Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

knew it

Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

was there ever any doubt this would not happen........

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It amazes me to the fact that the Board was always building and not worrying as to where the money was coming? Bad news for the staff at the hospital when they got the word about the pay cuts and I understand that not everyone is taking them? The Board itself needs to be up front and take their little pay cut,that I understand they get and or their per diem! But yet the chairman is out playing golf along with the Mayor! Where is the new CEO from? Is Quorum still involved, I'm sure their management contract is still active? What about the new Medical Facility next door?

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This seems to be moving awfully fast for them to have JUST discovered they were that far in debt. I know every week! LOL

Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We need more people on the BOARD who is business minded. Look at the meetings and you don't hear a lot of input from different members. Some even have "no report." I was taught many years ago that you always have a report even if only slightly but never a "no report". I can't say too much because I don't attend the meetings but I do watch them on the TV now that they are recorded.

Posted by straightshooter1 (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Whoop! There it is!

To the employees...thanks for all of the good work you have done over the years.

To management...shame on you! You knew that the hospital was in trouble and didn't do a thing about it.

Posted by elvisss (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Cool. Now let's go play some golf.

Posted by ashleyking (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Natchez Regional should have closed their doors a long time ago. The economy is not good enough for Natchez to have two hospitals. I say the good sometimes have to suffer with the bad. Community hospital possibly have enought openings to staff half of the hospital and the other workers will just have to suck it up and travel like the Other half of Natchez residents.

Posted by dottie (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Employees pay cut? I must have missed something.
Please, someone fill me in.

Posted by destiny (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sen. Hopson right on target. I kept wondering myself, how could a hospital keep adding on when every few years they cry for help. On one visit I couldn't find my way around for all the construction. It's pitiful when a poor old woman that has no management qualifications can see what's going on but the management can't.

Posted by seakmr (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ashleyking---and just where have you "sucked it up" to work...or are you like many people in this town and are unemployed?

Posted by tchamp (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ashleyking let me guess you were either born into the "natchez money" or married it. how dare you tell HARD WORKING PEOPLE to suck it up!

Posted by ntztransplant17 (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

lambchop - You posted that you watched the Board meetings on TV now that they are recorded. Are you talking about the NRMC Board of Trustees meetings or the Adams County Board of Supervisors meetings? Just where on TV do you watch these? I may be "out of the loop", but I didn't think either of them were recorded and could be watched.

Posted by Kate (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I heard that the employees at the new medical facility also took a pay cut. I was told by an employee of the new facility that every employee took a pay cut except for the people in the administration positions. GO FIGURE

Posted by tchamp (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

EVERYONE in our clinic took a cut except for the docs

Posted by Spinner (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ashley King --- A lot of the employees that work already have spouses that have to drive hours to work. Someone has to stay home and raise their families and need jobs in town. Where are you traveling to work or are you working at all??? I doubt if Comminity has enough openings to staff the 300+ employees from Natchez Regional. Who wants to work for someone that sends all their profit to their home office. People need to support their local businesses that put money back in the area.

Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Now instead of worrying about paycuts, actual job loss will ensue. I remember this, I was a part of MCI Worldcom at the time of its hay-day and fall. Once bankruptcy is filed, as in this case, it's basically all down hill from there. Difference is, being a hospital, perhaps some reinventing can take place, and it can resume slowly on a path to economical success, rather than failure.

Posted by topper (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Spinner-- to say Community does not put money back into the community is wrong. Do you have any idea how much tax they pay every year where as NRMC does not pay any.

Posted by woodduck (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Where in the world do some of you people get your information. NRMC hasn't had a capital plant expansion since the 1980's!! The New ER ramp was put in because the old one would be the middle of the new Medical pavilion. As for that, NRMC doesn't own one single share of stock in that building. They are renting space for the 5 family practice physicians. They could and possibly will either walk away from that lease or modify it to get better terms.

The new CEO, who incidentally, is NOT a Quorum Employee, but in fact is a management consultant with a very good record of turning around financially troubled hospitals. That is all he does, in fact, is to work to get a hospital in trouble back on it's feet. The interim CFO is also a consultant, hired by Quorum, but not employed by Quorum. They are the first two bright spots in the picture in years, compared to the dullards that Quorum has been sending here to "run "NRMC.

The 5% pay cut as I was told by the CEO and CFO are across the board for ALL employees, including those who are hospital based as well as those that are physician staff. It was also announced that EVERY contract, physician, other health providers, materials and supplies will be looked at very closely. I would expect that a lot of fat is going to be cut. There are contractors who work very hard for their money and are making money for NRMC, but there are others who are getting a free ride, lots of upfront money and little or no incentives to produce. I can assure you this fellow is no dummy. He has been doing this for the last 15-20 years and he has a proven track record of success.

One big plus that has been sadly lacking in the past has been open communication. Everything around here runs on rumor, half truths and innuendo. This CEO is very big on communication, between departments and staff in the hospital, administration and staff, Board of Trustees, Board of Supervisors as well as the public at large. He mentioned keeping the public informed via a “Town Hall Meeting” type format.

As to the Bankruptcy, it hasn’t been filed, possibly won’t need to be filed, but it was necessary to secure the legislative approval, as the legislature has only about two weeks left in this session, and they must approve the hospital’s request for Chapter 9 SHOULD the hospital need to file.

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The headlines for next week will be

"NRMC has decided they NEED to go forward with there bankruptcy"

Well maybe a tylenol will no longer cost 15.00 or a pitcher for water 500.00.....Chances are it will be tylenol 30.00 pitcher for water 1,000.00....Look out for the ones who have insurance..I feel a ripppppp coming on...

Posted by Spinner (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 6:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

fire39212 Where are you getting your info from. Why don't you do us all a favor and keep your negative opinion to your self. We don't need it.

Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

UH we get our info, we being the "morans" here, from where else? THE DEMOCRAT! And I am almost positive woodduck that in one of the previous articles when they first announced to us "morans" about bringing in the new guy that THEY said he was with Quorum. Or that Quorum brought him in of whatev.

Posted by ntztransplant17 (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 6:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

woodduck - True - the new CEO is not employed by Quorum, but wasn't he HIRED by Quorum just as the CFO was? I know Quorum isn't out of the picture yet because it takes time to sever corporate ties and then there's the contract that NRMC has with Quorum. I imagine it would be very difficult for NRMC to get out of that with all the other financial woes. Contracts are seldom broken without cost.

Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It doesn't matter who is ramroding the place now no more than who the captain was when the titanic struck an iceberg. It's going to sink. This hospital is a business! And you have to have paying customers to stay in business. Natchez does not have the customer base to support 2 hospitals. PERIOD! Not to mention one up to it's nose in red ink. This hospital was mis managed, covered up it's real debt, and LIED to the people of Natchez of it's true status. The boss at the hospital knew what was up, the board knew what was up, and our elected officials knew what was going on at this hospital. It's always the same thing around here when it comes to goverment business, just don't let anyone know how bad it is and maybe it will get better. I think they should throw the people in jail who were making financial decisions at this hospital just like they did enron or mci execs. This is a terrible blow to the citizens of Natchez and I think the decisions made at the hospital were illegal or at least borderline illegal. Many heads should roll, not one or two. But even after the blood bath, it comes down to business. You can't sell sand at the beach. More good paying jobs with employees that have a insurance card in their poket is the only thing that will save this hospital. And that will not happen soon enough. This all goes back to our elected leaders more worried about a trail downtown, a tourist walking the street, a silly waterpark, or who is going to be at the golf scramble, insted of gettig off their butts and doing something to get some good jobs around here! IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE!

Posted by lw2915 (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I work for the clinic next door. The new ceo IS an employee of Quorum and I know that to be a fact. He is also a free lancer that goes around to companies that are in need of financial help to get them back on their feet, and then goes off to another company. We had a meeting yesterday with him and there was no mention of the hospital going to file bankruptcy and then I hear it on the news last night. How do you think that made me feel not knowing what was going on and me being an employee to the hospital? They don't tell us anything. We only hear whats going on through the newspaper or the news on tv. I think they are sugar coating everything and not letting the employee's know what exactly is going on. It's a disgrace that the employee's are the one's to suffer for the administrative's screw up. They also told us that they don't know if we're going to get paid after March 31. An OR nurse told me that they can't even get medical supplies for surgeries because the hospital has such a big balance with the medical company they order from. What are they going to do when someone is having a heart attack, or needs their gallbladder or appendix out. What if there is a true emergency, and the hospital has to deny them their medical care because they don't have the proper supplies??? I would suggest going to the other hospital or to an after hours clinic. Who knows whats going to happen?? Why wait till something drastic has to happen to a company, they knew this was coming way before now!!!

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 8:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

They will be leaner and much less services when this is over. But they will not close. They may close units, stop offering certain services and there will not to many electives when all is said and done.

Just watch, the same thing happened recently to a hospital in Vicksburg that was actually making money even though the corporation that owned it and several others wasn't.

Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Cut services? This sounds like a lawsuit ripe hospital in the making if it stays open. Sometimes you have to cut your losses move on and let the other guy win. In this case Humanna. You can't run a gas pump station without gas. No stiches, no gauze, no pay for the employees. Dude, it's over. If someone at the top would have said something earlier like a professional it might not had to be like this.

Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 9:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Spinner,

How can you say that Comm. sends all of its profits back home? They put a lot of money back into the area in the form of taxes which NRMC doesn't have to pay. They seem to be doing quite well. This situation between the two hospitals is just a microcosm of what we will have if we elect someone for president who pushes national health care for everyone. Canada and the UK have went down that road and their respective health care infrastructures are in shambles. This shows that we need hospitals and clinics which are privately run by professionals who know what they are doing instead of having the government mess something else up.

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 15, 2008 at 1:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Spinner can you not see it coming? Or do you not want to see it???

Posted by sparky018 (anonymous) on March 15, 2008 at 1:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is BS! It figures!

Posted by bear45 (anonymous) on March 15, 2008 at 4:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This situation has just not happened recently they have seen it coming for sometime now, why haven't they already done something about it? Why wait til the last minute to try to solve the problems that are going on, why let the hospital get into this type of situation in the first place? And Community Hospital is not big enough to handle all the people here no matter how hard they try........

Posted by bear45 (anonymous) on March 15, 2008 at 5:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If Natchez Regional were to close its doors Natchez and Adams County will be lost forever because tourism isn't going to make it for everyone only a select few! Thn what is going to happen in the off seasons?

Posted by Mucasplug (anonymous) on March 15, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I will say this, Regional is the ONLY hospital in Natchez that provides quality health care. Community is understaffed and just plain awful. I had out-patient surgery at Community last year and it was OK but would never consider it for an extended stay. Regional on the other hand is considerably better. If you have heart problems, Get the heck out of town! Not cath. lab! Take a aspirin and drive to Jackson, B.R., McComb as fast as you can. If you stay in Natchez they will just watch you die if you are unlucky enough to get sick on a weekend. I am serious. Its your life. If you or your loved one has what you think is a heart attack on a Sunday morning, get to St. Dominic's. ASAP. Wave at Regional as you pass by.

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 15, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Seems to me Quorum is really getting over on us. Quorum is the entity that dropped the ball with mismanagement and should be the one taking the hit on this. All of their administrators and management should be "sucking it up" in the manner of pay cuts until they return Regional to profitable status.

Mucasplug-- lot of people have been going out of town for a while now.

I think many of us have good and bad health stories from living here and having to rely on Regional, I know I do. But such is the nature of sickness, you win some and loose some.

Posted by justoneopinion (anonymous) on March 15, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

lw2915: As a NRMC employee of the clinic next door, it is nice to see that you are suggesting that people go to another facility for care. You're part of the reason the facility is in the shape it is in...that is by NRMC buying all the doctors offices including yours. So do NRMC a favor and quit....that would be money saved!!

Posted by Dazzle (anonymous) on March 15, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I really do feel sorry for the employees of NRMC having to take a pay cut. These are really hard working people of the community and surrounding area that have true passion for what they do. The employees got a salary increase about two years go, by-the-way, did not equal 5%, now they are talking about taking 5% from there pay, also it had been years since the employees had even gotten a raise. Basically, you are asking a great number of the employees to live below minimal wage and to change there way of living. What are you saying to your workers who take such great care of your citizens?

Posted by lw2915 (anonymous) on March 15, 2008 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

justoneopinion: why would i want to go to a hospital knowing that I might not get the quality of hospital care and still have to pay for my services?? What if someone goes there, needing medical care, and they are denied care because they don't have medical supplies and then end up dying. That hospital will get the crap sued out of them. I'm just letting the people of natchez know what they deserve to know. Everyone needs to know what is and isn't going on. And just for my opinion, I love my job dearly. It took me a while to get this job. I'm just not happy with all the situations going on. I'm not the freakin reason the hospital is in the shape its in, its the so-called administrative people that supposedly know what they're doing, when they don't.

Posted by supertrucker47 (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WHOS GONNA PAY FOR THIS ANYWAY?THE TAX PAYER?THESE PEOPLE ON THE BOARD AT THIS HOSPITAL ARE IDIOTS.THEY KEPT ADDING ON WARD AFTER WARD AND BORROWING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO IT.THEY KNEW THEY COULDNT PAY THE MONEY BACK.THIS WAS ALL IN THERE PLAN TO SAVE THE HOSPITAL.I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ON THE BOARD EMBESLED MONEY?HOW PATHETIC.I HOPE THIS HOSPITAL FALLS FLAT ON ITS FACE.IT ONLY PROVIDES JOBS FOR RICH PEOPLE ANYWAY.