By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

Work on an operational assessment has begun for Geary Community Hospital.

Hospital CEO Dr. Joe Stratton confirmed it’s in the early stages. “We’ve used a company by the name of Community Health Hospital Corporation of Dallas. They own some hospitals in the country, they manage some hospitals, they consult the hospitals. That’s their position with us at this point in time.”

Stratton explained when an operational assessment is done they are looking throughout the organization. “From the clinical operations side to the non-clinical side with revenue cycle, marketing and everything in between.”

Stratton stated they know at GCH that they will have to make some changes moving forward, like all hospitals in Kansas. “I think unfortunately the evidence of that is Horton, Oswego and Hillsboro and some of the struggles those hospitals have been having. We’re aware that.”

The Geary Community CEO added like all hospitals they’re hopeful medicaid expansion will occur. That still unresolved issue is in the Kansas Senate right now. “In the meantime we’ll just set all that aside,and look forward to operating more efficiently over the course of time.”