Joslin Center
The Joslin center at Floyd Memorial continues to be a true asset to the community. They recently received another three year accreditation from the American Diabetic Association (ADA).
The staff continues to provide the most complete, comprehensive and personalized care of any diabetic facility in the area. This is the one area of Floyd that actually brings patients from Louisville across the river.
They provide a service to physicians that remains unmatched and we certainly appreciate the exquisite care our patients receive. This is especially true for the very difficult to manage diabetics.
This is another area that has been labeled as money-losing by the administration. The staff has worked very hard to find new creative ways to generate revenue. But, there is a value to this department that accountants cannot begin to place a monetary value on and if this center is lost, it would be devastating to the healthcare of our community.
If any reader has had personal experiences at the Joslin Center, please feel free to comment and contribute to maintaining this wonderful program.
The staff continues to provide the most complete, comprehensive and personalized care of any diabetic facility in the area. This is the one area of Floyd that actually brings patients from Louisville across the river.
They provide a service to physicians that remains unmatched and we certainly appreciate the exquisite care our patients receive. This is especially true for the very difficult to manage diabetics.
This is another area that has been labeled as money-losing by the administration. The staff has worked very hard to find new creative ways to generate revenue. But, there is a value to this department that accountants cannot begin to place a monetary value on and if this center is lost, it would be devastating to the healthcare of our community.
If any reader has had personal experiences at the Joslin Center, please feel free to comment and contribute to maintaining this wonderful program.
posted by Anonymous at 6:35 AM
16 Comments:
I disagree with runawaydoc. One of my childhood friends was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes 20 years ago. Until he became a Joslin Center patient, his care was woefully incomplete and he consistently battled with his own body owing to the overly simplistic "two shots a day and avoid sweets" treatment regimen foisted on him by more than one PCP who seemed oblivious to more comprehensive methodology.
There was an initial adjustment period, but he's now much more knowledgeable about diet, exercise and the prevention and maintenance of other potential diabetes associated conditions, allowing him to actively manage his condition and life much more effectively. As a person who's had to train himself to deal with diabetic emergencies for his friend's sake but would really prefer to avoid them, I'm damn glad the Joslin Center is here. The only people who've lost revenue in his case is the emergency room.
HB, given the relatively small number of Joslin Centers nationwide, I've always wondered how FMH was lucky enough to have one. If you could enlighten me, I'd appreciate it.
I've not taken sides very often concerning the hospital issues you discuss because of my admitted ignorance of them. If FMH wants to hear from me, though, messing with the Joslin Center would be good way to guarantee that they will.
We had some very committed nurses, dieticians, and educators at Floyd who along with marketing, our endocrinologist, and myself as the diabetic liason physician who continually pushed for the program and affiliation with Joslin (out of Boston).
It was initially against the recommendation of both the CEO and CFO who did not feel financially it was the right decision. They have continued to question the value of the program and the affiliation with Boston.
Luckily, continued pressure and more knowledgeable people were able to win this battle.
It is an asset that an accountants spreadsheet may never be able to show.
It's refreshing to read an exchange of views between literate people, and at no point did an anonymous scaregiver intrude to blame diabetes on the mayor.
How'd you manage it?
Medrep,
Thanks for asking, but Al Gore continues to claim that prize.
NAC,
It is funny how the truth will eventually overcome. It does take longer for those who have been continually brainwashed with the same misinformation.
Since HB is a hunter, I guess he can be forgiven for a series of inconsitent "scattershot" comments that, once again, serve only to find fault rather than make sense.
1. HB criticizes hospital management for what he calls poor financial planning and results that are below plan.
2. However, HB’s pet project should be exempt from the requirement that it be profitable.
3. HB has zero experience managing any large, complex organization (much less a hospital), and was not involved in the discussions to determine where budgets should be cut and why. Nevertheless, he felt qualified in less than 12 hours after the announcement of budget cuts to offer his “instant analysis that “These are probably not the wisest decisions.”
4. HB offers the opinion that: “The goal should be to increase revenue and find ways to generate more income not just to cut costs.” Apparently, that is easier for the hospital than for himself since HB has stated several times that his own income has been falling for several years.
Once again our anoymous entity is quoting bad information.
I would not have even blogged on the topic if the CEO had not blantantly lied to the medical staff and it was about 36 hours after the incident, not 12. I did verify my facts the following day before blogging.
Why doesn't the anonymous blogger explain why the CEO lied to the medical staff or is that something everyone in his position does.
I run a small to medium size business and that is more experience than any of the current Board members have.
After the first almost 6 months of 2006 at our office, we have turned things around and should do better this year than last. We are adding new procedures to our office and have dropped some money losing plans. We also have a 5-10 year plan for other ideas and endeavors.
" blantantly lied."???
For someone who wears his religion on his sleeve, you sure seem to be short of charity when attributing motives to people you don't like. Did you ask him if he lied? Did you confront him and give him chance to respond before accusing him of "blatantly" lying? Any chance that the statement could have been correct in some way or that he simply misspoke? I can't imagine why it would make any difference to the doctors if it was 2% or 5% or 15% except as it directly affected them or their patients. So why would he intentionally lie?
Your comments about how critical your pet "Joslin" service is to the community, even to the extent that it should operate at a loss, is an example of how little you understand about running a large organization. Any one who has ever had to hammer an overall budget out of the requests that stream upward from departmental budget centers knows that EVERYONE believes that his/her department's requests are critical and shouldn't be cut. That is why it is common for first iterations of a budget to come in at 150% to 200% of what is possible. And, in most cases, all the requests are reasonable and have a decent justification. If looked at in isolation, each reduction could be viewed as cutting out something important. Unfortunately, in a world of infinite "wants" but finite resources, tough decisions have to be made and not everyone loves the outcome.
Well it appears the truth is painful and now our anonymous friend has resorted to attacking my Christianity. This now makes the 3rd or 4th remark about my Faith.
I believe in absolute truth. We could diverge and talk about moral relativism, more pluralism or many other epistemological differences but that would take us away from the topic at hand.
Our anonymous commenter gives us the perfect example of moral relativism in his/her response.
" Any chance that the statement could have been correct in some way or that he simply misspoke? "
The answer is "no". His response was not truthful and it doesn't matter how you spin it.
As far as the Joslin center, I see value in the service and I also understand how numbers can be manipulated to benefit certain programs at the expense of others.
This has also been a repetitive theme at Floyd.
Expenditures are very subjective as to how they are allocated and programs that aren't the favorites of certain people in administration always seem to show higher expenses and lower profit margins. I want to be sure that programs physicians think are important continue to get the support they deserve.
The identity of the anonymous blogger is becoming clearer and we continue to ask that you identify yourself so that the readers can see who in adminiistration you really are or who you represent.
I did review the budget for 2006 and the board did question the numbers and how concevative they were. We were given assurance that it was a budget that could be attained. All requests were not granted and the numbers are still way below projections.
The CEO also commented at the staff meeting about keeping our "A" bond rating. We'll be looking into this as well. He probably mentioned it because there are concerns of losing our rating. This would be another very negative aspect of the current situation and our current administrations decisions.
How ridiculous!
No one attacked your religion. I simply pointed out that you never give your "enemies" the slightest benefit of the doubt. You see only evil intent in them whether it exists or not.
You have made a number of false or misleading statements on this blog. When those were called to your attention you always had some explanation ("spin"?) to take you off the hook. You want the benefit of the doubt about your motives and integrity when it serves your interests, but you don't return the favor.
Once again, you are just wrong. My motives have been stated very clearly. From the very first day I served on the Board until now, the motive has been the same and never hidden.
The hospital needs new leadership.
Undertaking this 65 million dollar heart expansion was going to require a paradigm shift in how the hospital was managed and how relationships between physicians and the CEO were built.
I stated very clearly that if there were not a change, we would see more physicians choosing to do things on their own or partner with each other.
That is exaclty what is happening and it is severely affecting the finances of the hospital. The facts are very clear.
It will continue to worsen until the Board comes to the understanding that keeping the CEO and others will actually cost more in losses than it will to just pay him to retire.
I always wanted a smooth transition and told the CEO and Board directly. This was stated more than 4 years ago and ever since. No hidden agenda.
We now have a lame-duck CEO that continues to cause further decline.
This is exactly what I tried to prevent.
Again the facts are very clear.
I never wanted to see the hospital struggle and it didn't have to happen if people could have dealt with the real issue several years ago.
Unfortunately, for your ego, your position didn't prevail. And you can't stand it!
According to numerous national news stories and internet postings, doctors all over the country are doing "more things on their own." Is Bryant Hanson responsible for all that?
Predicting that any specific hospital would lose patients to doctors setting up their own out-patient services, seems about as insightful as predicting the decline of rotary phones several years after the introduction of push-button devices.
Dr. Eichenberger is going to be proven correct. We are having more and more nurses looking for other opportunities. We are tired of taking care of 12 patients per nurse.
We hear the doctors complaining every day and know for a fact that a lot of our surgeons are choosing to do cases elsewhere.
Mr. Hanson is the reason the doctors are leaving. It is so clear to everyone except for these two anonymous writers and the blind board members.
These anonymous writers are part of the administration and just too gutless to give their identity. It would validate everything that has been said. They are spineless worms. My friend in finance is sure that one of these writers is our very own CFO. He has continued to be a failure and has been close to losing his job more than once because of his incompetence.
Dr. Eichenberger and many of the other doctors will be here long after Mr. Hanson leaves with his huge salary and retirement home in florida.
Dr. E. truly cares about the future of Floyd. He always has and always will.
Mr Hanson has short-man syndrome and his ego prevents him from acknowledging his failures.
We here from directors all the time that he yells and screams when he doesn't get his way or if he is told something he doesn't want to hear. That is why so much is hidden from him. He has no clue what really goes on and how bad things really are.
We'll be betting on Dr. E
I too am an employee. I work with patients but am not a nurse. I have known Dr. Dan since he was an orderly in high school.
There is no finer person around. He has served on virtually every committee and never refuses to help when asked.
I can give a personal account on how bad Mr. Hanson is. I witnessed his harrassment on one of the nursing floors when he demanded to have a private room for a freind of his. The hospital had none available and there are supposed to be protocols to move people in this situation. Mr. Hanson didn't care about any of that. He just wanted to look good in front of his friend and show he had clout. He had the staff in tears. He breaks many of the rules he is supposed to follow. That is not a leader. No one respects him.
I too would like to know the identity of these anonymous commenters. I also believe they are part of Mr. Hansons very few friends. Anyone who really has worked with Dr. Dan would not say those things. He is a genuine man and a great doctor.
I appreciat the kind words and also emailing me your identities.
As a reminder to all readers:
Your identities will remain confidential if you inform me of who you are. Some I know already and certainly apprciate the positive responses.
In addition, I have chosen to allow for anonymous comments. I knew that the administration or it's representatives would make remarks as we have seen. It is exactly why the relationships and morale continue to decline at Floyd.
Just as they won't take responsibility here, they also don't like accountability in their other decisions.
These anonymous detractors should have nothing to lose by revealing their identities if they believe in their cause.
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