Tony Dunn, the new executive director of the Margaret J. Weston Medical Center in Clearwater, is optimistic about the center's future in spite of financial problems. The rural health center's ills were uncovered during a federal review in March. TODD BENNETT/STAFF

Center's new chief optimistic

After taking over embattled Margaret J. Weston Medical Center, director says revival at hand

Web posted June 29, 1998

By Pat Willis
South Carolina Bureau

CLEARWATER -- When Tony Dunn assumed responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Margaret J. Weston Medical Center on June 15, he took over a facility running a quarter-million dollar deficit and facing yet another audit of its books.

Still, he is optimistic about the embattled rural health center's future.

``The patient is not quite out of intensive care but we know what is necessary and we have begun treatment,'' Mr. Dunn said.

The rural health center's ills were uncovered by a full program review conducted in March by the regional office of the Department of Health and Human Services in Atlanta.

Significant problems were uncovered in the area of financial management, record-keeping, and documentation of expenditures.

Consequences of the review included mass resignations -- the executive director, medical director, and four board members.

On the recommendation of federal officials, John ``Dick'' Awalt and Wallace Copeland, the resignations of all other board members with tenures longer than three months were asked for and received.

Now the center may have to undergo an audit by the U.S. Inspector General's Office before learning if its federal funding can continue.

At this point, Mr. Dunn said his biggest task is to clear up the $225,000 deficit a May financial report uncovered.

That task has already begun, he said, with a series of belt-tightening measures put in place by interim director Michelle Marrs, who took over the reins of the center in April.

Hours at the clinic in Hahn Village will be reduced from a five-day week schedule to two days.

Because of a reduced patient load during the summer months, the center's staffing will be reduced for a 90-day period beginning July 5. Other reductions in cost will be taken to maintain a ceiling of $106,000 per month.

``When I walked in, I discovered $800 in the center's checking account and I had a payroll to meet,'' Mrs. Marrs said. ``Now we've got $40,000 in the bank. We can't pay all our bills at once but we're cutting the deficit a little every month.''

Mr. Dunn said he plans to augment those efforts by a fund-raising campaign which he plans to launch during the next few months, and he is confident that the community will be receptive to his efforts.

``In the short time I have been here, I have been overwhelmed by the tremendous amount of support for the medical center from the community,'' Mr. Dunn said.

His first effort will be to raise $50,000 to install a computerized management information system that he deems absolutely necessary for competent management.

He said he is in the process of meeting with business and civic leaders in Aiken County and expects to get the campaign off the ground in July.

``We want people to know that our patients come from all over the county, the next closest rural health centers such as ours are in Allendale and Winnsboro,'' he said.

Mr. Dunn comes to the Clearwater clinic from the Kinston Community Health Center in North Carolina where he served as chief financial director and interim director.

He is a graduate of East Carolina University with a master's degree in business administration with certification in health care management.

Mrs. Marrs is leaving at the end of this month for Nashville, Tenn., where she will become chief executive officer of Mathew Walker Health Center.