Stephens County Hospital CEO “Here and Open for Business”

The new CEO at Stephens County Hospital says the hospital is still here and open for business.

Stephens County Hospital CEO Van Loskoski recently sat down with WNEG. “We provide a lot of great services here and we want the message to get out that we are open for business. We are still here, and our focus is to remain here and my intent is to dismiss any rumors that the hospital is closing. Truth of the matter is any rural hospital could close pretty quickly if they are not supported by their community. We are intent on remaining her, but we are also intent on letting the community know what is going on within our hospital and being transparent, and having these difficult conversations.”

Loskoski says he would have not taken the job of CEO at Stephens County Hospital if he was not optimistic about its future. “I took this role because there is an opportunity to do a lot of great things for this hospital and this community. I’m excited to be a part of this transition and a part of the team that is here. Some of the people that have worked in this hospital have been here 40 years plus so it is great to be able to tap into that kind of longevity, people that know the system and the community, so there is good structure in place from a resource standpoint. There is also a good opportunity for the community.”

Loskoski says the success of the hospital is dependent on the entire community. “Like everything else in the community it has got to be a collaborative effort. You look at any small business and they rely on local support. That is why I support local businesses. I much prefer to go to a locally owned restaurant as opposed to a chain restaurant. The reason for that is I want our local businesses to thrive. They are the soul and culture of our community, and the hospital is in that same light. We are the ones that are invested in the community. We live in the community. These are our community members that we are taking care of in the hospital. Who’s lives we are taken care of, and that is really important when you think about how your healthcare is provided.”

The announcement was made recently that the hospital was going to have to close the labor and delivery unit. Loskoski says it was a painful, but necessary decision. ”It is important that we as a hospital is supporting as much of the community as we possibly can. For that service line in particular it has become increasingly difficult over the years to keep that service line running. That is not anything relegated to our hospital. Many rural hospitals in Georgia have closed their labor and delivery units. It is painful to see that happen. For me personally as one that served on the March of Dimes Board of Directors providing healthcare to mothers and their babies is very near and dear to my heart.”

Loskoski told WNEG that unfortunately, the numbers are just not feasible to continue the service. “For a hospital that is delivering just under 200 babies per year in a community that is having just over 300 babies a year, there is not the same kind of volume that we stand to capitalize on from where we were in the past. Basically you get paid for the delivery of the child. We would need to be delivering more than 400 babies a year for that unit to stand on its own. We are at about half of what we would need to break even. Unfortunately, it is a service that is vitally important to the community, but it is also very expensive for us to keep intact.”

Loskoski says it is more expensive for Stephens County Hospital than it may be for some other hospitals. “We don’t have a local presence of Pediatricians that cover the hospital. As such, we have to bring in Pediatricians from elsewhere to cover the patients delivered in that unit, and that is very, very expensive. When you bring in a physician in that kind of an aspect you can expect to pay, at minimum, $2300 per day for that Physician coverage.”

Loskoski says the community can contribute to the hospital’s well-being in many ways, but the most effective way is utilizing the services offered. “We provide very good clinical quality here. The staff that we have in place are stellar. You might hear of a bad experience here and there, and those carry quickly in a small community, but I assure you, big hospitals have bad experiences, too. Bigger does not always mean better.”

Loskoski says that, though the pandemic has made it challenging for visitation, he has an open door policy and welcomes to be contacted by phone or email. He says there is also a comment section and a request for information link on the hospital website which go directly to the P.R. Department and they forward anything that has his name on it directly to him. He is also active in the community and welcomes any conversation.

For the complete interview with Stephens County Hospital CEO Van Lososki tune in to WNEG for Wellness Wednesday air at approximately 12:30 P.M. this Wednesday.