ago, trustees were eyeing a $5.3 million operating loss for the year. As a result, the Cuyahoga County-owned teaching hospital cut 400 jobs, or 6 percent of its workforce – a combination of layoffs and eliminating positions — in early in 2009.

Wednesday at their last meeting of the year, trustees were told the health system had operating income of $23.8 million. And it recently said it has 270 job postings to fill.

While it will face some challenges next year — higher levels of charity care because of job loss and the recession, the rigors of backing a county levy that supports the hospital, as well as labor negotiations — it will start 2010 with strong operations.

“A lot of people would say it’s a very changed organization. That’s not true,” said Ronald Fountain, chairman of the trustees’ finance committee. “What I think has happened is, people came together to create an organization that is not only highly effective — even more effective than it’s been historically — but is also substantially more efficient.”

MetroHealth also will start the year with some price increases. As part of its annual rate review, the health system will raise room charges in its intensive care unit, critical care and telemetry units by 5 percent. It also will raise the charge for supplies, and operating room and pharmacy services, by 5 percent.

Some of the rises take effect on Jan. 1, others, Feb. 1.