DENNISON-Having come back from about a half million-dollar loss in the year 2000, Twin City Hospital's CEO is telling the tale of this hospital's road to financial recovery and its map to the future.

          On a cold, snowy December day in 2000, Twin City Hospital's Board of Trustees, Medical Staff, CEO and Department Directors met, at the direction of then Board President Blair Hillyer, to construct a plan to assure that the Hospital could remain open even in the face of the year's devastating financial losses. Six Ohio hospitals had already closed that year, and the leadership was determined that Twin City Hospital would not become the seventh.

          With no cash in the hospital's coffers, plans were made to immediately appeal to the community for funding support to "help save our hospital." Hospital CEO Fred Makowski remarks, "At that time, we (Twin City Hospital) were dying financially due to decreased reimbursement from Medicare and our efforts to build new physician practices having not yet come to fruition." While the fundraiser was being conducted, numerous community, church, civic, school and business groups created their own fundraisers to help the hospital. Hospital management, board members, physicians, volunteers and employees worked harder than ever to raise funds and devise crucial management plans to provide for the survival of Twin City Hospital.

          And now in September 2001, Twin City Hospital is optimistic thanks to the overwhelming support of the community and a new Medicare reimbursement structure. Makowski explains, "In January 2001, Twin City Hospital became a critical access hospital meaning that the Federal government recognizes that it is critical to this community that Twin City Hospital continue to provide healthcare services. This recognition allowed the hospital to step into a different reimbursement structure from Medicare, and we are now receiving more reasonable reimbursement from the Medicare Program. This new reimbursement structure eventually allowed our not-for-profit hospital to get back to break even status financially, and the community's financial support has helped us to recover our losses from 2000."

          Makowski states, "I've never seen a group that has more heart-our employees, board members, physicians, volunteers and community members. They all stepped in to work to keep Twin City Hospital going. Persistence typifies the workforce at Twin City Hospital, and now that we have persevered, we can continue to keep our hospital growing and moving forward."

          Though Twin City Hospital has survived its losses, fundraising will continue. "As a not-for-profit hospital, we at Twin City Hospital explore every fundraising option including everything from chicken bbq type fundraisers to gifts from grants and foundations. The hospital is currently in the planning stages of developing its own foundation to raise funds for hospital equipment and other area healthcare program needs. If we can continue to maintain the wonderful support we've received locally, we have every reason to believe Twin City Hospital can continue to grow and thrive," explains Makowski.

          In fact, Twin City Hospital is examining the possibility of building a new hospital with government funding help. "The hospital's current facilities have approximately 50,000 square feet of space, and we need 100,000 square feet in order to meet the increasing demand for additional services. We are taking a very serious look at possibly being able to build a new hospital within the next 3 to 5 years," Makowski remarks.

          Thanks to the generous support that Twin City Hospital has received, it is now evaluating its future goals to a) build a new facility, b) add to the medical staff, c) expand service offerings, d) enhance technologies, e) become insurance accessible for more area residents, and f) establish a foundation and increase the ranks of volunteer supporters.

          "I'm very proud of Twin City Hospital and so very thankful for the support that we've received. Our hospital is here for area residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we are looking forward to continuing to provide quality healthcare services far into the future," states Makowski.