By Tara DeRock Mahoney
Senior Staff Writer

    Morgan Memorial Hospital reached an important new milestone in its financial growth last month, reported Hospital Authority member Sarah Burbach at last Thursday’s regular meeting.
    For the first time ever, the hospital is $12,716 in the black for the year—without taking into account the county’s $1 million subsidy.
    “There was a lot of laughing and smiling at the finance committee meeting the other night,” said Burbach. “We seem to have turned a corner.”
    For the month of March, gross patient revenues were $2.254 million, or 17 percent over budget for that period—the second highest month of revenue ever, after February.
    The good news continued as Morgan County Commissioner Ellen Warren shared with the Authority the news that EMS personnel currently transport 67 percent of local patients annually to Morgan Memorial.
    Nursing director Sherry Vaughn reported on the inpatient nursing department orientation process for new hires. “Seasoned nurses spend at least two weeks in orientation, one week on Med/Surg, one week on TCU,” said Vaughn. “Newer nurses could spend two weeks or more on each side…by the end of orientation, they’re caring for a full load of patients.”
    New nurses also have a mentor whom they shadow while learning how Morgan Memorial operates.“            “The shadowing-mentoring program has already paid us back ten-fold,” said Burbach.