The Frontiersman

Hospital Collections
Still Lagging,
Latest Report Shows

The third quarterly report of the Valley Hospital Association shows that cash collections at the valley hospital are still slow coming in even though the employment situation in the area has improved the past few weeks.

The hospital has been able to make the payroll each period, but is experiencing difficulty keeping other accounts on a current basis.

It was announced in the report that another Palmer firm has notified the hospital that they would no longer extend credit, thus joining other local firms who have adopted this policy.

When the Co-Op wrote off the hospital's $5,000 indebtedness to them and when the Matanuska Electric Association granted a special low electrical rate, both included as part of the agreement that the hospital meet current monthly obligations to them.

Unless money comes in it is impossible to pay the bills, the report reminded.

As friends and neighbors, the employees and board members of the hospital realize that in many cases illness and hospitalization can be financially disastrous to a family. "Because of this, we cannot urge too strongly that each person in the community seriously consider the purchase of some sort of pre-paid hospitalization plan," the report urged.

It was pointed out that Blue Cross, the non-profit organization set up by hospitals to provide low-cost pre-payment, is available at the Valley Presbyterian Hospital. Although the hospital receives nothing for writing the policy, they are happy to provide this service both for the patient's and the hospital's benefit, it was stated. Advantages pointed out include small monthly payments.

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Hospital Collections
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Many payments that often cover medical-surgical bills of hundreds of dollars—no question of postponing necessary surgery, or caring for a seriously ill person at home "because we can't afford to go to the hospital"—the patient goes into the hospital without serious financial worries, which will contribute to his recovery.

Community Contributions

Donations in the form of local produce have been given the hospital from several local individuals whose gardens provided more vegetables than they could use this year. Also the Experiment Farm contributed some 800 pounds of fresh vegetables. Fritz Lowe, hospital cook, put a considerable amount in the hospital freezer for use this winter.

Six hundred dollars was given to the hospital by business firms who wish to remain anonymous.

The money was placed in the general fund and is helping keep down the hospital's operating deficit. The hospital board of directors expressed their thanks to these donors who have shown such an interest in the hospital problems.