Louisville, Ky.-based Norton Healthcare reported a significant reduction in its contract labor expenses during the second quarter even as its overall expenses increased.
The six-hospital system, which reported operating income of $45.2 million in the period, saw overall expenses rise 8.6 percent to total $879.5 million. While contact labor was down 74 percent to total $6.8 million, salaries and wages rose 15.8 percent over the same period last year to $412.3 million.
Drugs and other supply costs also increased.
Norton Healthcare reported revenue of $924.8 million for the quarter and $1.9 billion for the first six months of the year.