PRINCETON — Princeton Community Hospital weathered uncertain economic times, weighed a potential sale and faced the onset of national health care debate during fiscal year 2009 and still emerged with a healthy bottom line and a determination to rise to every challenge.

As the PCH Board of Directors conducted its annual business meeting Tuesday at the Chuck Mathena Center, it offered a prime opportunity for the people at the helm of the hospital to look back at a profitable, sometimes tumultuous, year and ahead at the opportunities and obstacles that await.

“I think this was a year of challenge,” PCH CEO Wayne Griffith said. “I think next year is going to be even more of a challenge.”

The not-for-profit hospital finished the fiscal year with a $950,000 operating profit, a number that Griffith said was a success amid such tough economic times nationwide.

“We met our budget. We actually exceeded our profitability projections,” he said.

In addition to maintaining financial strength, Griffith said the hospital had made major accomplishments in creating a financial and capital strategic plan, surpassing expectations on a Joint Commission survey, establishing employee and physician surveys and action plans, and focusing on core measures of patient safety and quality care.

The people behind PCH are an integral part of those accomplishments and future success, Griffith said, pointing to the annual report segment declaring “Our People Rise to the Challenge.”

“At Princeton Community Hospital, our people are second to none ...” the report read. “From the volunteer who greets you at the door to the housekeeper who tidies your room, PCH people have one thing in common: their kindness.”

Balancing quality care with tightening budgets is never easy, but Griffith said PCH employees managed well this year.

“I’ve often said if you focus on quality, the financial aspect will follow,” he said, pledging that the No. 1 goal of 2010 will be to continue improvements to patient safety and quality standards.

That will require discipline and dedication in the face of the H1N1 pandemic threat and the national health care reform debate that is raging in Washington and places coast to coast.

Currently, people suffering from flu-like symptoms are leaving local emergency departments overloaded, which creates a hazard for all patients.

“Our challenge today is to find another alternative site to send people with flu-like symptoms seeking treatment,” Griffith said. “We want the people who need treatment for the flu to get it, but we don’t want people who have other life-threatening illnesses or diseases to stay away because they’re afraid of catching the flu.”

When that alternative site is confirmed, Griffith said PCH would widely publicize the place and plan for providing care to potential flu patients.

Focusing on health care reform, Griffith said it’s impossible to prepare for anything until a bill emerges from Congress.

“Whatever comes out, there are going to be huge changes. I hope it’s a program that’s fair to both hospitals and physicians,” he said. “At the same time, I hope it really does improve access to care.”

Hospitals and physicians are almost guaranteed to see shrinking reimbursements from programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, when reform passes, an outcome that could make a substantial impact to PCH.

Last year alone, PCH charged $255 million for services rendered and wrote off more than $145 million in contractual deductions and allowances. The hospital also provided $7 million in charity care. Cutting even further into the net revenue without finding alternative sources of revenue could cut services available.

“I just hope sound minds prevail,” Griffith said.

Physician recruitment is always a top goal of PCH administrators. Both Griffith and Dr. Ken Parker, president of the PCH medical staff, emphasized that priority this week as they discussed the need to continually seek out new talent and various specialties.

The need hit even closer to home this year, when Dr. Joseph Nieto, longtime Princeton gynecologist and obstetrician, died suddenly last spring at the age of 53.

“Certainly, his compassion and patient care is missed,” Parker said. “I think we all miss him a lot, and I hope he’s doing well where he is now.”

In other hospital news this week, Jackie Evans, president of the PCH Volunteer Auxiliary, presented the volunteers’ annual report. During 2009, 75 PCH volunteers worked 20,298 hours and supported the Salvation Army Angel Tree, nursing scholarships, PCH Foundation’s Day in a Woman’s Life, educational opportunities for staff members and efforts to improve monitoring equipment in the emergency room. In addition, volunteers knit caps and put together Itty Bitty Baskets for PCH newborns and their families, assembled packets for surgery patients and more.

PCH Foundation Executive Director Jessica Stephens also reviewed the foundation’s progress over the last year, touting more than $200,000 raised in 2009 to benefit hospital care and programs. The foundation’s annual golf tournament netted approximately $82,000, and the first-ever Celebrating a Day in a Woman’s Life brought in roughly $17,000.

Stephens also saluted Dr. Gopal Pardasani, whose term as chairman of PCH Foundation’s Board of Trustees expires this month. During his term, PCH opened its Hospitality House, which has served nearly 2,000 patients and families from 22 states and three countries. The J.D. Muldoon Memorial Scholarship program has provided more than $41,000 to benefit 32 students, and Pardasani worked hard to raise awareness of the Neighborhood Investment Program, which provides tax credit for contributions to the foundation.

Applauding the man she declared an “asset to our community, hospital and foundation,” Stephens started a standing ovation for Pardasani’s generosity with his time, talent and compassion.