By Tara DeRock Mahoney
Senior Staff Writer

Although a final, fiscal year 2008 report will not be complete for some weeks, June figures for Morgan Memorial Hospital show that the facility ended the year on a strong financial note.
   

“June was our second-best month of the last 12 months,” reported outgoing hospital authority treasurer John Milliken. “We had gross patient revenue of $2.5 million, and year-to-date revenue of $25 million…this is a snapshot of how things will be for the end of the year.”
   

Milliken added that preliminary figures indicate that the hospital will end the year $144,000 in the black after backing out the county’s $1 million subsidy.
The growing hospital expects to add a small modular building to the rear of the property in the coming months to alleviate some space issues within the main structure; meanwhile, hospital officials continue to move toward a major re-build and expansion within the next few years.
   

CEO H.D. Cannington said that the hospital continues to get queries from physicians interested in re-locating to Madison and working full-time at Morgan Memorial, and officials give these interested doctors a 2010 beginning date for the new hospital.
   

“If they are good doctors and they are interested in locating here, we need to show them that we’re interested,” said Cannington.
   

The authority conducted a swearing-in for three new members at its regular meeting last Thursday, including returning members Betty Allen and Terry

Evans, and new authority member Tom Wommack. Terry Evans was elected chairperson of the authority, and Sarah Burbach was elected vice-chairperson; Calvin Welch will serve as treasurer, and John Milliken will serve as secretary to the group.
   

Outgoing treasurer Milliken cited his chairmanship of the Morgan County Board of Elections and Registration and the upcoming presidential election in removing his name from the running for treasurer.
   

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being able to serve as treasurer, but so much of my time will be taken up by my election duties,” he said. “I appreciate having had the chance to serve.”