The financials at Powell Valley Healthcare continue to follow a positive trend.

Historically, PVHC tends to operate at a loss during the summer months, and based on those figures, the hospital had budgeted a loss of $353,877 in July. Instead, they recorded a gain of $40,033 last month.

“As you remember, last July was not stellar for us, so this July was a great turnaround,” said CFO Joy Coulston, at the Board of Trustee regular meeting on Monday.

In July 2018, PVHC posted a loss of $350,070.

PVHC Trustee RJ Kost said last year’s figures created “a little bit of a worry for us.”

In contrast, revenue from inpatient, outpatient and long term care services all exceeded budget last month.

The hospital continued to keep swing bed days high, which helps the organization’s financials. Swing beds, as they’re called, are not acute or long-term care. They allow patients who live in the area and are treated in Billings to finish their recovery at Powell Valley Hospital.

“It helps the community because people are closer to home,” Kost said.

CEO Terry Odom said one swing bed patient is now at The Heartland, noting that swing beds can be a means towards providing patients with other services.

“We’re making the transitions,” Odom said.

Meanwhile, PVHC’s new pharmacy had its soft opening on Aug. 12. Since then, the pharmacy received 168 new prescriptions while 132 additional prescriptions have been transferred.

PVHC is still projecting a loss in August based on past-year performance.