The monthly budget and finance meeting for Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe on Monday, Jan. 28, was a milestone for hospital officials as they reported positive earnings for December.

A total profit of $149,146 was far above the budgeted loss of $120,293. Officials were overjoyed with the positive earning in December 2012.

By comparison, in for the month of December 2011 the hospital operated $894,354 in the red.

"We are happy to report that Hutcheson has been able to sustain first-quarter earnings," said Roger Forgey, president and CEO of Hutcheson Medical Center. "Hutcheson is on a budget, year to date, which puts the hospital on track for its first profitable year in quite awhile."

Though the year-to-date earnings since October 2012 are still in the negative, compared to 2011 the hospital is reporting a $2.6 million improvement. December earnings were $5,237,456. Contributing to the rise in operating revenue is the $798,134 increase from 2011 in net patient revenue and $70,916 increase from 2011 in operating income from other sources. Total expenditures for December 2012 were $5,088,310.

Keeping revenue higher and expenses lower, the hospital has managed to have a successful month. Hoping to keep on that track, Forgey said the hospital will be $3.6 million in the black when the budget year ends Sept. 30.

"Volume is a key factor," said Forgey. "We are exceedingly pleased since there was no real base-line to go from."

The average daily census for December 2012 was 37 and emergency room visits totaled 3,242, which chief financial officer Farrell Hayes said was the highest ER visits in more than a decade. There was a total of 59 births, six less than in 2011, and 371 surgeries, 65 more than in 2011.