By Garrett Wymer

The University Health Care Committee met Monday evening to discuss finances, operations and expansion amidst the nationwide health care debate.

University Health Care closed the 2009 fiscal year in June with a 1 percent margin of profit, Chief Financial Officer Sergio Melgar said, noting that more than half of all providers usually finish their fiscal year in the red.

Dr. Rick Lofgren, vice president of healthcare operations, briefly addressed the impact Novel H1N1 Flu, also known as Swine Flu, could have on the hospital.  Lofgren said an outbreak of H1N1 is not expected to spike the hospital’s mortality rate.

“The fatality rate is not much higher than the regular flu,” he said.

The hospital construction project is slated for completion by April 2010 and is scheduled to open in July 2010, said Associate Vice President of Facilities Murray Clark.

Dr. Michael Karpf, executive vice president for health affairs, said opening at that time is crucial.

The possibility of the Equestrian Games, a Keeneland horse race  and a UK football game happening on the same weekend makes completion of “Phase 1” of the construction project vital, he said.

Phase 1 includes the building of 128 additional rooms, a new emergency room, more intensive care rooms and a parking garage as well as outfitting the rooms with new, updated equipment.