Oklahoma health campus now prospering after rising from debris of killer tornado

The Norman (Okla.) Regional Health System ended its 2016 fiscal year on a high note, posting increased operating income (PDF) from the year earlier and opening a $32 million outpatient center in Moore, Okla. It's located on the site where a giant EF5 tornado leveled the system's hospital on May 20, 2013.

Norman Regional interim CEO Richie Splitt said the rebuilt Moore facility that replaced a 44-bed acute-care hospital was paid for entirely with insurance money covering the tornado destruction.

Splitt, who is a finalist for the permanent CEO position at Norman Regional, said there was never a doubt that the health system would rebuild after the tornado devastated the town of about 60,000.

Splitt, 50, had just joined the system as a chief administrative officer the week before the storm hit, he said.

The forecast the day of the tornado was for storms even more severe than the day before, Splitt said. So management made a fateful and ultimately life-saving decision to move all the patients at the Moore hospital into the cafeteria and away from exterior walls and windows.

More than 300 people, including town residents, crowded into the hospital when the tornado made a direct hit with winds exceeding 200 mph. Still, just a handful of people suffered minor cuts and bruises.

There were no fatalities or major injuries. A woman in labor stayed in the hospital delivery room surrounded by nurses refusing to leave her side, Splitt said.

The tornado that ripped through Moore killed 24 and caused about $2 billion of property damage and destruction.

Much of the hospital was flattened by the tornado. Just weeks after the storm and before the site had been completely cleared, Norman Regional Health System, whose flagship is 219-bed Norman Regional Hospital, was polling the community to learn what new healthcare facilities they wanted rebuilt, Splitt said.

What they opened in June 2016 is a comprehensive outpatient campus with an emergency department, imaging, laboratories, medical offices and physical therapy.

The system, which also includes the 152-bed Normal Regional HealthPlex specializing in cardiology, orthopedic, women and children care, is coming off a banner year financially.

The Norman Regional Hospital Authority, as the parent is known, posted operating income of $29.9 million in fiscal 2016, ended June 30, compared with operating income of $21.9 million in fiscal 2015.

Revenue increased 5% to $378.8 million from $360.2 million in 2015.

Splitt said they went into the fiscal year challenging the system's 3,000 employees to attain a 4% operating margin and a four-star quality rating from the CMS. Both goals were achieved. The challenge achieved cost savings by consolidating supplies, improved workforce productivity and led to better quality, Splitt said.

Splitt became interim CEO in March when veteran David Whitaker left to become chief administrative officer of the Oklahoma hospital region of the Mercy system.