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photo by Steve VanGunda
Medical technologist Gaynell Smith checks petrie dishes in the Natchez Regional Medical Center laboratory Thursday afternoon.
Phillips: Miss-Lou needs more doctors
Published Friday, August 22, 2008
NATCHEZ — Adams County, Concordia Parish and Southwest Mississippi need 84 more doctors, Natchez Regional Medical Center CEO Scott Phillips says.
The area is medically understaffed and, either as a cause or an effect, a high number of local residents leave the area for healthcare every day.
And when those residents hit the highways for healthcare, they take a massive amount of money with them.
In fact, the local healthcare industry is losing millions, Phillips said.
Phillips said in Adams County, the four contiguous counties and in Concordia Parish there are approximately 88 doctors.
He said the area — about 57,000 people — should have approximately 172 physicians.
The shortage of doctors in the area is not uncommon for an area the size of this one, Phillips said.
“Statistically it looks like a very rural area,” he said.
And that shortage of doctors translates to a shortage of dollars.
Phillips said approximately $50 million in procedures are being done outside of the county.
“That’s a significant loss,” he said.
And Phillips is not the only one to see the shortfall.
Natchez Community Hospital’s CEO Tim Trottier said studies done by his hospital have also shown a greater demand for physicians.
And those who are not getting the care they need in the county are leaving the county.
But Trottier said having the necessary amount of doctors in the community means making sure there is a necessary base to pay those doctors.
Phillips said that one study revealed 48 percent of Adams County residents whose care was billed to Medicare was billed for treatment actually given outside of Adams County.
Phillips also said approximately 50 percent of the population needing neurology and cardiology care left the county for treatment.
And those types of procedures are three times more profitable to hospitals than day-to-day medical care.
“Adams County is an under served area,” he said.
And in turn, the population is traveling to places like Jackson, Baton Rouge, McComb and even New Orleans for treatment.
And while the value of procedures done outside of the county is tremendous, Phillips said having the necessary amount of doctors in the area would have a terrific impact on the local economy.
Phillips said if the area had the 84 more necessary doctors those doctors would have to hire staff and boost the economy in turn.
“Eighty-four doctors is hundreds of jobs for an area,” he said.
NRMC’s Vice-President of Medical Affairs Dr. Kenneth Stubbs said the lack of doctors is not difficult to see.
In Natchez he said there is one urologist — on staff at Natchez Community — and only one cardiologist — who staffs both Community and Regional.
Stubbs said while some procedures, like brain surgery, won’t likely ever be done in the community, having more urologists to perform prostate surgeries would be a major benefit to the area and would slow the rush of dollars leaving town.
Stubbs also said Regional has a state-of-the-art catheter lab that is largely under utilized because there is only one cardiologist.
And while hospital and county officials are moving forward on plans that would ultimately sell the hospital, Phillips is banking on that sale to help change the physician shortage.
Both Phillips and Stubbs said a large hospital system, like the one that will be necessary to purchase NRMC, will have a wider staff of doctors to draw from and assign to an area like Natchez.
However Natchez Community Hospital is part of a lager hospital system, HMA, and Trottier said he has never seen a large hospital system with a pool of doctors from which to hire.
Stubbs said while there is no quick fix to the problem it is fixable.
“It’s just going to take time,” he said.
Comments
Posted by callinitlikeitis (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 12:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
to start with, how about requiring hospital staff (nurses, etc) to S-M-I-L-E ???
i have experienced several times as a patients' family member at each of the hospitals here going to the nurse's station to ask for assistance and was ignored several minutes. on one of these occasions, there were nurses, clerks and aids sitting at the station chatting and eating. i stood right there at the counter for at least a couple of minutes, finally dr. akinwale (sp?) was in the back part of the station writing in charts, he looked up and saw that i was not being addressed. he got up, walked over, stood right beside the clerk and asked how could he help me. i'll never forget it.
perhaps one reason some doctors here are able to keep patients coming is because they write narcotic prescriptions like it's giving out candy which i for the life of me cannot figure out how they keep getting away with this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
another issue is that there are so many horror stories and experiences of incompetent health care here. this is exactly why my family and myself GO OUT OF TOWN.
there is only one place in this area to receive radiation treatments for cancer patients. the goings on in that place will most likely never be known by the general public. it is petrifying what goes on there.
another instance, i called to see one of the doctors/p.a. i was told there was an opening at 11:30am. i accepted that time and showed up on time. the rush and aggravation shown to me by the doctor/p.a. was as if i was interferring with his lunch schedule. i was not called to the back to be seen until 12noon.
i could go on and on.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 1:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Would we have enough doctors available if we outlawed that pansy game called golf?
Posted by NatchezBell (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 5:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Send this artical to bigger Cities. ASAP Maybe some good Doc's will respond too our need.
Posted by loneconservative (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The cost in Natchez is ridiculous for medical care. I had an EGD done in a larger city about five years ago for about $1800. The most recent listing for average cost I can find for EGD is 2005, $1800 was on high end of cost. I recently had one done at Community cost $7300, $2500 out of my pocket after insurance.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 6:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHY would a doctor come here? What exactly do we have to offer him/her?
Posted by sideline (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 6:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHY would a doctor come here? What exactly do we have to offer him/her?
Thats enough said right there. I live in Natchez and work out of town. When my family has to go to the doctor, its always fill out a claim. I have the best. Is it the staff don't know how? Its sickning. Same when I was in the military and had my family to go to doctor here.
Posted by msfixit (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 7:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bingo sideline, my son got sick when he was home on leave and we couldn't find anyone around here who was even interested in taking his Tri-Care (military insurance). I finally ended up taking him to the V.A. in Jackson, throwing up all the way.
Posted by wifetoone (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well I go out of town, No questions asked. I will drive the 2 hours before I go to one of these Drs. here. Just ain't happenin', I'll take my chances on the road.
Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
About two years ago I had to have a surgery done. Well poor overworked Dr. Flattman could not do the procedure due to being under the weather, I wanted to wait for him but the surgery was urgent so the other surgeon had to do it. Well my procedure did not go as well as it should have. Not long after I was not able to contact him. then I received a letter from NRMC that stated he was not with them anymore. This next statement is purely hearsay but from a reliable source. Someone told me of a family member that is in lawsuit with this Dr. due to the fact that he did not have a current license to be practicing at the time. Like I said I have not checked into this personally because I have not had any more problems from my surgery.
The story is just a lesson on knowing who you have performing surgery on you.
Posted by crawgator (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know about 84 doctors, but I know the Vidalia Upper school sure could use another one because the lice is running rampant in that school. They have 1 (doctor/nurse) for the entire parish.
Posted by MSviaTN (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Do you really need a doctor to cure lice? LOL
Posted by ericstratton (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Geez you people whine alot, take your butts out of town if you don't like the health care, but I guarantee you, you're probably seeing some local physician or healthcare provider for something, you just like to gripe and complain
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Philips said and I quote, "Neurology, Cardiology procedures are three times more profitable to hospitals." That said a lot. In other words they are charging three times what the procedure is worth. And they wonder why we travel out of town. Health care, anywhere else, cost less than in Natchez.
OLD GRANDDAD, YOU SAID A MOUTHFUL. That's the reason they have to charge so much. They have to keep in style with their pansy-dweeby buddies on the golf field and have enough of the poor folks money in which to contribute to different charity funds to make themselves look better than what they are. Most of these Natchez doctors need to be run out of town on a rail so good honest, sincere doctors can come in.
Posted by johnny1nut (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The reason you don't here about the horror stories out of town is because you don't live there. In a small town like this everybody knows abouth everything. If one things happens to one person it sounds like ten, and by the time it goes to the end of the line, it is alot worse than it actually was. Unexpected things happen in the medical field that most lay people just don't understand and never will. Don't get me wrong there are doctors that just fell off the turnip truck, and should not be practicing medicine. The problem is they are everywhere.
We do need more specialist here in Natchez, but all we seem to get are general family Doctors. We only have one pulmonologist in town and we need two more. If you don't like care here in Natchez don't complain just go somewhere else. I promise, nobody will care because if you are that bitter your probably looking for something to blaim on someone.
Posted by jrn59 (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Speak good word about your current physicians and hospitals, also lovely antebellum Natchez. You never know who is reading the blogs and someone could be interested in locating to Natchez. We had same probs. finding docs when I worked in Louisiana. Their spouses were more interested in locating to larger cities.
Posted by theduke (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad
Wy do you keep referring to golf as a pansy game. I know someone that parcipated in the game & he is far from being a pansy. Maybe it's not your type sport, but alot of local distingusted people are golfers & I'm sure they take offese being refered to as pansies.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
theduke, I certainly wasn't trying to hurt anyone's feelings. Just stating public knowledge. Personally, I tend to like climbing.
Average golfer:
http://www.golfknickers.com/
Average climber:
http://www.chesslerbooks.com/eCart/viewI...
'nuff said...
Posted by theduke (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 7:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good enough.
I've never climbed mountains, nor have I played golf, just was curious.
Thanks
Posted by nursegal (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where does this stereotyping of doctors playing golf come from? Probably from the ignoramous that is worried about the nutritional needs of the nurse grabbing a bite at the nurses station during her 12+ hour shift. Nurses are docked 30 min. for lunch and never get it. I don't doubt you haven't seen one eating at the nurses station. And as for going out of town for services...well the helicopter just flew over to pick someone in trouble up and just remember in your time of need there is no dr. on the golf course and that nurse has forgotten all about that snack for you!
Posted by showbiz (anonymous) on August 22, 2008 at 11:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To ericstratton shut up youre probably employed at the hospital people should gripe when simply going to the doctors office means mentally preparing yourself to be put down, not waited on, or just being treated rude.wake up people of Natchez
Posted by gator (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How about firing all the rude , unprofessional nurses you see in Natchez . They know who they are . Half of these cows don't even know how to greet or treat the public . Just plain ole rude and un-professional . It amazes me that some family member of a patient hasn't punched one out yet . Rude health workers get out of the profession before you be on the receiving end of a bad incident . People don't have to take you bad attitudes , Cows !
Posted by surgtech (anonymous) on August 23, 2008 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I personally go out of town for most of my health care, but i do have regualr m.d. here and he's great. most of you don't want to have a heart cath done in natchez anyways. if the cardiologist nics and artery while doing the procedure,
you could bleed to death before they could get you to mccomb or jackson, cause there is no cario-thoracic surgeon here. and the one that was here for a short time, i wouldn't let him operate on my stuffed animals!
Posted by 2of4 (anonymous) on August 27, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i must be one of the lucky people in natchez. i have a great doctor here and i do have a specialist out of town because i have an incurable disease. I have had much success with the care I have had here in Natchez and maybe it has to do with the fact that I take care of myself and try to do what my doctor tells me. I could have many many problems as a result of this disease. my recent stay at NRMC was for a typically common procedure and the staff were all very pleasant. Personally, I was glad to be somewhere that I was known and not a stranger to everyone as I would have been if I had gone out of town for this procedure. No matter where you go, if you have an unpleasant experience you would probably complain about that doctor, nurse, or facility.
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