The top executive for Lawrence Memorial Hospital received a positive annual review from hospital board members on Wednesday and was given a raise that puts his salary above $400,000 per year.

Gene Meyer, LMH president and CEO, was given high marks as the hospital works to complete a $50 million expansion project that has included a new emergency room and other improvements to the main campus at Third and Maine streets.

“With all the issues that occur with such a major expansion, the performance of the hospital continued to be outstanding,” said Joe Flannery, president of the board of trustees for the not-for-profit hospital.

Meyer received a 3.65 percent raise that increased his annual salary to $409,935. The 3.65 percent was the same percentage increase given to general employees of the hospital, Flannery said.

Flannery cited low staff turnover rates, increased patient visits and growing hospital revenues as signs that Meyer was providing strong leadership to the hospital.

LMH in 2007 posted revenues of $137.2 million, and had revenues over expenses of $14.1 million. Both figures were up from 2006.

In other news from Wednesday’s hospital board meeting:

¢ Hospital leaders are beginning to again talk of building a parking deck on the west side of the hospital to ease a parking crunch.

Meyer said a new deck would add about 130 spaces to the main campus but would create parking problems during the five months the facility was being constructed. Board members took no action on moving forward with the project.

Meyer said hospital executives are looking at the deck option – which has been mentioned for several years – after exploring other ideas. Meyer said the idea of building a parking garage on the site of a city-owned baseball field just north of the hospital had been explored. Meyer said it would be necessary for the hospital to replace the field. He said he had taken a preliminary look at about 10 acres of property that is for sale along Michigan Street several blocks north of the hospital as a possible site for a new ballfield or park.

¢ Two neurosurgeons from St. Francis Medical Center in Topeka have agreed to begin performing spine surgery at LMH, Meyer said. The hospital has been unable to provide spine surgery for about four years, Meyer said.

¢ LMH will explore the possibility of joining the Midwest Cancer Alliance, board members were told. The alliance is a group of healthcare providers that have banded together to share information on cancer treatment techniques, clinical trials, and to provide second-opinion services. Meyer and other hospital leaders will meet with alliance leaders next month.