Thursday, March 20, 2003 TODAY
Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center news
On Tuesday, February 11, 2003, the Boards of Trustees of Loma Linda
University and Loma Linda University Medical Center, and the executive
committees of Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center, and Loma
Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center met. Following are
actions taken and reports presented.
LLU Board of Trustees
- Loma Linda University chancellor Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, provided updates
on several University projects. Equipment for a computer laboratory and a microscope
laboratory have been donated for Kabul Medical Institute in Afghanistan, and
will be shipped soon. The School of Dentistry had a very successful alumni weekend,
celebrating their 50th anniversary. Of the 13 original faculty still living,
12 attended the alumni banquet. The University is in the process of converting
most of its academic and student functions to online accessibility. This will
make the entire process more efficient and convenient.
- Discussion was held on a strategic issue concerning the reorganization of the
Graduate School. The Board was asked to provide input on the idea of returning
the Graduate School to its original function of managing academic dissertation
degrees in a "shell" organization, following the traditional pattern
in the country, and having the behavioral and natural science departments form
the core of a new school. These departments have grown to dominate the usual
functions of a graduate school, and a reorganization could clarify a number of
managerial relationships as well as provide opportunities to grow new disciplines
such as health informatics, computational biology, genomics, etc. A full proposal
on this reorganization will be presented to the Board at the May, 2003, meeting.
- W. Barton Rippon, PhD, dean, Graduate School and School of Pharmacy, presented
an update on the new School of Pharmacy. Awareness of this new professional opportunity
is now spreading, with growing numbers of pre-pharmacy students enrolling in
Seventh-day Adventist colleges. Forty-five students will be accepted into the
new class starting in September.
- A new emeritus policy was approved by the Board that clarifies how faculty
who have served for a significant time in administrative positions would be awarded
emeritus status.
- Financial and plant operations reports were presented. The University is on
budget, with a number of remodeling initiatives underway. A new business intelligence
software package, building on the concept of data warehousing, was approved for
purchase. This will enable more effective analysis and management of data across
the various University functions and databases.
-
Student tuition and fees for the 2003–2004 school year were approved. The
basic graduate rate will be $445, including fees, which is a 3.49 percent increase.
Expenses in the student health plan continue to increase, requiring some reduction
of coverage and an increase in premiums, which is included in the tuition costs.
-
The following individuals were approved for emeritus status:
*Joyce W. Hopp, PhD, appointed as emeritus dean, School of Allied Health Professions,
effective February 11, 2003.
*Ivor C. Woodward, PhD, appointed as emeritus dean, School of Allied Health Professions,
effective February 11, 2003.
*Arthur J. Riesenfeld, MD, appointed as emeritus professor, department of medicine,
School of Medicine, effective November 14, 2002.
LLUMC Board of Trustees
- Loma Linda University Medical Center ended the month of December, 2002, with
an operating gain of approximately $1,900,000 compared to budget of approximately
$1,600,000. The year-to-date operating gain of approximately $15,800,000 is approximately
$400,000 greater than budget. The 2002 audit of financial statements is to begin
the middle of March.
- A cash report was presented to the Board of Trustees. Based on the various
methods of calculation, the days cash on hand presented ranged from 63.3 days
down to 52.5 days under the most conservative methodology. In each of the scenarios,
LLUMC will have met the bond covenant requirement of 50 days cash on hand on
January 1, 2003.
-
The Board of Trustees approved a number of capital items as requested by management.
- A proposal to refinance approximately $4,000,000 of capital leases to lower
interest rates was approved by the Board of Trustees. The cumulative savings
during the
proposed 36-month term is approximately $200,000.
- Since the pediatric stem cell program was initiated in July, 2002, seven stem
cell transplants have been performed. Eleven more patients are being prepared
for transplantation.
- The Riverside Community Health Foundation gave a $125,000 grant to purchase
a third ECMO unit. This helps Children's Hospital maintain state-of-the-art status
in the NICU.
- External signage and the logo of Children's Hospital was placed on the exterior
of the facility in early February. The Children’s Hospital Foundation funded
the project.
- A matured trust will assist the development of the new East Campus entrance
off
Loma Linda Drive.
- An agreement has been signed with Kaiser for the Medical Center to do their
kidney
pancreas transplants.
-
The "I Care" customer service program continues to mature. Performance
standards have been completed, and training of department heads and employees
will begin in late April. Employee forums were conducted in January with approximately
1,000 employees attending. This format engenders dialogue between administration
and staff which provides input into the decision-making process.
LLUBMC Board of Trustees
- The month-to-date census for February at Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine
Center was 80. Even though there was a drop in the census in December, the year-to-date
census for 2002 was 74. Analysis of the top referral sources and the payor mix
statistics remain very stable for 2002.
- A space evaluation committee task force is evaluating current space available
at LLUBMC to identify ways to maximize space to accommodate growing programs.
- Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center continued its financial growth
during the 2002 year. The month of December, 2002, ended with a net gain of $11,997.
This resulted in a year-to-date gain of $500,202. LLUBMC budgeted for a net gain
of $49,288 and $580,323 for the month of December and December year-to-date respectively.
The staff at LLUBMC is commended for continuing to provide excellent care while
maintaining a financially sound position.
LLUAHSC Board of Trustees
- Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center departments reported
an operating loss of $1,904 for the year ending December 31, 2002. Together,
Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center and its core corporations
had a net operating gain of $18,601,885, which was $1,944,283 better than budget
of $16,657,602 for the year ending December 31, 2002.
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Thursday, March 20, 2003 TODAY
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