Texas Health Resources, the system that treated the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the U.S., reported a smaller operating margin in 2014 than the previous year as it grappled with higher expenses.
The Arlington, Texas-based system did not mention the October crisis, which made a deep but temporary dent in patient volume and revenue at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, in a financial report filed for bondholders.
The 14-hospital system still reported a 5.7% increase in revenue for the year, but expenses grew faster. The increase came from higher salary and benefit costs as well as other undisclosed expenses.
In total, Texas Health reported an operating surplus of $313.2 million on revenue of $4 billion, for an operating margin of 7.7%. In 2013, its operating surplus was $319.3 million on $3.8 billion in revenue, for an operating margin of 8.3%.
Texas Health disclosed in December that it had spent $6 million on Ebola-related patient care and triage, including supplies, decontamination, transportation, legal fees, communications, professional services and additional security.
However, that amount would represent a small portion of its overall $3.8 billion in expenses for the year.
A spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment.
The system's Dallas hospital came under intense scrutiny last year as it faced questions over whether it had done enough to prevent Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan's death from the virus and stop its spread to two nurses, both of whom recovered from the deadly disease.
The earnings report did not provide operating data, but Texas Health's December disclosure noted that patient volume had nearly returned to normal at Presbyterian.
The hospital's revenue dropped 25.6% that month as its daily patient census fell as far as 22.2% below average. Its emergency department also saw a 53.3% drop in visits after being placed on diversionary status between Oct. 12 and 20.
By December, however, the hospital's daily census was only 2.3% below average, and its ED volume 3.7% lower. The system's other hospitals were not affected.
Texas Health also reported a 45% decrease in its non-operating income, similar to other systems around the country that have been affected by the volatile financial markets.
