The Meadows' finances in tip-top shape

HURON TWP. — The financial diagnosis for The Meadows at Osborn Park? It's the best it's been in years.For the fifth consecutive year, Erie County's public nursing home generated a year-end surplus. The facility produced a $524,000 positive operational balance in 2018.It's, by far, the largest amount of money made in any year this millennium, shattering the $117,000 cleared in 2016.One main reason for such a dramatic year-over-year increase stems from the daily patient population. Throughout 2018, the occupancy rate at The Meadows hovered just under or remained at full capacity. The facility, on any given day, can treat up to 130 people."Our census was up because of the quality of care we provide," nursing home administrator Diane Corrao said.Eva Torres, left, and Sue Grady open the Christmas gifts they received at The Meadows at Osborn Park in Huron Township on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018.Other contributing factors included The Meadows cutting expenses and receiving more money at a higher reimbursement rate through Medicaid, a popular option in which patients pay for care."It has to run like a business, and the goal of every business is to operate continuously," county administrator Pete Daniel said. "The only way that happens is to bring in more than what goes out, otherwise we would be taking away money needed to take care of our basic mandated services, (such as) cops and courts."Local officials label the year-over-year profits as a major milestone, considering nursing home operations lost money in each year from 2002 through 2013.Those losses collectively totaled about $4 million in local taxpayer dollars squandered because of bad business practices. Erie County's everyday operating budget, which subsidizes dozens of public services, including the sheriff and court operations, previously provided bailouts so the nursing home budget could balance. The Meadows, however, still owes about $400,000 back to commissioners it previously borrowed.The Meadows at Osborn Park produced a $524,000 year-end surplus in 2018. It's, by far, the largest amount of money made in any year this millennia. Nursing home officials intend to reinvest some of the money saved into long-awaited capital improvement projects at The Meadows. The commissioners also ponied up $1 million to:• Build a new chapel, salon, physical therapy room and library with computers and internet access• Purchase new furniture for common areas• Add a new roof atop the greenhouse• Repurpose a new wing of rooms dedicated to long-term care• Redo the front lobby area, consisting of a wider entrance and newer offices, to create a more "grandiose" feel for guests and residents upon enteringAll the improvements aim to improve a patient's experience and, in turn, make The Meadows a more desirable location for area families, ensuring its long-term sustainability, officials said."In order to expand the services offered to our patients, we will be expanding our facility to be competitive with other area rehabs," county commissioner Pat Shenigo said. "We believe that The Meadows will be the finest facility in our area."Among the many upgrades coming to The Meadows at Osborn Park in 2019: a new-look main entrance to create a more "grandiose" feel for guests and residents upon entering. Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.