Published: January 07, 2009 05:24 pm      

Brookhaven hospital suffers patient declines

BROOKHAVEN — Officials at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven say the last four months of 2008 saw unexpectedly low patient volumes and the hospital must increase its patient flow.

Dean Snider, the hospital’s chief financial officer, says the only way the hospital can bring in more patients is for it to become a one-stop medical treatment facility.

Snider says King’s Daughters’ plan to construct a $12 million Intensive Care Unit, in addition to others upgrades, will help draw in more patients.

The hospital is trying to recover from $1 million in losses from treating uninsured patients. Hospitals are legally required to admit all emergency room visitors.