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Hospital study: Sell
Published Tuesday, August 5, 2008
NATCHEZ — Approximately one week ago the study to determine the future of Natchez Regional Medical Center was completed.
On Monday the results were made public.
The verdict — sell.
At Monday’s meeting of the Adams County Board of Supervisors, supervisors had the opportunity to discuss the study with consultant Barry Plunkett.
Plunkett conducted the study and said the supervisors had three options: sell, lease or keep the hospital.
But Plunkett was clear in his recommendation.
“Selling the organization is the best option,” he said.
And the supervisors followed suit with a resolution that supported Plunkett’s recommendation.
It says in part, “the board has reviewed the feasibility study and has determined that a sale of the hospital to a financially comparable healthcare service provider will best serve the residents of Adams County.”
While the resolution was passed, it was not unanimous.
Supervisor Darryl Grennell voted against the resolution.
After the meeting Grennell said he felt with new industries like Rentech and Corrections Corporation of America coming to the area the hospital could have a chance to survive under the operation of the county.
However, Grennell acknowledged the likelihood of the hospital being sold was high.
While there board did support a motion endorsing sale, they must also have a public hearing to further discuss the sale.
That hearing will be at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 27.
Hospital board attorney Walter Brown said the adoption of Monday’s resolution was an important step in the hospital’s future.
When the idea to sell the hospital was first discussed Brown outlined a three-part, legally mandated, process to sell the hospital.
First was the study, then the hearing and finally the publication of request for proposals.
“The study is done,” Brown said. “We going to the hearing, we’re making progress. “
At Monday’s meeting supervisors also had several questions. Many of their questions concerned the Public Employees’ Retirement System.
Supervisor S.E. “Spanky” Felter asked several questions dealing with employees that could possibly lose benefits after years of working.
Hospital CEO Scott Phillips said it was possible that some longtime workers could lose benefits, but that those workers were “in the minority.”
Also revealed in the survey was the need for what Plunkett called capital improvements.
“The facility needs some work,” he said.
Phillips estimated the hospital would need up to $5 million in upgrades over the next few years.
However, Phillips said the next owner would fund those improvements, should the hospital be sold.
Plunkett also put a value on the hospital of about $25-$35 million. However he was quick to point out the figure as an estimate only based on other comparable sales.
Phillips said a formal appraisal of the hospital would be finished in approximately three weeks.
The board also passed a resolution allowing the hospital to borrow $3.8 million as an interim loan to fund the restructuring process.
The board passed the same resolution several weeks ago, but it had to be re-passed on Monday because minor changes that had to be made in the language.
Comments
Posted by gaspworthy (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at midnight (Suggest removal)
This does not surprise me in the least. This is Natchez after all.
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 12:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Like the ole saying, "It takes money to make money."
Posted by misslou (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 2:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They could have saved the money that was spent on the so called study; everyone already knew the result would be a recommendation to sell the hospital because the people that were funding the study wanted that to be the outcome.
Spanky asked about the people that would loose their retirement and Hospital CEO Scott Phillips said it was possible that some longtime workers could lose benefits, but that those workers were “in the minority.” Spanky that was a good question, but a wrong answer that you got. Did you take Mr. Phillips’ word for it or did you ask to be provide the stats on the number of people that like less than 2, 5, & 10 years and the total number of people that this would actually affect??? I mean what kind of answer is that? What is the minority ? 49% with less than one year? 49% with less than two years? Are the supervisors concerned enough to do their job and find out.
A question I have is that other Counties in our area have county owned hospitals with a lot less population even when you factor in that Natchez has two hospitals and they are not selling out. My belief has been and still is that the hospital is in this position due to poor management.
The county does not owe any money on the facility and they get some tax breaks that other companies will not get. So if the hospital was properly managed and can’t break even, how in the world could another company come in, purchase the hospital, make upgrades, and then make an 18% + profit that corporations want.
I think the Supervisors would rather sell the hospital just so they don’t have to deal with it, instead of doing the job they were elected to do. When ya’ll ran for office did you realize what the job consisted of? Ya’ll wanted the job, now are ya’ll ready to do the work or do ya’ll want to hide behind an useless study and just collect your pay check.
If ya’ll have some more money to waste I can get another company to come in and tell you the best thing to do is keep the hospital.
When you leave don’t forget to turn out the lights!
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 2:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If the hospital is sold, what exactly does that mean?
Posted by GopherBaroque (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I never understood why the county owned the hospital anyway. Is this a normal thing for hospitals to be owned by the government?
Posted by seeemeeego (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
<<Is this a normal thing for hospitals to be owned by the government?>>
Yes, especially in Mississippi. We have many government owned hospitals in the state. Southwest Regional Medical Center in McComb is owned by the city, Pike County and two districts of Amite County. Southwest also manages the county owned hospital in Lawrence County, and they tried for years to get the Adams County supervisors to let them run Ntz Regional instead of the for-profit corporation Quorum.
Posted by ratherbefishin (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The government doesn't own the hospital. The PEOPLE own the hospital. The PEOPLE'S money funds the hospital. This is a perfect example of government trying to manage something, like healthcare, while the people foolishly let it. When government manages anything the result is always the same. When are we going to start holding government accountable?
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Will the management officials and lawyer who siphoned money off under the table ever be brought to justice?
Posted by rburke1 (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hardcorps,
That comment was untastefully opinionated and disrespectful of those committed to public service. Shame on you.
Posted by Rhino (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I work at NRMC and from what the CEO Scott Phillips has told us in the employee forums he was brought here for one purpose and that is to get the hospital in shape to sell. Once it's sold he goes home.
From what he has told us, to sell a county owned hospital it is required that you hire a consulting group to do an evaluation. Once they recommend to sell then the second step is the public meeting must be held which will be Aug 27th. Now he says that if 1500 citizens sign a petition against the sell that it would have to be voted on by the county in November. I find it strange that this has been mentioned in private hospital meetings but not to the public. I think the public should be given the chance to vote on whether to sell the county owned hospital or not.
According to Phillips the hospital made 500,000 profit last month. This shows with the new restructuring we can be profitable.
As far as the long term employees being a minority, I'm not sure what the percentage is. But I do know that we have dedicated many years of service to this hospital and don't think we should just be cast aside only to loose our years in the PERS retirement system like outcasts.
I agree with you Misslou: The supervisors need to do some research on percentage of long term employees. We've been dedicated to the county hospital, now it's time for our county supervisors to be dedicated to us.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, it sounds like it is time to get the people signing a legal petition to re-evaluate the future of the hospital.
Posted by JustAPerson (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is it safe to use the words dedicated and politician in the same sentence? Things that make you go Hmmmm!
Posted by JustAPerson (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry meant supervisor and dedicated.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Hardcorps,
That comment was untastefully opinionated and disrespectful of those committed to public service. Shame on you."
Thanks for the compliment Richard. You're just a real sweetie.
I haven't seen too many public servants in the last 8 years who deserved any respect. As far as my opinion, well, er.....,er.....,that's the opinion of a lot of people.
Posted by squeetlebomb (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't know how but it sounds like somebody needs to get a petition started that the public knows about. I am sure you will get more than enough signatures. Something smells about this whole sell set up.
Posted by JustAPerson (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you get the petition and the required signatures and actually can stop the sale what are you going to do with it? there is no one to run it. The CEO is not a permanent fixture is he? I understand he is leaving or did I miss something. This whole thing is so confusing.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When I read that the study was finished, I had the feeling that it was just a rubber stamp to sale the hospital. I do not have the answers, but I wish all people in the area the very best in this situation.
Posted by happybunny (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the dollar tag on the necessary updates is $5MM, I don't want to pay for it, do you? Stop the bleeding and SELL!!!!
Posted by JustAPerson (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Exactly! Not much chance of pulling it out at least not for a while with renovations totaling that high. So off we go into the sea of red once more and even deeper. Let someone else buy it who may even bring in a higher pay scale for the employees there and leeave the extreme hospital makeover to them.
Posted by lsumom (anonymous) on August 5, 2008 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! are we surprised that the decision was to sell? No way. That has been this man's purpose since he got here. As far as the "minority" employees that would lose their retirement. Have you taken a look lately MR Phillips? Since so many employees have left it is only the long time employees who are left for the most part. You don't even have enough staff to properly take care of patients now. So when this "minority" staff leaves to finish up their retirement somewhere else we will see you and the other management trying to figure out how to work and take care of patients. That should be interesting. So many people are leaving even those who have not been here long because they are tired of being treated the way you have treated them. Too much work, not enough help!!
Posted by soothsayer (anonymous) on August 6, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Recommendation to sell? Why did the taxpayer foot the bill for this study? What does it matter? The fix is in.
Ultimately, the insiders will profit and the Doctor's Pavillion investors be let off their obligations, at taxpayer expense.
I understand that the a board of trustees member tried to make a bid for the extended care unit, at a closed door meeting. Is this true? If so, that speaks of the forces at work here.
The worst chicanery is how the previous administrator crafted Doctor's pavillion, which houses businesses that compete with NRMC, with the same doctor who got a high paying job with the hospital at the same time employees were being fired! Talk about inside deal! SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!!!
NRMC employees need to petition for an ouster here.
Posted by gator (anonymous) on August 6, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey ! Where did the comment go about the fat nurse ?
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on August 6, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHEN they sale, it will be bought by a foriegn corporation and the management will be changed drastically. The way bills are paid and the way customers are treated will be changed also. You will not understand anybody you get on the phone because they will sound like the people that call you now and want you to listen to their sales pitch for insurance and who knows what else....I hang up on them when I can not understand them.......So prepare yourselves. This has already happened at other hospitals right here in Mississippi, just ask the people at River Region in Vicksburg.
Posted by lroberts1 (anonymous) on August 6, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SOUNDS like a bunch of double talk to me!!!!!!GET ON THE SAME PAGE GUYS !!!!Do what ever it takes to give us proper health care in NATCHEZ. The majority of the people here are getting older and need the proper care.All Though I know of some Dr's that wont set foot in Natchez Reginal. I think each person should have the right to go to what ever hospital they want to & the Primary DR. should be on that staff also. The ER just ships patients out to JACKSON!!!!
Posted by ThornInYourSide (anonymous) on August 6, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think they should sell it to a Pakanstain Group. At least with a Pakanstain run bussiness you can negogate your price and usually get cheaper stuff. Maybe then some of us can actually afford to get sick or need a doctor.
Posted by VillageIdiot (anonymous) on August 6, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At the end of the day, Natchez will have one hospital. It's as simple as that...
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on August 6, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They still didn,t give the names of the Jesse Jamer,s that got our 3 million bucks. Why would you conduct a 3 million dollar study by a independent coronor to tell you your dead mule was dead.???
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on August 6, 2008 at 11:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I,ll do the next study for $100,000. I used to take study hall in high school,slept through it just like they did. They could have asked the folks that worked there and the bookkeepers to do the same study for nothing and prob got the same answers................................
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on August 6, 2008 at 11:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If they keep doing studies and having committee hearings and lawyers and such we will have a couple of 100 million in a 25 million dollar hosptial. We could take all the study money and pay for all the repairs like the roof that leaks everytime it rains in the emergency room and probably lots of monies they will try to beat some employees out of if they sell,I can see it coming...
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on August 6, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I don,t think the pirates left from Under The Hill on Silver street they just moved up on top of the hill jus a few blocks downtown.
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on August 6, 2008 at 11:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Scott Phillips and Steve Owens...we used to callum hatchet men at IPCO.
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on August 6, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets have a study and let it show where every penny that studies have cost the texpayers went,like a itemized ticket.
You know the kind you show the door greeter at Walmart when you leave,so she won,t think you stole stuff.
Posted by soothsayer (anonymous) on August 7, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Try this...
Call different physicians offices in the Doctor's Pavillion. Tell them you are on MEDICAID(not Medicare) and food stamps. See if you can get an appointment.
Then poll some of the other doctors in town.
You'll separate who is trying to serve the patient in this area. It ain't the folks You all are about to bail out.
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