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Southwest Medical Center reports improved January finances, plans staff and billing changes
Summary
Amber Williams, CEO of Southwest Medical Center, told the commission the hospital closed January 2026 with a $186,931 positive net and outlined a 2026 cost-reduction plan targeting a $476,000 positive net by year-end while reducing contract labor and recruiting new providers.
Amber Williams, chief executive officer of Southwest Medical Center, presented the hospital’s quarterly update and a 2026 cost-reduction plan to the commission.
Williams said the hospital has reduced its reliance on contract labor from peak COVID levels — "we had 45 contract employees" at one point — to 12 contract staff today and plans further reductions. She said the hospital aims to achieve a positive net income of $476,000 for 2026 under the new plan and reported that January 2026 closed with a positive net income of $186,931.
Williams also highlighted recruitment wins: a new orthopedic spine specialist joining from Des Moines and two nurse practitioners moving into a clinic the hospital will reopen on 11th Street in April. She acknowledged an ongoing billing problem with a third-party vendor and said the hospital has a plan to address billing issues and to improve community-facing communications about services.
Commissioners asked about contract-labor targets and areas where the hospital still faces staffing challenges (radiology was named). Williams said the ideal end goal would be zero contract nurses, with radiology posing the biggest hiring challenge. She invited commissioners to meet with the administrative team to discuss operations and finance in more detail.
