The boards of both health systems met separately Thursday. University was more than $3 million ahead of budget on total revenue and about $700,000 ahead of budget on income from operations through the end of March.

The health system is looking at healthier volumes in certain areas, such as surgeries, and there are “lots of downstream revenues from surgeries,” said Chief Financial Officer Dave Belkoski.

The hospital is surpassing the 5 percent margin goal it set, CEO Jim Davis said.

Because its fiscal year begins in July, MCG health system was looking at nine months of data. While net patient service revenues were off about $3 million from budget, the health system benefited from slightly higher indigent care payments, an increase in other operating revenue and expenses coming in under budget by more than $1 million.

That pushed the margin from a budget of $10.7 million to nearly $13 million.

Officials credited increases in inpatient and ambulatory surgeries and a more favorable payor mix.

The health system was aided in last year’s finances by $14 million in previous year revenue that is not there this year, so the results are a true reflection of performance, said David Hefner, the executive vice president for clinical affairs.

“We hope that these trends will continue,” said Georgia Health Sciences University President Ricardo Azziz, who serves as chairman of the health system’s boards.