Budget crisis
At a recent meeting, the CEO told us that they are looking to cut 130 FTE’s in order to make the budget for 2007. He refuses to use the term “layoff”.
Rather, he creates phrases like “we are going to grow with less”, we will “cut through attrition”, or some may need to find new employment.
The bottom line is this:
When we built the new $65 million dollar addition, the CEO stated we hired about 160 new employees. Now to meet 2007 budget, we need to cut 130 FTE’s. This means we will have the huge addition, the new heart center, the new ER with only 30 additional employees.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that when you add this huge addition, hire 160 employees, but only add a handful of beds, this abstract ratio of FTE/adj. occ. bed is going to change significantly.
I’m concerned, the physicians are concerned, and the staff is really concerned.
The public, the Commissioners and the Board had best be showing more concern if we want to maintain the quality and reputation we desire.
Rather, he creates phrases like “we are going to grow with less”, we will “cut through attrition”, or some may need to find new employment.
The bottom line is this:
When we built the new $65 million dollar addition, the CEO stated we hired about 160 new employees. Now to meet 2007 budget, we need to cut 130 FTE’s. This means we will have the huge addition, the new heart center, the new ER with only 30 additional employees.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that when you add this huge addition, hire 160 employees, but only add a handful of beds, this abstract ratio of FTE/adj. occ. bed is going to change significantly.
I’m concerned, the physicians are concerned, and the staff is really concerned.
The public, the Commissioners and the Board had best be showing more concern if we want to maintain the quality and reputation we desire.
posted by Anonymous at 6:10 AM
29 Comments:
Geeze....how depressing. And I just had my 4th incident this month where the lab "lost" a 24 hour urine on a patient. And, speaking of the lab, it is a daily "battle" even getting the lab to send me any patient lab results. We probably call 8-10 times daily for results that should have been put in my box a week ago. It may be the hospital's desire to have me get all this info off their web site but, the way I see it, as much as they charge for these labs I believe the ordering physician should at least be entitled to a paper copy. And lipid panels, which used to turn around in 24-48 hours, now take almost a week to result out. More proof to me that "bigger is not always better".
I wonder how much money can be saved by getting rid of excessive vice president positions and possibly give the CEO a reduction in pay to save truly needed jobs to keep the hospital running at peak efficiency?
This was poor planning all around, period. The project itself was way over budget, program late getting started, a hiring frenzy, lower than expected volumes and leadership's unwillingness to take a stance and change the culture of the organization. Oh yea, $65 million, and no additional beds.
Correct me if I am wrong, HB, but I thought I read that you were on the hospital board while the planning was done for the new addition. If it looked like a good deal to you then, what has changed? Everybody is good at Monday Morning Quarterbacking, but you must have liked what was proposed or you wouldn't have supported it. Did something in the environment change later or what?
HB, could you put the hospital's financials on here somehow? I'm just wondering how much red ink we're talking about and how much cash is left.
Good thread Dr. Dan. I think you have only touched the surface and need to dig into this deeper. Basically "firing" a person who had over 42 years of longevity at the hospital (who was retiring in 3 months) shows the staff how pathetic the trust in management is. Furthermore to have Hanson dump this job on VP Quillman just shows his lack of sincerity towards ALL the staff.
dr. dan did speak up and openly about concerns. Other physicians also raised concerns.
He was one vote out of seven on the board.
When the CEO hand picks yes-men and yes-women on the Board, there is little one individual can do.
The financial reports given to the board were not accurate. When they are given bad information they are being manipulated by the CEO and CFO
Anonymous HB supporter wrote: "He was one vote out of seven on the board."
I thought I read earlier that HB DID vote to support the new addition. Was he against the addition after he was for it???
I am very proud to say I work at FMHHS. I am also very proud to say I love working at FMHHS.
I have worked at other hospitals so I have some experience with MD's and adminstrators. Both groups at FMHHS are the best.
It is great that you have this blog or outlet to voice your opinion. Although I don't always agree with your articles, I read your blog almost daily to keep up to date on issues that you bring to my attention ie. board meetings, etc.
However, please try not to allow the comments of others who resort to "name calling" to be viewed on your site as "anonymous 12:06" did yesterday. That director, that they were apparently referring to, works hard,is very professional and fair.
And by the way, thanks to the current adminstration at FMHHS, the institution is operating in the black and hopefully will continue to do so long after you and I have both retired. If you compare FMHHS with other hospitals of the same size in this area of the country we are doing pretty fair.
Correct me if I am wrong but I don't know of other local hospital employees who are receiving cash bonuses this December (someone please comment if they know of one).
Our patients keep returning to our facility and they love us so we must be doing something right.
Oh, and by the way---
FTE's are full time equivalents and all hospitals use this method to calculate their staffing needs. It is a calculation based on hours of work per day, week, and year.
Thanks....
I have often not agreed with Dr. Dan here and I too love working at FMHHS. I am treated well by the administration and I have worked in a number of health care facilities. However, I can't say that I disagree with Dr. Dan on this issue. I am very concerned when I haven't been in the past. Employees are expected to do more, meet more expectations and do this with less staff and less hours worked. Whether you are a clinical person or a nonclinical person, cutting staff and hours, while the volume continues to build is a huge mistake. In the end employee moral and customer service will suffer. By the way, yes other local hospitals did give Christmas bonuses even though they are operating in the red. Jewish gave a $500.00 bonus to all employees this year.
I am a FMHHS employee and I totally agree with Dr. Dan. The employees need a voice we 1st shouldn't have created a VP position for Mike Ford and increased his salary and then one department created a Manager position and that was another waste of money. Yes, all departments employees are afraid of losing their jobs. Merry Christmas from Bryant Hanson. They could also start cutting their salary (Administration) Hanson just recently got back from a trip from Italy and then purchased his new car for this year (he gets one every year). The saying goes build it and they will come well it didn't work for Hanson. He shouldn't have ticked off some of the Heart Doctors they wouldn't have taken their business elsewhere. And then they wouldn't also be building their own hospital. The community is very blind to the problems there. I am just staying there until I can find something with good insurance because I have a family to provide for and children with medical problems. The Board and Commisioners beed to get rid of Bryant Hanson and get rid of the VP position for Mike Ford. He's like where's Waldo you can never find him. And he is suppose to be more helpful for the employees since they gave him VP position. Now there's a another joke. If you go to him with a problem in finds a excuse to not be able to help you. Please board emplyees are begging you to help us and take charge of Hanson and Mike Ford!!!!!
DR DAN AND THE REST OF THE PHYSICIANS NEVER SUPPORTED THE PROJECT AS IT WAS PUSHED ONTO US. WE WERE NEVER INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE FINAL PLANS AND HAD NO VOTE ON ANY OF THE PROJECT---"ANY OF IT". ABOUT THE LAYOFF -WHY NOW 2 WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND WHY -SO WE CAN PAY FOR ANOTHER VP OR MORE SHRUBS FOR THE HANSON GARDENS. MORALE IS AT AN ALL TIME LOW AMONG EMPLOYEES BUT I AM SURE THE ADMINISTRATORS DONT CARE . THEY DONT LISTEN TO ANYONE SO WHY WOULD THEY CARE ABOUT A FEW EMPLOYEES WELFARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
PHYSICIANS MAKE THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE WHO WE BRING IN MAKES IT GO REGARDLESS OF WHO THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN.I HAVE SURVIVED 3 ADMINISTRATIONS IN MY 30 YEARS ASSOCIATION WITH FLOYD MEMORIAL AND THIS ONE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY ANTI PHYSICIAN AND HAS TRIED TO FIGURE A WAY TO CONTROL THE DOCS. NOW THAT THEY CONTROL ABOUT 50% THEYBUILT THIS MONUMENT AND NOW TO PAY FOR IT HAVE TO LAY OFF STAFF SO LETS SEE IF THERE OWNED DOCS CAN PAY FOR IT.
Not that in any way do I think what Administration is doing is moral or decent, Jewish Hospital employees did not get a $500 bonus. I'll gladly give the money back if it means that me, my family and friends that I have referred to Floyd over the years can keep their job.
At least Mike Ford has a BRAIN.
Another recently promoted VP has proven he's about as sharp as a dull knife.
Cuts in administration? I'd start with the less than stellar performers. Combine the VP of HR role with VP of Operations - there you go! Minus one.
There are several concerns that are not being answered. First, why were staff initially reassured that no one would lose their jobs because of the budget, yet now they are starting to say it's time to cut back? Next, which departments are being affected by this cutback? Some say that the frontline nursing staff on MIPS, SIPS, PCU, CVCU, and ICU will not be affected because they are already running at minimum capacity. Others say that it mainly affects those close to retirement, making the higher wages. A few others say it affects departments that are not constantly dealing directly with patient care. Another concern is how this will affect patient care. It seems that the ER is constantly busy and beds are full most of the time. Finally, if things are bad enough that the hospital is looking at cutting staff, then why are there more plans to invest more money in remodeling the 4th floor of the old section and finish the 3rd and 4th floors of the new section, adding more beds and specialty departments such as an orthopedic surgery unit? Staff at FMHHS are literally becoming scared and would like to know exactly what's going on without relying on rumors. Like many others I throughly enjoy working at FMHHS, but now worry this holiday season that my job may be in jeopardy.
How much worse can things get at FMHHS?! I left FMHHS this year due to a lack of confidence in the most senior level of leadership. Directors and managers are charged with unrealistic goals/tasks to achieve, and then are not given the tools/authority needed to achieve them. Sacred cows are valued over interdepartmental cooperation and patient safety. An administrator makes decisions and dictates deadlines that negatively impact departments that are not under his span of control. Senior leadership does not model the behavior they hold middle management and associates to. When and where will it end?
So I work in the LAB. I am here to take up for us. We are VERY short staff already and very busy. Now we are going to work 3 are first 2 on 2 second and 2 on third with third shift also doing collection in ER. I can speak for your four lost 24 hours but I can speak for your reports. I am a third shift lab girl. Doctor reports start printing at midnight and then about 1400 pages later we go through every page and sort through them. Some are mailed, some are out in to YOUR box, some have folders. If you have a box in the lounge. YOU should start looking at it. Every morning including SAT AND SUN by 6am the results are in the boxes. Please explain to adim about this, then maybe they'll understand what happens when we are short!
I too am a 3rd shifter. I have seen one night when there was only ONE tech to draw all of the labs in-house and ED. The tech handled everything as best as she could,but the stress of being placed in that position is incredible. The hospital is trying to expedite bed placements and transfers, yet may only have 1 or 2 bedmakers on 2nd shift and even less at night. The number of orderlies is less or nonexistent on nights. Services such as Lab, X-ray, Respiratory Therapy, and Cardiology are constantly running from one side of the hospital to another trying to keep up with the needs of the patients on the floors and the the ever busy ED.Stress levels are high and we now must "grow with less"? And now there is the threat of cut-backs and hiring freezes when we are going into our busiest time of the year? Long term employees fear that they may be replaced with new cheaper and less experienced help. I too would gladly give up my bonus to save jobs at FMHHS. Do you think administration would be willing to give up some of theirs?
With the $65 million addition, how did the lab get that new $2 million machine??
A $2 million machine that doesn't even work yet. Which has caused so much confusion all over the hospital, with the changing of the tubes because the new processor needs certain tubes. The processor will be really nice when it is up and running. The expected date is Jan. 9th, 2007
To the anonymous lab workers...my point exactly!! You people down
"in the trenches" have been sorely abused for the sake of the physical appearance of the hospital. I am completely sympathetic with your plight and I really do appreaciate all the hard work you are being forced to do. I certainly have no complaints with you...quite the contrary, I applaud you for continuing to do your jobs despite the stupidity and near-sightedness of the administration. Who cares about mahogany desks and marble floors when patient care is suffering because of inadequate staffing.
I recently retired from FMHHS after many years of service. As I sit here and read all the comments, I feel sick to my stomach. The FLOYD way as we were taught: doesn't make loyal employees retire, make units work short staffed and make employees fear for there jobs and future. Whats up administration? I have always been so very proud to have been a part of FLoyd but all this unrest makes me wonder about the future and the good name we have always had.
more and more acute paitents being sent to the floor. paitents that shoud be in ICU or PCU are being sent to MIPS due to lack of beds.
we do our best to provide optimim care to all our paitents. but when one paitent requires most of our time the rest suffer from neglect. add this to the lack of staff and you have chaos and potential danger to paitent safety. now the higher ups think we're over staffed and want to cut staff? why not rearrange this staff to move people to where they're needed? most would consider a transfer as opposed to being laid off or "retired".
I have worked at FMHHS for several years and I too am worrried about the future of this hospital. If job cuts need to be made I have a suggestion: Start from the top!
They don't care about anything but money! Hey Doctors they may even get rid of you too! They may just become one huge controlling HMO! I just wish everyone would use more of this negative energy towards patient care, because our patients are what truly matters at the end of the day! They will have to someday face the errors of their ways! Cheer up people it is the HOLIDAYS
Latest word is that FMHHS has sold the occupational health located on Grantline Rd. In addition, they are looking to close the Immediate Care Center in Floyds Knobs at Highlander Point. Now rumors are flying that the County may put the hospital up for sale.
And not only are "...rumors ...flying that the County may put the hospital up for sale," but I heard that the high bidder is a drug cartel from Columbia which intends to use the hospital building for a giant meth lab.
If we sell OCC health that hurts lab. We do all the drug screens. But that ok we prolly won't have a enough staff to even run them!!!
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