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Natchez Regional considers radiology change
Published Wednesday, May 27, 2009
NATCHEZ — As early as today the Natchez Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees could vote on a contract that would change radiology services at the facility — it could also do damage to one longtime Natchez business.
Dr. Ray Brown, a radiologist at Radiology Associates of Natchez, said for the past 50 years the company has been handling NRMC’s radiology needs and the needs of several local hospitals.
When a local hospital needs radiology work done, it’s sent to either Brown or his partner Dr. Fred Emrick.
Radiology Associates of Natchez then bills either the patient or their insurance company.
“Fifty years we’ve been doing this and not one cent paid by the hospital,” Brown said.
But Regional’s Vice President of Medical Affairs Ken Stubbs said a contract with Comprehensive Radiology Services, in Hattiesburg, has the potential to bring great benefit to Regional.
Stubbs said should the board of trustees decide to contract with the group, it would mean radiological readings could be read more quickly and some procedures that patients leave town for could be done in Natchez.
Stubbs said in some cases mammography readings from RAN can take up to two weeks to be returned to the hospital.
While Brown said one week is not unusual, Stubbs maintains it results should be available more quickly.
But with a new team of radiologist that can screen mammograms from Hattiesburg, that time could be reduced to just hours.
“Doctors who think this will hurt the hospital just don’t understand,” Stubbs said. Additionally, Stubbs said the CHS contract would provide Regional with an interventional radiologist than could perform some biopsies, and other procedures, for which patients are currently leaving town.
Brown said not only would the contract eliminate approximately one third of his business, but also he believes it would also drive business to Hattiesburg, not Natchez.
“This is not going to help us, or Natchez at all,” he said addressing his fears of loss of business for his practice and the city.
Stubbs said the if the board votes to contract with CHS it hospital policy will prevent the facility from executing that contract for 60 days, at which point Brown will have an opportunity to formally object to the contract.
Stubbs said the only costs associated with the new contract will be the costs associated with connecting Regional and CHS computer systems.
Stubbs did not know the cost to connect the two facilities.
Comments
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 2:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
[quote]
But Regional’s Vice President of Medical Affairs Ken Stubbs said a contract with Comprehensive Radiology Services, in Hattiesburg, has the potential to bring great benefit to Regional.[/quote]
Smells like a kick back to me! Why else would someone go to Hattisburg?
If that company gets busy is their team of experts going to remain that fast at getting ACURATE readings back to the hospital?
I have always used NRMC, but now I think I'll take my business elsewhere.
I don't have any faith left in that hospital!
Posted by getrealnatchez (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 7:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
“Doctors who think this will hurt the hospital just don’t understand,” Stubbs said,
Looks like the only person who understands in Natchez is Ken Stubbs. He understood that we had bidders lined up to buy NRMC. He understood that he needs to close Premier Imaging and quietly move the equipment to NRMC. He understood that he needs to award himself the contract to read EKG's at NRMC, when we have a Board certified Cardiologist on staff at NRMC. Now, he understands that the radiology group in Hattiesburg is going to provide excellent coverage for Natchez.
Surely, he understands NRMC more than any one in Natchez.
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like it's time for us to call a boycott of N.R.M.C. AND DR. STUBBS.!!!
Posted by ratherbefishin (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone who has ever worked closely with the hospitals and physicians in Natchez will understand the courage it takes for Dr. Ken Stubbs to oppose the status quo here in the medical community. He doesn't have to do this, but he sincerely wants to assure that we have the best quality medical care in Natchez. You might be surprised at the number of quality doctors who have been discouraged from practicing in Natchez...by a number of the local, established doctors. We better stand behind Ken and support Natchez Regional. We're not trying to save healthcare in Natchez...we're having to rebuild it to what it once was.
Posted by ratherbefishin (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess I'll get deleted for saying this and I'm sorry for getting personal, but I can't help myself. Only an idiot would call for a boycott of our financially troubled hospital when it needs our help the most. Reminds me of the unions helping put Fidelity Tire and IP out of business just because they could.
Posted by daytripper (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 7:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
people (patients) here in Natchez deserve to have the latest technologies in medicine and this is a step in that direction. turnaround time is critical to cutting edge medical services nowdays. WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE AND HAVEN'T FOR SOME TIME . I'ts not the doctors fault, its been the support ie radiology reporting lag time and lab result reporting lag time. Is it not possible for the radiologist here to become part of the CHS staff? Or do they not want the best for Natchez patients,because of their pocketbooks?
Posted by bigdaddy101 (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So much for keeping the money in the community! They want everyone in Natchez to bail NR out ,but they want to send services out of town while we have a perfectly good company/system in place here!? Come on people wake up and smell the coffee!
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"RATHERBEFISHING". It appears that you're the IDIOT!! Are you so stupid that you don't know YOUR tax dollars pay for N.R.M.C.? And you want YOUR dollars to go out of town? You want to put LOCAL people out of business? You don't make a lot of sense when you say "we better stand behind Ken" in one sentence and the next one says "local doctors discourage new doctors from coming to Natchez"..?????? If they're doing that, it's not because of anything other than their GREED. They don't want any good competition. My doctor is leaving for that very reason. He is young, very intelligent, highly educated; without a doubt the BEST DOCTOR I'VE EVER HAD. Why is he leaving? Ask around. The OLD doctors don't want new competition. AND I HATE TO GET PERSONAL ALSO, BUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO DON'T HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST REALLY BURN ME UP. Check what happened to Premier Imaging. Why does Stubbs appoint himself to read EKG's???? It's all just so damned SELF SUPPORTING!!!
Posted by caresaboutnatchez (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NRMC is owned by the county and the citizens of Adams County and now it is shooting another local business in the foot by taking business out of town. That is what is wrong with our area now. Too many people going out of town for something that can get locally and there goes our tax dollars and money we need to another community.
Posted by momof1 (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They can't get things read in a reasonable amount of time by Dr's that are here in town. So I guess I can see how much sense it makes to say it will get done faster if we depend on people in Hattiesburg to do it.
Posted by geauxtigers (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ratherbefishing is right. As a patient would you rather get your results in a few hours or a few weeks? Sorry folks but the old ways obviously didn't work for that archaic old dinosaur of a hospital. If you still want to have a hospital to go to then some things are going to have to change. Perhaps RAN needs to step it up with their technology so they can stay competitive.
Posted by veryniceperson (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To ratherbefishing and geauxtigers: thank you for your voices of reason! It appears that LOVESNATCHEZ is letting emotion overrule any sense of reason and objectivity in this matter. Re "old doctors" not encouraging the recruitment of new physicians: LOVESNATCHEZ needs to understand that this culture was in place 30 years ago. Dr. Stubbs-and no, he is not my physician-is a dedicated physician who is interested in the welfare of our local healthcare. If this move can improve just one aspect of healthcare delivery as well as the speed and ACCURACY of these results, isn't that the important thing? If the local rad. group's service had kept up with the need we would not even be discussing the matter. And, I rather doubt that Dr. Stubbs would be acting independently of other local physicians who most likely have input into the decision.
Posted by natchezishome (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems obvious to me that if RAN would be more responsive to the needs of NRMC, then the hospital wouldn't be looking at other options. Who as a patient would prefer to get their results back in hours or as Dr. Brown stated "one week is not unusual". I can't imagine a woman alive who would not want to wait one day much less a week to find out if an abnormality in her breast was cancerous or not. What's wrong with wanting to shorten this timeframe? It sounds like better service for the patient. Maybe this will be a wakeup call for RAN and they will start being more responsive to the needs of the patients at NRMC. If they can improve their service and demonstrate their commitment to these improvements then perhaps they can keep working at NRMC. Sounds reasonable to me.
Posted by realsista (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Alcorn State University fires record number of 62 employees today! 40 more expected by weeks end!
Posted by workinghard (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let get real guys. Just think about it for a moment--your xrays are read in Hattiesburg. Surely they are reading them out of the goodness of their hearts. HA They want the money that is generated, and it will be kept in Hattiesburg and not in Natchez. They know a good thing when they hear it and they think that they can get over of everyone by playing along with the game. Our doctors here in Natchez work as hard as other doctors across the state. Their is too much silly pettiness amongst the medical community, that is why we lose good,young, competent doctors. it is past time we let one or two people tell us what to do. We must take a stand and keep our Doctors and money here in our
community.
Posted by tiredoflosers (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Realsista, the entire football team and who else?
Posted by getrealnatchez (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Veryniceperson, your point is well taken. But, If Ken Stubbs really thinks that NRMC has substandard radiology coverage, why is he partnering with a private practice radiology group in Hattiesburg? He should partner with UMC, Jackson, so that, atleast they make some money of the reads for all the indigent care they provide. It is obvious that Stubbs does not know that it is going to cost a lot of money to setup lines and systems to have the images go through to Hattiesburg. What if the Hattiesburg radiology group does not deliver what it promised? We would have already lost the radiologist in town. Ken Stubbs only cares about stirring up the pot and not about healthcare in Natchez. If he cared so much about NRMC, he would not be drawing $12500 a month paycheck from NRMC, which is in such dire financial situation.
Posted by beetlejuice (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 11:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
getrealnatchez - good point - how much is it going to cost to set this up? And wouldn't it have been better to discuss with RAN about upgrading their services before going "out of town" Those dollars will stay out of town, not in Natchez as they do now
Posted by Morpheus (anonymous) on May 28, 2009 at 1:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And the next CEO will look at this contract (and all those to follow) and say, "well there's yer problem right there".
We are being driven around in circles by these top dollar, private sector management groups. The patients/OWNERS and employees/OWNERS are getting carsick.
I still believe that some form of affiliation with/management by UMC, Jackson is the best solution for EVERYONE involved. Has it been pursued? Who knows? Our public hospital has been run as if it were the private property of a select few for a long time now.
The county owned hospital's mandatory participation in PERS has been a favorite target for CEO's, some outspoken physicians, and the ND editorial board, aka Scott Phillips. That money, spent by the hospital and the employees, is the nest egg of many Adams county families. Like it or not, I believe that the Boards and the management of our hospital should feel obligated to protect our continued participation, rather than misleadingly using it as a scapegoat for management failure.
UMC is also a PERS employer, they seem to have found a way to manage around that for many years. It's MD Residents frequently staff our emergency dept. and almost all critically ill or injured patients shipped out by both hospitals are taken to UMC. Many connections between NRMC and UMC already exist and they have plenty of MD's and specialists to send our way.
It is my opinion that someone representing Natchez Regional should be paid $12,500 a month to camp out at UMC or the State Legislature and find a way to make it happen. Let's see, where can we find that kind of money.....?
Posted by veryniceperson (anonymous) on May 28, 2009 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Touche'. Very good counter points and questions. After further thought, it would have been informative to know what other options were considered: the pros, cons, etc.
However, I do contend that our citizens deserve quality and if providing that means painful changes, then so be it.
But guess there is no way around the fact that our local healthcare needs a lot of fixing. Greed, lust for power, control and decisions made on "what's the other hospital doing and buying?" by both local facilities have shared the driver's seat for way too long. It's our community that is the loser here.
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