East End Medical Slowly Digging Out From Deep Financial Hole; Senators Offer Praise To Interim Executive Director

Senators of the Health, Hospitals and Human Services Committee were much happier with the responses provided by the St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corporation when Interim Executive Director Dr. Tess Richards and Chief Financial Officer Steven Meyers appeared on Monday to update the committee on the center’s operations.  Dr. Richards acknowledged the organization's ongoing significant financial challenges, telling lawmakers that STEEMCC was starting from “ground zero”, in a sense. “There are no quick fixes for the immense challenges that we're facing," she warned. However, she vowed that the team was committed to turning things around and indeed, that they've begun steps towards these ends.  Legislators were told that the facility had been undergoing an in-depth evaluation and review of policies and procedures within all areas of the center. Dr. Richards emphasized the need for standardized processes and a strong focus on the billing and collections department, saying, "We need t...