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County calls for hospital study
Published Wednesday, May 21, 2008
NATCHEZ — On Tuesday the Adams County Board of Supervisors passed a motion that brings them more closely in sync with the restructuring plan laid out by Natchez Regional Medical Center’s CEO.
Tuesday’s motion calls for the board to begin the process that would essentially hire a consulting group to study Natchez Regional Hospital.
Board President Henry Watts said he felt the results of that study should be used to determine the hospital’s future.
Watts said he and other board members agreed with CEO Scott Phillips’ plan “in principal.”
However Phillips’ plan, already agreed upon by the hospital board of trustees, calls for the conversion of the hospital to a private corporation through its sale.
Watts said he felt that language too strictly limited the supervisors in what they could ultimately do with the hospital. He said he wanted to hear from the consulting group, then have the board of supervisors make a decision.
The supervisors, not the board of trustees, have the final say in what can be done with the hospital once the study has been conducted.
And Watts said he felt the board could make its most informed decision only after the study had been done.
Watts pointed out that the study could reveal that the hospital should be sold, leased or even retained by the county.
Watts said he intends to bring consultants to the board that will discuss both sale and lease of the hospital.
Hospital board attorney Walter Brown said he felt if the hospital were to be retained by the county it would likely be back in bankruptcy within a few years.
The board could begin to meet with representatives from consulting firms as early as their next meeting on May 26.
While Brown and trustee chairman Dan Bland attempted to convey a sense of urgency in the hiring process, Watts said he felt the decision was too important to be rushed into.
“I’m not going to be rushed into the biggest transaction the county’s ever had,” Watts said. “This is bigger than Rentech.”
Watts and Brown both said they have already spoken to firms about conducting the hospital study.
And which company is hired will also be the board’s decision.
But that study won’t come cheap.
Estimates at Tuesday’s meeting ranged from $25,000 to close to $150,000 for the study.
Brown said the more in depth the study, the better the buyer to be attracted — if the hospital will be sold.
“That’s what buyers are going to look at,” he said.
While the supervisors face more challenging decisions in the future, Brown said he felt Tuesday’s motion was a step in the right direction.
“We’re grateful they acted expeditiously,” he said.
Supervisor S.E. “Spanky” Felter perhaps best summed up the mood of the board at the end of Tuesday’s meeting.
“We just want to do the best thing for the county,” he said.
Watts said while interviewing firms to conduct should start soon while the actual study should take 90 days.
“And we won’t know until the study is done,” Watts said of the hospital future.
Comments
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 2:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
“We just want to do the best thing for the county,” Supervisor S.E. 'Spanky' Felter said.
Then don't allow Regional to become a private-for profit-hospital. We already have NCH as a private hospital and they are several hundred percent higher than Regional.
Posted by EnKiKur (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 4:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Henry Watts. Why don't ya'll do a study to determine if hiring an attorney besides Walter Brown would benefit the county in any way. Seems like he's always under some sense of urgency. Dittos for Dan Bland.
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 5:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well put enkikur.....i think the first step in the right direction for nrmc would be to get rid of brown,bland and the rest of the trustees...
Posted by msubulldog (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 5:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why hire a study group? The hospital board and the Board of Supervisors with all of their wisdom(hmm) can't figure out what to do, that's what they were elected to do.
Posted by nursegal (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 5:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Henry Watts. EnKiKur you are so right..that idea of a one hospital town so NCH and some local investors in town could profit isn't falling in place. Would 2 for profit hospitals work in Natchez? Board of Supv...don't let Brown or Bland bring their own consulting firm. I have heard that NCH wants to lease NR...still for profit! Now we can breathe a little sigh of relief.
Posted by JustAPerson (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who would foot the bill for this so called study? The Hospital or the county?
Posted by lsumom (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 7:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope the Board of Supervisors ask what the citizens of Natchez want. Walter Brown seems to always have his hand in something around here. What is best for the 400 or so employees of Natchez Regional. Seems the plan has always been to do whatever it takes to get out of PERS retirement. The hospital can be profitable again with all the doctors off the payroll. All of the savings from that will immediately be seen. The Adams County Board of Supervisors remember that they are working for us and not for Walter Brown or Natchez Regional CEO.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Time to clean up that sorry board of theirs and I am with EniKiKur.....bubye Bland and Brown.
Posted by josey (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well put EniKiKur................and I second the question. WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR THE STUDY?????
The article reads like the board of trustees has their own agenda for the hospital and is trying to get around the supervisors. Please correct me if im wrong about that.
Posted by tchamp (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i say let the voices of adams county be heard by putting it to a vote as to what should happen, in the upcoming election
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How can they afford to "hire a consulting group" ? Hasn't all this been over no money? Can natchez not do anything without "hire a consulting group " ?
What does this say about our supervisors? They aren't smart enough to figure this out?
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go, Mr. Watts:)
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The hospitals in this town are the worst I have EVER seen. One of them has gone bankrupt while the other treats the patients as if they were in charity hospital. I have a relative in there now who has been in there almost a week and STILL hasn't seen her primary physician.
Natchez Community is a pathetic, poorly staffed, filthy hospital filled with uncaring people who are NOT DOING THEIR JOBS!
Posted by Morpheus (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Consider the following figures quoted from the Democrat:
"As a part of Phillips’ 90 to 180- day plan, he hopes to have the hospital in a position to generate an additional $5 million in profit each year." Wow, right?
Where will that 5 million come from?
Laying off 95 employees will save the hospital $3 million per year.
Payments by the hospital into PERS costs $1.8 million per year. This retirement benefit will be lost to all employees with the sale of the hospital.
So... Phillips brilliant plan is to take $5 million/year out of the pockets of Adams county citizens (and co-owners of NRMC) so that some corporate shareholders can make a $5 million/year profit?
What am I missing here?
Posted by firered (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I disagree obama. A friend of mine has had her 2 children there. My God Son being 1 of them. He was born 2 months premature and Those Nurses took the best care of him. They were awesome. Very friendly and very efficient with their job as well. Then, when she was pregnant with her daughter she went into premature labor at 19 weeks, They stopped the labor and saved the baby. She ended up having to be enduced to get her to come out (lol). She was in and out of the hospital between 19 weeks and the day she delivered however for them to stop her contractions when she couldn't stop them herself at home.. Two times they saved her children, and possibly her as well.
They have their flaws as with any hospital. But to say that they are pathetic and poorly staffed with uncaring people is untrue.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Henry Watts, STICK TO YOUR GUNS! It is what is expected of you by the people who put you in your position. It is in the best interest of NRMC and Adams County tax payers to have an extensive study done (as long as Blan and Brown are not involved in selecting the study group) and to have Brown and Blan replaced. Mr. Watts and Supervisors, I'm sure you have heard enough tax payers say that Brown and Bland need to go, so please do what the people need done and get rid of them. They are looking after other's and their own interests rather than what would benefit the county and region.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BINGO NtzMom55!!
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My daughter had her baby at community. They were excellent!!!! She had the best nurses...They actually cleaned the room and changed the bedding....Can't say that for NRMC that's for sure.....I am sure it will only get worse there...So to the ones who choose to use NRMC good luck...
Posted by james (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Employees band together and buy NRH save all of your retirements its happened in other towns! You buy it then FIRE the Hospital board !
Posted by tellmestraight (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree wholeheartedly EnKiKur! The ND article today states this study would range "from $25,000 to $150,000".
Please allow me to add a little more fuel to the fire. Last month, Dr. Kenneth Stubbs was appointed Vice-President of Medical Affairs at NRMC, to the tune of $150,000 per year. Dr. Stubbs has been quoted numerous times saying that he "feels it best for the community that NRMC remain a non-profit institution." If he truly feels this deeply regarding Regional's importance as a non-profit entity, then he should perform the ultimate altruistic deed and forego his $150,000 salary (for the good of the hospital and community, of course). That would cover the funding needed for the study.
Posted by dedicatednurse (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NRMC has a wonderful labor and delivery unit! The nurses are excellent!!!
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
tellmestraight I recently heard the same thing about Stubbs. And I agree.
Posted by jack (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
natzmom you are so crazy you know henry cannot get bland and brown out of these positions you all talk big here, but none never show up at a board meeting to voice a opinion the nrxt one is tuesday see you there natzmon55
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Having babies there is one thing. My sister had both of her babies there and everything went fine.
But when it comes to healthcare due to a sickness (still unknown after a week), several things have occurred which support what I say (Natchez Community is a pathetic, poorly staffed, filthy hospital filled with uncaring people who are NOT DOING THEIR JOBS). Such occurances include 1) no nurse comes when called EVEN THOUGH the nurse's station is a few feet away, 2) IV has filtrated 5 times and a nurse shows up an hour later AFTER the arm is swollen up like a football, 3) aids aren't performing their duties, 4)THE DOCTOR STILL HAS NOT SEEN THE PATIENT YET!!!! Something is wrong here.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ok i had 2 surgeries at NRMC. The exact same things happened to me there. An iv was put into my hand by my thumb and it was never in my veins so my thumb ended up swelling up and I couldn't use it without being in pain for about a month. After that I was stuck 10 more times before they ever got the IV in again (which that nurse was very nice just nervous b/c she didn't wanna hurt me more than I was already hurting). I had another nurse who came in to do the routine check in thingy and HIT ME (not touched me hit me) right were I had just been cut open.. talk about NO FUN... I got woke up God knows how many times to that stupid machine going off for who knows what reason and it would take over an hour for the nurse to come in and push the button to make it shut up. And God forbid I need to go to the bathroom, I couldn't go alone b/c I couldn't get out of the bed. Everytime we'd call them they would take forever to get into the room. Now, as for the doctor thing, I never had a problem with that! I have an awesome Doctor!! You should check into seein a different doc for that patient.. that is not right.
Another time, I went in for an EKG and that was printed clearly on my orders. The girl ended up trying to give me an EEG, I had to be the one to correct her. Good thing I knew what the difference was in the two tests. I told her about it, she looks at the orders and goes OH, You're right.. Duh..
Like I said there are problems at all the hospitals.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The healthcare is unbelievable there. When will this hospital administration improve these problems (or will they)? What will it take, a class action lawsuit? They are understaffed but the patients still have an extremely hefty bill. I am very worried about my relative who is there now. I want them to just be discharge and go to Jackson or BR, SOMETHING! This is ridiculous.
I hate to hear that happened to you firered. No matter what shape I am in, I will never go to that place for anything (I could get better care at a homeless shelter!)
It is only a matter of time before this hospital goes down to the drain just like Regional.
Posted by Preacher (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Phillips has been hired to fix the problem and his firm has done this many times over in other areas. They have already completed their study our our situation and are addressing much needed change. I know there are many different opinions, but we need to let them finish their job and the supervisors need to let it go. The county has already proven they cannot run a efficient hospital by the financial shape it is in now. I don't fault them, since I don't know how to run a hospital either. I care for the employees and appreciate their hard work, but it's time to get the hospital finances in the black before we lose it completely. Whoever buys the hospital must be competetive with other facilites in our area, or they too will go out of business. The patient still has the right to shop around.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
obamayamama why don't you move her? To Jackson,mccomb,nrmc somewhere....If things are that bad then why is she still there...
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Preacher...you're right on, on this topic.
Posted by rt29 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
obamayamama:
Are you a health care provider? Have you ever worked in the healthcare professions? If those things you stated were going on, why didn't you ask for the nurse supervisor or tell your friend/familiy's doctor? Come on....there are ways to fix those problems! I guarantee you every hospital you encounter will have problems... IVs infiltrate everyday. Sh@! happens. Get over it. Every hospital is understaffed and will never be able to satisfy people like you no matter how hard they try. Just remember if you are ever unconcious on an ambulance they WILL take you to the nearest hospital. Don't burn your bridges before you get there. You may end up at the allegedly "pathetic, poorly staffed, filthy hospital filled with uncaring people who are NOT DOING THEIR JOBS".
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
More studies! The CEO is supposed to get Management corrected and "steer" the hospital in the right direction. I still have much doubt! I feel as several posters in the fact that we need Board changes, maybe all of them. I am very uncomfortable with the attorney or lawyer talking all of the time, rather than the Board Chairman. Also, I would love very much to see our Doctors of Natchez and Adams County buy and own and manage our hospital!
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
rt29, I killed 3 bugs in the ER while waiting for someone ALL NIGHT AND MORNING to tell us something about why a patient is hurting. That is unsanitary to say the least. Hospitals are the dirtiest building (full of viral and biotic organisms). And I saw TOO MANY people sitting around and chatting. Your defense is useless in this case. Something needs to be done to improve healthcare in this facility.
When people like you defend it, no change takes place. And it is going to be the employees who will be looking for a job in a year or two when the place gets closed down (due to lawsuits, unsanitary conditions, bankruptcy, etc.).
Posted by rt29 (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can only agree with one thing you say...obamayamama..."hospitals ARE the dirtiest buildings"!
Posted by lsumom (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 8:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wrong, Sam, the county did not mismanage this hospital. The CEo of NR did. The county has not been involved in day to day of the hospital. I will concede that they should have at least been keeping up with what was going on. Several supervisors have been updated over the years about what the citizens thought but no one ever did anything about it.
Posted by nursegal (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Did i read on a blog that the employees are losing another benefit the shift differentials?
Posted by hopefloats (anonymous) on May 24, 2008 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well..lets see if we put all the ND articles together it might tell us that there needs to be one hospital, the CEO of HMA and doctors have met to invest in buying the hospital, Philips is here to get the hospital ready for sell, the Board of Supervisors has started the selling process by hiring the consulting firm...next? I sure hope i am wrong!
Posted by lsumom (anonymous) on May 25, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, nursegal, that is the rumor going around. So far every rumor that has been heard about NR has come true.
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