Community Health Systems, a 127-hospital chain based in Franklin, Tenn., posted a net loss of $110 million in the third quarter of 2017, compared to a net loss of $79 million in the same period of the year prior.
CHS said revenues dipped to $3.67 billion in the third quarter of this year, down from $4.38 billion in the same period of 2016. The decrease in revenue was attributable, in part, to lower patient volume. On a same-facility basis, admissions were down 14.8 percent in the third quarter of this year. When adjusted for outpatient activity, admissions decreased 15.5 percent year over year.
The company's financials also took a $40 million hit from hurricanes Harvey and Irma in the three months ended Sept. 30. CHS said the hurricanes caused it to incur additional expenses and miss out on revenues.
Although CHS' operating expenses declined in the third quarter, one-time charges took a toll on the company's bottom line. CHS said its third quarter financial results included $33 million in impairment charges and losses related to the sale of some of its hospitals.
To improve its finances and reduce its heavy debt load, CHS put a turnaround plan into place in 2016. As part of the initiative, the company announced plans this year to sell off 30 hospitals. With the sale this week of Highlands Regional Medical Center in Sebring, Fla., and Merit Health Northwest Mississippi in Clarksdale, CHS Chairman and CEO Wayne T. Smith said Wednesday the 30 hospital divestitures are complete.
"Looking forward, we remain focused on strategic initiatives that we believe will yield positive results in the future," said Mr. Smith. "Our goal is to emerge from this process with a sustainable group of hospitals that are positioned for long-term success and growth."
CHS brought down its long-term debt load to $13.9 billion in the third quarter of this year, from $14.8 billion in the same period of 2016.
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