It was almost shocking to see the huge profit that Jasper Health Services made in the most recent audit done by the auditors for Oconee Regional.  For the year ended 9/30/04, JHS (which includes the Hospital and the Retreat) had a net operating profit of $789,813.  This figure includes the $505,000 that the BOC provides to the hospital.  Even without the county supplement, the hospital made a profit!  Even more curious is the fact that Oconee Regional (ORMC) had a net operating LOSS of $2,075,608.  So who is helping whom in this arrangement?  It looks as if Oconee needs Jasper, not the other way around.  Another item of interest—for the year ended 9/30/03 ORMC made $2,035,893 and JHS lost $190,424.  This is a quite an unusual “turnaround.”  The audit also reveals that there were “contributions from Baldwin and Jasper County” in the amount of $1,072,000.  While we continue to hear we need to fund the hospital to pay for indigent care, the audit shows that an excess of $1,637,904 was received over and above what was paid into the Indigent Trust Fund during the year.  As of 9/30/04, JHS owed ORMC $2,772,905.  (Recent financials reveal this debt has increased to $3,211,000.)