Auburn Memorial Hospital's strong financial performance continued in March, hospital officials said Wednesday following the organization's monthly board of trustees meeting.

AMH reported a $317,000 operating gain in March, hospital spokeswoman Beverly Miller said. That's up from a $182,000 gain in the same month a year ago, and it's above the $307,000 figure that hospital officials had budgeted.

Figures for the first quarter of the year show even stronger growth. Year-to-date operating gains reached $957,000, well above the $365,000 level at the same point in 2007. The hospital had budgeted for a $609,000 quarterly operating gain.

Miller said April figures are on target for another gain.

The quarterly growth was fueled in part through inpatient volume that was 11 percent over budget and outpatient volume exceeding plans by 6 percent.

AMH has been operating for roughly a year under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The hospital has filed a proposed reorganization plan as part of that process, and officials are hopeful AMH can emerge from Chapter 11 this summer.