Sarasota Hospital District operating at a $4.2 million loss

The Sarasota County Public Hospital District listed a $4.2 million operating loss for the first through third quarter ending June 30. The district, which includes Sarasota Memorial Hospital, had $5.9 million in operating income last year during the same period.

In the quarter that ended June 30, the operating loss was a total of $532,525, compared to an operating income of $5.4 million in the same quarter a year ago. Hospital admissions through June were down by 3.6 percent compared to last year, caused by a milder flu season and patients delaying elective procedures because of economic reasons.

The district had focused on cost reduction strategies, and listed a 2.3 percent decrease in salaries, wages and benefits, a 7.7 percent drop in supply costs and a 3.7 percent decrease in purchased services.