BJC Healthcare, a nonprofit system based in St. Louis, reported an operating surplus of $53.2 million on $1 billion in revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2015, up from an operating surplus of $23.8 million on $967.8 million in revenue a year earlier.
There were a number of factors supporting the system's financial boost, including an increase in admissions and a decrease in bad debt.
Admissions at BJC's facilities were up 4.4 percent in the first quarter, and when adjusted for outpatient activity, admissions were up 5.7 percent. Emergency room visits also increased in the first quarter.
BJC's bad debt declined nearly 11.7 percent to $41.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2015.
The system was also able to keep its expenses in check in the first quarter, with expenses only increasing 3.5 percent.
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