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Not-for-profit may be million dollar idea
Published Sunday, March 30, 2008
Physically, Dr. Kenneth Stubbs is not a large man, but as my late grandfather would say, “I wouldn’t want to mess with him, either.”
The Natchez internist is passionate about a number of things in life: his family, his work and even his love of Cathedral soccer.
But what’s most intriguing about Stubbs is that he’s a man who doesn’t mind saying what’s on his heart.
And right now, he’s worrying over the future of Natchez Regional Medical Center.
The hospital has been in the news recently after announcing in late February that it planned to restate its 2007 financial statements to show a substantial financial loss. Prior to that the year was believed to have been a profitable one for NRMC.
Stubbs and a large group of Natchez-area physicians met last week to discuss the future of the county-owned hospital, the pros and cons of each option facing the hospital and how the physicians might help.
From an outsider’s perspective, the united involvement of physicians is reminiscent of the early days of the tort reform movement in Mississippi. Physicians such as Stubbs, Dr. Thomas Carey and the late Dr. Mal Morgan, among others, began planting tort reform seeds.
At the time, some physicians didn’t believe the state’s powerful trial lawyer lobby could be held at bay long enough to get a tort reform bill passed.
Stubbs and others couldn’t be deterred, however.
Our local physicians’ involvement helped propel the issue to statewide prominence and ultimately change state law.
On the surface, the current interest in Natchez Regional shows similarities to the tort reform movement, but with one key difference, Stubbs says.
“Everyone agrees that we need one hospital,” he said. “That’s the end of the commonality. From that point on there’s not a united front.”
But if we’re to become a one-hospital town, what form will the remaining hospital take?
Stubbs has a definite opinion.
Hospitals need to be not-for-profit ones, he says.
“I’m extremely passionate about it,” Stubbs said. “When you’re at the whim of a stockholder company and their stock goes down and they have to do something to make things right, they can do whatever they want.”
The county-run option isn’t a good one, he says.
“County-run hospitals have problems in a lot of places,” he says.
The notion of a doctor-owned hospital doesn’t seem good, either, he says.
“Physicians themselves, largely, are not business people and would need the help of a management person,” Stubbs said.
“Plus, I think we all have our little niches that we want to protect and in my opinion that makes it difficult for us to run a hospital,” he said.
Despite how some corporately-owned hospitals might be motivated, Stubbs believes hospitals should be healthcare centers, not profit centers.
“A hospital is not designed to make mega bucks,” he said.
For now, the hospital’s best bet is to file bankruptcy, allowing it to keep operating until the next step is planned.
“I think right now Regional hospital will stabilize and we just have to see what’s better in the long run,” Stubbs said, adding that converting the hospital to a non-for-profit venture is possible. “We’re at a crossroads and we can make this happen.”
And, if Stubbs says something is possible, I believe him. If you don’t, ask a couple of trial lawyers just what a group of determined Natchez doctors can do.
Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on March 30, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good article, Kevin.
Regardless of what organizational structure the hospital takes on, it needs to be run with "best management practices" in mind.
Someone (hospital manager?) will still be needed to run the day-to-day operation, to be responsible for strategic planning, to propose Capital Investments, etc.
Someone (controller?) will still be needed to oversee the financials such as Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll, Billing, Purchasing, Analysis, Budgeting, Reporting, etc.
And there may be a requirement for a Human Resource manager, a Data Processing manager, etc.
A long way around saying that there has to be a “hospital management team”.
WikipediA
“Best Practice asserts that there is a technique, method, process, activity, incentive or reward that is more effective at delivering a particular outcome than any other technique, method, process, etc. The idea is that with proper processes, checks, and testing, a desired outcome can be delivered with fewer problems and unforeseen complications. Best practices can also be defined as the most efficient (least amount of effort) and effective (best results) way of accomplishing a task, based on repeatable procedures that have proven themselves over time for large numbers of people.
In real-world application, Best Practice is a very useful concept. Despite the need to improve on processes as times change and things evolve, Best Practice is considered by some as a business buzzword used to describe the process of developing and following a standard way of doing things that multiple organizations can use for management, policy, and especially software systems.”
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks Gary for your good conservative management input and I would also like to thank Dr. Stubbs for his caring "Bed-Side Manner" input in the current medical situation in Natchez! Good opinion Mr. Cooper!
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks gemccull, you always put light on the subject. I still think you are the "hero" mayor we need.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on March 30, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Destiny, I would not make a good mayor! Well, maybe I would, but I would never get elected nor do I want to be elected.
After a few expletives to the electorate, telling a few folks that they are "stuck on stupid " and/or not being a blue blood of Natchez, I would not stand a chance of being elected.
If I got elected, I would be one of the downtown clowns. I could not be an armchair aficionado! LOL AND/OR ROTFLMAO!
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
(Gem) At least your truthful! Right now you would have my vote!
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Gary. Plus, they will have to get back to the basics of medicine. they will have to reorganize and do more core medicine and PROFITABLE procedures.
The unprofitable will have to be cut out or downsized to keep the hospital afloat.
Posted by wonderingirl (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who are the people who serve on "the board" of the hospital? What were their qualifications to serve? Who is responsible for naming them to the board? Is it voluntary or a salaried position? Why was the public so long in being told (possible 25million dollars in debt) about the critical financial shape of the hospital? How much power does "the board" have over operations of the hospital? I need help with what is the responsibility of "the board" and "the management company". If "the management company" makes daily decisions on running the hospital what gets reported to "the board"? Can someone enlighten me?
Posted by speakeasy (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you, Dr. Stubbs, for your sound and wise comments regarding the situation and possible solution. I, too, agree this should be a not-for-profit hospital. We need a "healthcare center"...not a "profit center". However, there are those close to the situation who are going to jump at the opportunity make another's adversity become their own source of profit. We should all beware!
Posted by callinitlikeitis (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 11:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
through my previous years working in the medical field and also living through personal medical crisis' in my life, i was fortunate enough to have the genuine compassion and expert care of dr. kenneth stubbs and dr. ed daly.
there was one situation when i spoke to dr. stubbs via telephone about my mother. he was such a great listener and exuded such compassion that it was as if he were in the room with my mother and me.
natchez is blessed to have these 2 doctors and i have confidence NRMC will come out on top with their insight and innovations.
Posted by LdyBreez (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 6:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One practice that I was told was happening at NRMC (rumor only) is that the management company running NRMC also owns a medical equipment company. This management company has NRMC purchase it's medical equipment from this managements companies other business.
Now, does this seem fair or profitable for NRMC? They are paying for the management companies service to manage the hospital and they are paying the management companies medical equipment. This management company has drained NRMC's coffers, they will get fired or quit after making a huge profit and will be laughing all the way to the bank leaving our community holding the bag.
Posted by Mucasplug (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 7:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez Regional has always had a bad purchasing dept.. Ask any business in Natchez. They never shopped around for prices.
It was a good ole boy thing, has been of years. They are in some buying groups that other hospitals have dumped years ago, because local companies are cheaper, if they had only bothered to have picked up the phone and checked around. I imagine their pharm. and surgery purchases are just as careless. I will say this, Natchez Regional is clean, and well staffed by professional and friendly nurses and care givers. Its the best hospital in Natchez by far. Its just not run well on the business end.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wonderingirl the board for Natchez Regional are a mixed breed....as in, Bernie Pyron from the furniture store and Dan Bland from what? OH YEAH he plays golf. None of these board members have sense to be on this board that makes crucial decisions for our hospital! No they aren't paid but why would they be? THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING!
Posted by ntzslums (anonymous) on March 31, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not For Profit...it's the only way to go. Wouldnt it be nice if we could get our open heart surgery and stroke care here?
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What would be better is to only treat paying customers. That would go a LONG way toward solvency for the hospital.
People need to be FORCED to buy health insurance. So long as they get treatment for free why should they pay for health insurance.
Posted by supertrucker47 (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 6:56 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
and it's relevance to this story is WHAT supertrucker?
either stick to the subject at hand or call the man directly.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on April 1, 2008 at 7:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SUPERTRUCKER47, GET A GRIP ON LIFE. YOUR VIEW IS NOT NECESSARILY THE RIGHT VIEW! SUPER DUMMY!
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on April 1, 2008 at 8:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
YOU said it gemccull!
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