Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo

IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County Healthcare System had its busiest month in more than two years in June as more patients seek services following the peak of the pandemic last fall.

“Our financial position is just great compared to what it was two years ago,” Trustee Kim Van Osdol said during a hospital board meeting Thursday.

Brian Donahue, chief financial officer, reported 61 days cash on hand after June saw a net income gain of $380,000. Gross revenues in June were the best in the past 30 months, Donahue told the board.

“We’re pretty optimistic,” said CEO Chuck Nelson, noting an emergency room renovation is on track for completion early this fall. With new diagnostic and cancer therapy equipment also being installed, the hospital hopes to host a community event, barring a surge in coronavirus cases.

The U.S. Small Business Administration notified DCH last month that a $9.1 million Paycheck Protection Program loan would be forgiven. PPP was established under the CARES Act in 2020 to help certain employers continue paying their workers.

Trustee Dan Wender pointed to recent physician recruitment, including a growth in family medicine, obstetrics-gynecology and orthopedics. Dr. Christopher Rogalla is a new staff member at the DCH Primary Care Center, trustees learned.

Margaret Minerick, board chairman, mentioned numerous contributions from the Dickinson Hospital Foundation. The next major project is to update the hospital’s four conference rooms at a cost of about $60,000.

The foundation’s Scramble for the Health of It golf fundraiser will be Sept. 9 at Pine Grove Country Club, Minerick said, with registration due Aug. 13. More information on sponsorships is available at https://www.dchs.org/about-us/foundation.