Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 4:42 p.m.

Yeah, a new topic! Yes, I think Natchez need 2 hospitals, but they both should make money, or one needs to be strictly a charity hospital.

Posted by woodduck (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 7:04 p.m.

Carrie,
I respectfully disagree. First the population of Natchez is not growing, compare the 19990 Census figures to the 2000 numbers. The demographics of Natchez are changing as well. Natchez is supported by lots and lots of low paying service jobs that have replaced in number, but certainly not in wages or benefits, the jobs lost when Natchez lost IP, Armstrong and Johns Manville. We also lost hundreds and hundreds of good paying jobs when the oil industry went belly up in the mid 1980's. Callon went from over 400 employees to less than 100 in a matter of 6 months or so. Natchez lost a whole generation of skilled blue collar workers and white collar workers in the mid 80's. Folks left in droves to find better jobs elsewhere.

We can't support two hospitals. Even the most ardent supporters of the two hospital concept from even a few years ago are all now saying Natchez is a one hospital town. We cannot afford the needless, incredibly expensive duplication of services that come with two competing hospitals. I'm in the health care business, and I see what the equipment and supplies cost. Natchez like many small towns in America may have enough trouble with its payer mix and demographic shift to a non-insured service oriented economy, just making one hospital work here. We've proven that two can't survive. What we need to do is all pull together and try to make sure we end up with at least one.

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 8:13 p.m.

woodduck is right to an extent. Sorry Carrie. I like to see competition in every business to keep it honest. But they must be profitable.

Posted by ntzslums (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 9:55 p.m.

1 hospital, not for profit. Look at vicksburg.

Posted by ntz155 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 11:43 p.m.

Respectfully...so you are all suggesting that we lose even more jobs in Natchez by closing one of the hospitals. Well paying jobs may I add. I am not suggesting keeping a business going just because it provides jobs. I just saying we can not keep closing things around here. Why do you think so many of our young people have left. I moved off long enough to go to college. I would not have come back if my wife had not insisted. Family is here and that is important to us. But you have to be able to pay your house payment too.

Posted by clambert58 (anonymous) on March 12, 2008 at 11:49 p.m.

I'm happy to hear all these facts and opinions - debate is a good thing. While the population here is not what it was when Natchez was at its height - hasn't it grown post-Katrina compared to what it was pre-Katrina? Yes, it went down again - but I think it's still higher than it was at it's recent lowest figures - but I guess I could be wrong. Mainly, I'm thinking about the fact that we're all hoping that with the 2 new casinos coming to town - and Rentech -we'll have an increase of jobs - and hopefully an increase in population - especially the "temporary" population increase caused by tourists coming in to town? I hate to see the hospital close at this point in time, when we are all praying that with these future plans for growth there will be a population increase - what do we do then? Go back to the drawing board? How long would it take to build a new hosptial? Health care is something vital to all of us - so I think we should keep both hospitals at least for the time being.

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 12:26 a.m.

Natchez will survive along with the two hospitals, I hope! Of course, there needs to good management, especially with Natchez Regional!

Posted by wiseguy (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 12:44 a.m.

I dont think Katrina victims that may have lost everything they had, ran for their lives and found themselves looking for jobs in low paying service jobs arent going to make said community anymore prosperous. Natchez is in decline and current economics wont help. It really pisses me off when people spend money out of town and spend thier dollars at Mega Marts instead of supporting their home town merchants. Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot and any like retailer doesnt give a crap about the fate of local merchants or the community and only give contributions to charites in an attempt to make you feel good about giving them your bussiness. Look in Walmart and youll see the big brag board proclaiming so.

Posted by wiseguy (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 12:49 a.m.

Sorry got on my soap box just couldnt quit.
Born here raised here and attended public school here.
I Love my Town and Its People.

Posted by sparky018 (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 1:09 a.m.

I agree with u 100 percent Wiseguy! Besides, I like meat and Natchez Market has WAY better meat products! Thats where my grocery shopping is done!

Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 1:27 a.m.

I never buy meat at walmart, well I did a few times and it was horrible.
I always shop at The Pig.....love the pig!

Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 1:35 a.m.

Natchez could use one new hospital that is up to date and well equipped. It needs to be located in a location that has room for expansion and be extremely well managed.

Posted by sparky018 (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 1:50 a.m.

HAHA! I am hopeing you mean get rid of one and build another and not have three in this town!

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 2:20 a.m.

I still think a V.A. hospital would be great here....Have the community and a V.A. ....

Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 3:12 a.m.

Fire, have you been to a VA lately? It only treats veterans anyway. The majority of the people here would not qualify.

As to closing Regional, I think that would be one of the dumbest stunts our esteemed officials could do. I think they should make it a non-profit and go for those federal grants.

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 8:41 a.m.

Sparky018,
I have watched from the outside, since I had to leave Natchez to be able to support myself and family, as NMRC has added services and personnel as the population of the very region they serve has steadily shrunk in population. I wondered how they were doing it.

In fact, before my dad died in Natchez back in 2002, he was in Community Hospital. We did not even use NMRC because his doctors were not associated with it anymore. Yet, even as more of the people that I knew that were left in Natchez were using Community Hospital, NMRC was steadily expanding services.

I know they need a pediatric ward that takes Medicaid and regular insurance and they need a geriatric ward that takes Medicare and supplemental insurance and they need an emergency room area for the real emergencies, but as far as the rest of the services, please show where they profitable before expanding anything else.

I already pissed off a few, but so is life. I do not want it to close, just retool like many other businesses have had to do. Come back better and stronger.

Posted by ntzslums (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 9:19 a.m.

2 hospitals are part of the problem now. Quorum and others can be blamed for enough, but 2 hospitals here are killing the growth of health care services. Duplication.... One hospital, not for profit.

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 9:31 a.m.

you may have a point slums, but If you kill one totally, then the other has a monoploy. Monopolies are a bad idea in any business. Just look at the power suppliers all across America.

Do you want a monopoly to handle your health care needs like Entergy handles your electricity?

Posted by muleman (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 10:53 a.m.

I am sorry that I have to disagree with Carrie. Natchez can no longer easily support two hospitals. The only way it could is to raise taxes to support one of them. NRMC of course. The population might have increasesd but the private medical insurance base has decreased leaving mostly Medicare and Medicaid neither of which pay very much now. I would venture to guess that if you could check the patients in the both hospitals probably 85% of them would only have Medicaid or Medicare. Sorry, folks no private or not for profit hospital system is going to rush to Natchez to bail NRMC out with that kind of patient base. HMA most likely would not be on the scene if they did not already have a presence in Natchez. The people who are supposed to be control of NRMC have run it in the ground. I am afraid they are going to find themselves stuck holding the bag. NOBODY is going to rush to bail them out, especially if they think these same people that ran NRMC in the ground are going to continue interfering with the operation of the hospital. Everyone seems to think that NRMC will correct its self and everything will return to normal. That may happen this time, who knows. I do beleive that medical care in Natchez is going to have to change but whether it will be this time, I don't know. I do know that a lot has been said and writen by a lot of people that know less about what they are talking about than I do and I don't know much but I know a lot of what I have read and heard is unbeleivable. Is it due to ignorance of the subject or intentionally misleading I don't know. I do know it is UNBELEIVABLE. If this problem is going to be fixed some people are going to have to swallow their pride and admit they made a lot of mistakes. If the powers that be let their egos interfere, NRMC is doomed, maybe not this time but sooner or later DOOMED. Ain't no knight in shining armor comin' folks!

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 11:36 a.m.

Good point there muleman.
Sounds like you are smarter than the animals that you work with for sure.

Posted by sparky018 (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 12:06 p.m.

The two hospitals are a great idea and have always been since I can remember! But the non-profit idea is even better! They need to sit down with NCH and see how they do it, and try to follow in their footsteps untill they can get back on there feet! Then once they have accomplished that, go in their own direction!

Posted by tchamp (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 3:08 p.m.

the new admin at nrmc told employees today that there will be a 5% across the board paycut beginning with the check we should get on 4/3/08. the comment was made that they could meet payroll this payday, but wasnt sure about the check on 4/3/08, but he did say he has never not made payroll before. so all you prayer warriors out there please pray for our situation. thanks

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 3:32 p.m.

tchamp,
does that include the doctors and nurses as well as the staff?

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 4:12 p.m.

Probably not the doctors since they are privately paid by the patients (remember all the billing statements), but certainly the nurses if they are employed by the hospital.

Posted by tchamp (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 4:29 p.m.

ALL employees minus the docs at this time

Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 6:42 p.m.

what world is carrie living in? she say the population of natchez is growing...she needs to get out more and walk around town....but not this month with all of the tourist in town

Posted by bec1164 (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 8:40 p.m.

I live in SC, my husband's family lives in Natchez. We bothed work(ed) for HMA (the owner of Natchex Community Hospital.) Our hospital here has recently had layoffs and I was one of them. After researching the internet, we have found out the HMA is in serious trouble financially and could possibly be closing or selling some assets in the very near future. All the information is available online at TheStreet.com. I feel for anyone working for HMA right now, things are getting scary.

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 8:57 p.m.

Sounds like a familiar tune in the Hospitals lately. The private hospital in Vicksburg was sold recently and my friend that works there had to go to Kentucky for training. All the docs and nurses had to sign contracts and they weren't very inspired about it.....Our health care system is having trouble all across america and we should be cutting the fat as much as possible.

Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on March 13, 2008 at 11:46 p.m.

Yes, but what are the statistic's of vacant beds, per year, at NRH? Was there not mention of vacancy's on the fourth floor? On another note, why are so many of our schools/colleges graduates praticing elsewhere? Is it because of the wages?

Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 12:41 a.m.

To the NDDA director, the population of Natchez has been shrinking! Check the U.S census records! What planet is she on! I can't stand when the democrat reports something like this that is obviously incorrect.

Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 12:53 a.m.

Anybody that thinks this hospital is going to make it,their great grandfathers also said that cars would never replace horse buggies!

Posted by John (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 3:47 p.m.

I lived in a north Mississippi town that had both hospitals bought by the Baptist Hospitals. It works wonderfully.
Vicksburg is another kind of example. Their 2 hospitals were bought and combined, however, that combined hospital has been sold 3 times since then and is now laying off employees or cutting their salaries just like NMRC is doing now.

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 8:16 p.m.

Natchez enema. they live in Fantasy Island...they hear the planes coming right now.....look boss da plane.....lol...

They are just fine as long as the medication does not run out.....

Posted by Bozo (anonymous) on March 14, 2008 at 9:49 p.m.

I'm sure Coke wishes Pepsi would leave town. Wouldn't it be wonderful just to have one reeaalllly sucessful soft drinking company, instead of two fighting it out? Cokes would go to $2 a can and all the Coke employees could get raises. Woe be the soft drinker though.

Posted by canman (anonymous) on March 16, 2008 at 6:46 a.m.

All of you say the jobs in Natchez are scare, what about the new casinos that are popping up? I know hospitals are important, but as one comment said, people are moving away and the young are heading off to college, why do you need two hospitals? Our casino here, employees many elderly as well as the ordinary joe who needs work. As a matter of fact the Grand Soleil Casino is partly ours, but it still in and under construction. getting back to your topic, two hospitals, a bad decision, why not just expand on the present one? You would save money.

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 16, 2008 at 3:34 p.m.

canman, they already have 2....what they are asking is do you think they both will survive?

And the answer is........

Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on March 16, 2008 at 7:15 p.m.

we are a retirement community...we may need 3 hospitals to take care of all of the old folks

Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on March 16, 2008 at 8:02 p.m.

When I was employed and looking for another job, I found I was either over qualified or under qualified -- in other words, the people hiring were looking for younger people rather than a mature person. There are jobs, you just have to match employer with the person "they" want and to keep looking. I don't live near the hospitals but I hear and see the ambulances running day and night. The ERs are slow now, take a way one hospital and where will these people receive emergency care. After Hour Clinics can't do it, doctors can't work 24 / 7. We need both hospitals, we need good sensible honest administrators and government officials to get this hospital back into good running order, whatever it takes.

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 16, 2008 at 9:03 p.m.

and so are the days of our lives........

Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on March 16, 2008 at 9:44 p.m.

All I'm going to say is I did what I could to help this hospital out and ran into a road block named DAN BLAND!! His poor wife...God love her for what she wakes up with every cotton pickin day.

Posted by mothergoose (anonymous) on March 17, 2008 at 12:46 a.m.

How about one hospital with two facilities? Natchez Community could be used as day surgery clinic, outpatient procedures clinic, an ambulatory and after hours clinic. Regional could expand services for the mentally ill, a substance abuse unit, medical rehabilatation services and step down unit, hospice, ob-gyn services, and more medical specialites areas.

Posted by overthehill60 (anonymous) on March 17, 2008 at 9:09 a.m.

Has anyone heard anything about a newborn baby being abandoned at Community?

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 17, 2008 at 6:37 p.m.

Hey ND Staff, time to change the subject on here, this dead horse has been kicked way too long....

Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on March 17, 2008 at 11:19 p.m.

Mothergoose is right on with the last post and as usual some of the same old folks are still trying to convenience the rest of us into believing that everything is doom and gloom. The plane has come and we’ve left you behind.

Posted by iamnobody (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 8:09 a.m.

i think that pretty much every family in the natchez area has had a dealing with nrmc at one time or another, some will tell you good stories and others will tell you horror stories, i at one time worked for regional when it was still jeff davis and then it was renamed regional. as a medical student in two different fields of study i preformed my rotations at both hospitals, i have had surgical proceedures preformed at both hospitals, and the latest experience with regional was an er visit with a family member,,my family group was told "the xrays are fine", the family member in question was sent on a 2 hour ambulance ride to another hospital only to be told that there were fractures, one of which is in the neck" yes the staff in the er was friendly but being in the medical field while i was their and a witness to the actual treatment and listening to the explainations that were given,,i wasdumbfounded and amazed.

the fact that the two main money makers for the hospital built their own building across the river, the progress of the construction of a "rehab" , many of the area have allready been forced to travel elsewere for medical treatment..
\
regional new and latest ceo and quorum need to get back to the basics of health care if they want to keep the hospital open,,this does not mean cutting the main back bone of the hospital out in the name pay cuts and layoffs in support the cause,, the nurses, pca (techs),floor staff, etc, are what make a hospital, not the ceo/the county/the higher ups that "call the shots"

if there is no staff to take care of the patients,,there is no hospital because the staff that is there will do as i am doing due to the pay scale that has limited the area,,i travel south to work and my pay is about 3-4 dollars more that what i was offered in natchez with out my shift diffs, and pay incentives.

i can remember when mr mitchell was the administrator of the hospital and every morning admissions gave a list of patients to him and before he did any thing else, he made the rounds on the floors, talking to the patients, hearing and tending to the needs he could, and directing those needs he could not meet to those who could.

that is one example of "caring" that regional and its main staff has not seen from the administration in a long, long time,,,

growning up in natchez and over the years i have heard from many people that nobody cares,,well people,,,i care,, so my name must be nobody...a daugther, mother, wife, and yes a nurse

Posted by supertrucker47 (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 9 a.m.

NO THEY DONT NEED TWO HOSPITALS.TY

Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 12:08 p.m.

Very good post iamnobody...

Posted by iamnobody (anonymous) on March 18, 2008 at 8:45 p.m.

well the question at hand "does natchez need two hospitals?"...yes if the definition of hospital is,,,

a place where the sick, the injured, the old and the young can go for treatment so that they can reach the optimal level of functioning by a physican who is not only has the knowledge but the ability to say "i do not know" when there is not and answer, staff,,,(nurses, pca, cna,rt's,pt's) who are there because they enjoy the type of work they chose to do, not those who went to school thinking i should make the big salary with the least amount of work,,,

regional needs to stay open for those who work there because they love what they do, and yes they are in every level of the hospital,,but as the saying goes a chain is only as strong as it weakest link...and from my first hand experiences there are several weak links,,,,

so if regional stays open, or takes other options the public suffers either way...an idea that has not been mentioned,,how about an agreement with the medical schools like tulane, or umc for the resident students to rotate through,, at the small hospital in centerville they do this...

however and what ever happens,, there are too many people struggling to find and keep jobs,,and as much as i do not have a lot of kind words for some of the staff of both hospitals,,i hate to see someone lose a job they like doing because the company or persons running it do not have a clue and cut departments,staff, but not their salary..

hey mr. ceo,, what do you make,,,and how much was your take home pay cut,,hummmmm?

i doubt we will ever get an answer to that one

ok,,that is it

nobody cares
and
i am nobody
i DO care

Posted by ChooseOrLose (anonymous) on March 19, 2008 at 2:32 p.m.

I prefer having two hospitals in Natchez. If one place is overcrowded, understaffed that day, or any other problem, you can go down the road to the other hospital.

You can get second opinions without having to travel out of town. Each facility is ran a little differently, and I like the option of having two facilities to choose from.

I'm thankful for both hospitals and all the hard work the employees put in.

Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on March 23, 2008 at 8:05 a.m.

What are we gonna close next? How about a fourth boat?
So it can suck the last few remaining pennies out of Natchez. Lets build another strip mall and more cloverleafs and expand our roads so people can move through here faster and on to another town.

Posted by JDR (anonymous) on March 23, 2008 at 6:44 p.m.

i agree with carrie since shes so sexy /kiss.

Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on March 24, 2008 at 6:09 a.m.

Two hospitals are needed, that way after you go to one and don't pay your bill you can still go to the other one.

Posted by kpage (anonymous) on March 24, 2008 at 9 a.m.

Hahahahahhahaha beammeup!!!!!!! I can run up a big bill at Regional and when the bill collectors come running, I can then go to Community and charge, charge, charge. Heck with that idea, there would be no hospital. If people want free medical care, go to Canada!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by priya (anonymous) on March 24, 2008 at 9:39 a.m.

that might be the problem Kpage is do what canada does?!? maybe we should learn from others.

Posted by dmackZuluking (anonymous) on March 24, 2008 at 3:01 p.m.

Build & train a new workforce for the future, As more and more baby boomers are living longer, the medical industry should be the leading industry for job growth in the Miss-Lou area.

Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on March 26, 2008 at 7:01 a.m.

YES THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE ALOT OF JOBS LOSES IF REGIONAL SHUTS DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by DUCKHUNTER (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 1:04 p.m.

Let's get down to it, cut out the corruption (hire a new financial team) and the extra money can be found to support TWO hospitals; NO LOSS OF JOBS! THAT IS STUPID TO TALK ABOUT NO JOBS AND THEN TURN AROUND AND SAY, "CLOSE THE HOSPITAL."

Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on March 27, 2008 at 8:37 p.m.

dead horse has been kicked enough..

Hey ND Staff, please change the question....