Comments by woodduck
Page 1 of 3 | Next
Posted on March 26 at 4:31 p.m.
Well, Here we go again! I had a bad feeling about this deal, just didn't hold up to scrutiny. I hope for the sake of all the folks who live and work in this area, it is just a temporary "hold" but I'm afraid something is afoot.
In an article on the internet last week, it looks like the US Air Force is trying to entice coal to Oil production facilities on some of the Air bases out West. I bet RenTech is looking to get a sweetheart deal from Uncle Sugar! Free land and probably some generous Govt grants and/or low interest loans for construction and start up.
Posted on March 16 at 10:46 a.m.
I cannot believe that the Democrat even quoted Wesselman. He single-handedly was responsible for most of the problems facing NRMC today. Funny how his story has changed too. A few weeks ago, the CFO Mike Anderson was fired for allegedly "Cooking the books" probably with Wesselmans complete knowledge and complicity. Now he's just the poor guy who was just overwhelmed with all the bookkeeping and financial problems. YEAH Right!! Wesselman you need to get your story straight, better yet, go tell your story in some other town, where they may believe you for a few months until they figure out what you really are. Maybe you will get to tell it again when NRMC gets around to suing Quorum for malfeasance and negligence, possibly fraud as well.
Posted on March 16 at 10:37 a.m.
If you make the pay cuts too regressive, you will lose the skilled people who are the lifeblood of the hospital. Some of the Nurses are having a hard time with a 5% cut, increase that to 10% and they may well be out of Natchez and working in some other town. I feel for all the folks that are going to have to take a pay cut, but the alternative is much grimmer. Should NRMC be forced to close, practically every employee would lose their job. NCH is already fully staffed, so they couldn't absorb many of the NRMC personnel. So look around, it's going to be you relative, neighbor or friend out of a job. Do we really want that?
As to the VA/Charity/ Insured idea, get real! First of all, I can assure you the VA has absolutely no interest in a hospital in Natchez. They are having enough problems funding the ones they already have. VA is consolidating, not expanding, and secondly, VA's depend on Medical schools/Residency programs to fulfill their medical staffing. There would be no way of staffing a VA in Natchez. How would you propose dividing up the hospital into insured/Charity? Have a floor with 4-8 bed wards separated by curtains for the charity patients, like the old Natchez Charity? How do you think the leaders in the community would explain that scenario? Also who do you think would pay for the "Charity" patients? The State of Mississippi got out of the Charity hospital business decades ago when they closed the Natchez, Vicksburg, Laurel and Meridian Charity Hospitals. They aren't going to get into that boondoggle again. I can just see it now, the legislature appropriates money for a "Charity" hospital in Natchez, and next session, they have requests from every financially troubled hospital in Mississippi to convert to a "Charity" hospital and bail them out financially.” well, you did it for Natchez, why not us"? Ain't going to happen!
Certainly almost all of the Vendors that are supplying NRMC are putting the hospital on COD. They will be on a “pay as you go” program, which may prove to be valuable in the sense that it will force everyone to take a hard look at what they really need or what they just want. What the bankruptcy will allow is to freeze the current bills and allow the hospital time to get some cost cutting measures in place. Don't forget, the hospital is collecting money, there are receivables being collected, however they cannot cover the expenses. Many of which are obligations, that were made by the previous two administrators, that are not revenue producing, but were and still are costing NRMC money. That is why the interim administrator is looking at every contract that NRMC has currently. This includes contracts for services as well as supplies, equipment, etc.
Posted on March 14 at 4:44 p.m.
For the VA proponent, news flash! GSO (General Services Administration) is closing VA Hospitals not opening them!! They have as many problems as the rest of the hospital world. Rising costs, increasing patient loads and not enough money to take care of either. Natchez has about as much chance of getting any type of Federally funded hospital here as they would having NASA move the Kennedy Space center to the Natchez Adams airport! Get real. If VA had the money, why would they put a VA in the corner of the state? Adding on to and improving the one in Jackson would be the realistic scenario. Another thing that you are overlooking, the physician staff at VA's are by and large Residents in training. Alexandria Pineville La is staffed by LSU Med school. Jackson VA by UMC. Who would staff a Natchez VA? As of today, neither Co-Lin nor Alcorn had a Medical school/residency program.
I think most everyone at NRMC is unhappy about a 5% Pay cut, but if that's what it takes to keep the hospital open, I believe most of the staff are up to the sacrifice. Realistically, finding a job in Nursing around here is pretty slim. About all that is available are limited Home Health and or Nursing Home jobs. So, you could go out of town. Sure you could. I know Nurses who drive to Vicksburg or Brookhaven to work, generally part time to supplement their incomes. I would bet that if you crunch the numbers, a 5% pay cut would be much more cost effective than a couple of trips to Vicksburg every week what with gas at 3.25 per gallon today.
One of the things that was stated in the CEO -staff meetings(andI was there, so this isn't rumor or innuendo) It is imperative that NRMC remain open. It is and has been the hospital that by it's mission statement is charged with taking care of those who have no choices.
The interim CEO who incidentally, is not a Quorum employee, but an independent consultant with a proven track record of turning around hospitals in trouble, is going to look at every contract, every lease, and this includes Physicians, Health care providers, vendors and suppliers of everything. So I can assure you it won't just be the hospital and physician staff taking a cut, It will encompass everyone who contracts to NRMC as well, as well it should. there are lots of folks operating on contract who are hard working, productive people who are doing everything in their power to make sure the hospital prospers. On the other hand there are others who have gotten fat contracts with a lot up front and no performance incentives who will most certainly be coming under very close scrutiny.
Posted on March 14 at 4:07 p.m.
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 on March 12 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 on March 12 at 6:41 p.m.
NRMC has not had any capital construction in years. The "Floor" that people keep referring to was built back in the early 1980's!! It was the 5th floor and was built as and Orthopedic floor, when we had 4 practicing orthopedic surgeons in Natchez, along with 5 General surgeons, 2 ENT Surgeons, 2 urologists and a myriad of "GP's" who were active. The only other "major" construction was about the same time when the new front lobby with the Surgical suites on 2nd floor, and OB on the third floor. The New ICU and ER. How many of you who are posting here can even remember going around the back of the hospital to the old ER? It was old, cramped and awful, same as the old Surgery, OB and ICU. The physical plant is essentially the same since the early 1980's. It certainly isn't building new "Stuff" that 's gotten NRMC in trouble.
To answer another statement about Ear tubes. We do them all the time here at NRMC, same as in Jackson, etc. Most kids are in the way home in a couple of hours after surgery. So don't say you have to go to Jackson or McComb for those services. In fact maybe some of the physicians here who are referring patients to McComb and elsewhere, as well as the folks who go on these "health care safaris" ought to think about what negative effects they are having on health care in Natchez. You are some of the reasons the hospitals are in trouble here. So don’t blame everything and everyone else because every time you go out of town for medical care that is available here in Natchez, you are helping nail the coffin shut on health care in Natchez.
If you only want NRMC around in case you have an emergency, when you start having those searing chest pains and you realize it may be "the big one", or you fall down your stairs and break your hip, well guess what? It might not be there when you need it. If the hospitals are closed and dark, friend, I can tell you it's going to be mighty terrifying to those in dire need. It's a long drive when your life or one of your loved ones lives are on the line.
And for all of you who are fans of NCH, that's perfectly all right. I don't have an axe to grind with Community. But, just think, if the ER at NCH is crowded now, think what it will be like when NRMC closes and all its patients go to NCH. Not too comforting if you’re the one who’s sick.
On Natchez Regional readies in case bankruptcy option needed
Posted on March 9 at 5:19 p.m.
I firmly believe that hospitals that are doing well financially are better positioned to deliver superior health care. That's what makes the Private/non-profits superior in the long run. they are bound by law to plow all of their profits back into the system. That could be reflected in higher salaries, more and better equipment, expanded services and more dedicated funds to cover uncompensated care.
I have worked in both situations, Hospitals that were foundering, drowning in debt, as well as ones that were making a profit. I can assure you the profitable ones were by and large much better managed, the workers morale was higher, the equipment better. All of which leads to superior care. The struggling hospitals were usually understaffed, equipment older and more prone to breakdowns, supplies often not available on a timely basis. In these hospitals the keyword was always "backordered" Which generally means the vendor hadn't been paid and wouldn't ship supplies until the bill was brought up to a current status. In almost every case, the morale was lower, as the staff never knew when the axe was going to fall.That is exactly the condition that NRMC is in today.
One of the biggest problems we have here, and it will NEVER be solved with 2 hospitals in Natchez is the "keeping up with the Jones" theory that is prevalent. So return on investment, utilization, etc. have never factored in to the decision. If it had, we wouldn't have a Cath Lab at NRMC. We wouldn't have 5 family practice physicians on salary in and expensive office building that we can't afford. We would have a shared MRI and 64 Slice CT scanner, not 2 of each in a town of 19k. Unfortunately, hospital administrators get caught up in this "Arms Race" as someone so aptly described it, and logic and reason go out the window.
Posted on March 9 at 12:27 p.m.
(more)
If you want to see some grim statistics, “Google” “Closed Hospitals USA” The figures you see are certainly alarming. California, in the most booming time in the states history 1996-2006, had 71 hospital closures. In the USA from 1990-2000 there were 460 hospital closures. I’m sure in almost every one of these closures; folks were saying “Everything is going to be OK!!”
Page 1 of 3 | Next
Posted on May 28 at 10:44 p.m.
We are reaping the grain of what we sowed over the past 100 years here in the USA. We insisted on bigger and bigger vehicles (SUV’s and pickups). We created suburban “sprawl´that put us further and further from our workplace. We voted against and refused to endorse any form of mass transit. Much of this can be laid at the feet of “big oil”, but no one put a gun to our head and forced us to move 30-40 miles from our job, or forced us to buy that Suburban or F-250 Super Duty. Now we are paying the price.
Europe has had this problem for years and years. I was in the UK in 2003 and we paid the equivalent of 4.00 USD for gas. My wife and I have traveled all over Europe over the past few years. Nowhere did I ever see a pickup! Even in the rural areas of Scotland, the pickups were Land Rovers with small beds and single cabs And they were few and far between. The average family has one car, usually very small and diesel powered, getting upwards to 50 MPG. We were in Paris, the only big cars and SUV’s were the ones owned by Middle Eastern visitors, spending their PetroEuros. The French drove Cars so small they could use the back of an Expedition as a garage. Many rode scooters, motorbikes or bicycles. If you travel out of town generally you take the train. Mass transit is well developed, safe clean and runs on time. The Europeans realized many years ago that they had to economize, so they spent their Euros on developing high speed rail, trollys busses and Metros (subways). What did we do? We kept building bigger and bigger cars and more and more miles of concrete to run them on. Now the “Chickens are coming home to roost”
Oil will not get any cheaper. Oh, it may drop a little, as it has done in the past, but every oil “Crisis anywhere on the globe will send it back up. Several very respected CEO’s of oil companies and oil trading companies are predicting 150-200 oil in the next couple of years. So the problem isn’t going away, it’s only going to get worse. As gas prices continue to rise, it will eventually mean the demise of suburbia. Folks will not continue to pay a larger and larger percentage of their income for the privilege of living in the “burbs”.
On How are high gas prices affecting you?