Success guaranteed
Although this cartoon is poking fun at the situation, the feelings of many people is that it accurately portrays the current environment.
Surgeons are making statements that with the current cuts in staff and scheduling difficulties, the administration is actually pushing the Medical Staff away.
Once these other facilities are completed, you can bet that many on the current staff will at least be trying these facilities to determine if they are more receptive and facilitating to the needs of physicians and our patients.
The costs to Floyd will be even greater as more competition means less revenue.
It is looking like a spiral staircase that only goes down!!
posted by Anonymous at 6:08 AM
20 Comments:
HB,
I certainly recognize your expertise when it comes to medicine. You also have additional insight for having served on the board. What specific steps would you recommend for reversing this downward spiral?
I am not trying to be argumentative or to set you up with this request. I really would like to know some specific ideas for going forward. My interest in your ideas is twofold. It is a classic business problem--how to handle declining revenues. Second, I live here. It is my hospital.
Thanks,
Mark
To IAMHOOSIER
My compliments to you. It was a pleasure to see a comment from one of the bloggers that comes across as a sincere desire to work together in solving this dilemma. It is with this approach that a solution can be accomplished.
Hats off to you! May others follow your lead.
Here are a few ideas that would be part of my plan if the finances continue to be on the downward trend.
Refocus our sights on the hospital (proper). This means to increase spending on those areas that actually generate revenue.
Increase surgery scheduling hours for the surgeons to make it easier to operate at all available times.
Increase cardiology scheduling times as well.
Fix the radiology problems that continually prevent the radiologists from maximizing their talents and efficiencies.
Since both of these areas will cost more, offset this with cuts in areas that are not considered to be “hospital” (proper)
Potential areas to be cut or eliminated include
The rehab floor which is not considered part of the hospital or hospital beds could be closed and those employees shifted to other areas. These beds could help with our diversion problem. These rehab services are offered by several other places including Southern. Ind. Rehab, Frazier and many nursing home facilities have rehab programs.
The Urgent Care centers that are not making money could be closed to eliminate the expenses associated. Those patients would continue to use their physicians and/or the ER for emergencies.
There are some administrative positions that could be eliminated (and I am not referring to CEO, CFO, COO) but 1 or 2 others that would save at least 3-4 nursing positions.
We could eliminate the home health program and allow the 6-10 other agencies who do this solely to take care of this service.
As you can see, none of these cuts would affect the operation of what most of us consider being the hospitals primary function. But it would trim many expenses until we become more financially solvent.
HB,
Thanks. Specifics were spot on to my question. I also liked and agree with the "hospital's primary function" comment.
Anon 11:25,
I am glad that my sincerity came across to you. However, I am afraid that Dr. Dan's office is now going to overloaded with patients suffering nausea. At least from people who have read my blogging for some time.
Mark
iamhoosier,
The other key area of concern and problem is the billing and collection service.
This has consistently had problems and there are numrerous examples of charges having to be written off because of failure to obtain insurance authorizations, coding problems, billing issues and collection practices.
Even if we fix the other areas, this has to change as well.
The last item that would need to be addressed is whether it is time to look at a new vendor for our group purchasing. We have been with VHA for years, but there are several others that may be able to offer us better value.
HB,
I know that much of this you have mentioned in other postings but I thought, perhaps, it would help to have these ideas in one "place" without some of the "personal" comments(from all sides). It helps me to focus on what could and/or should be done. That is more important than who is or is not doing "it".
Somewhat of a consensus needs to be reached on what needs to be done and I believe that it is the board's job. The board hires a CEO to implement their wishes, not the other way around.
That said, perhaps the board has reached a consensus and the CEO is implementing their wishes. I really don't know. Your ideas seem pretty logical.
Thanks again.
Speaking of spiral staircases...
I heard a rumor today and would like to know if anyone here can possibly verify it?
Is FMHHS actually "buying in" with the Kutz/Kleinert Hand Center in New Albany? Heard it was a 50% buy in or something?
Anyone heard this or is it just another awful rumor?
Actually it is true. Floyd has not made the announcement yet.
They are buying less than 50% and will not be the controlling partner.
They are basically buying this percentage of the surgical center here on grantline road.
This is in large part to a certain VP and a local attorney along with one of the physicians from K & K who worked very hard to get this deal done. We'll see who eventually gets the credit.
I'm going to change the subject.
No names, please, because I don't want to get this person in trouble, or make it sound like it's worse than it is, but ...
During the course of my recent visits to the hospital for tests, I came into contact with an employee who was perfectly fine, did what was supposed to be done, and as we neared the end of the session, asked me if I worked around here.
Simple conversation. The employee proceeded to ask if I went to church nearby, and when I begged off by responding that I'm unaffiliated, the employee asked, "but you are a believer, aren't you?"
Well, no. But Thomas Jefferson might have been on to something with that pantheist approach.
Doc, is this standard operating procedure for a visit for hospital services?
I have an evaluation form to fill out, one that I was assured would be read by a supervisor, but like I said, it doesn't seem like enough to make life hard for someone.
On the other hand, it didn't seem necessary, either, and struck m as invasive in a way that sports chat wouldn't have been.
Regarding: "Anyone heard this or is it just another awful rumor?"
What is so awful about partnering with one of the premier hand surgery groups in the country?
NA,
Would you want to know if an employee of yours was making customers uncomfortable? For whatever reason? It is then up to management to determine if the complaint is valid and what to do about it, if anything.
New Albanian:
If you EVER go in for a colonoscopy, and you are in the prep phase (before versed is given) PLEASE tell them you believe.
When they tell you "you're going to feel some pressue" you'll be glad you did.
You just don't need to tell them what it is you believe in...
You'll thank me later.
That should be "pressure"
NAC,
This is not a policy in any way at Floyd.
Most people in the healthcare field know from experience that a faith in God helps people through trying times.
Some people feel much more comfortable “evangelizing” and believe they are helping the individual.
I know your beliefs, but he/she did not. I am sorry if you were offended, but I would not apologize for the sincerity in the gesture.
If you are comfortable in your beliefs, there should be little discomfort when someone broaches this topic and you should just politely state your beliefs. If they persist after that, then I would certainly have a problem.
Sighhh.
Note that I stated not once, but twice, that I didn't want to see it be an issue, but that it seemed disconcerting in the context.
The employee doesn't have to apologize. Never suggested such.
With all due respect, asking me point blank if I'm a believer strikes me as unnecessary. I don't go around asking people if they're unbelievers, do I?
New here. Been readin for awhile though. I to would feel uncomrotable with someone asking if "I am believer", it is unprofesional at best.
Anyway. Just listening in. I left Floyd some time ago, and mostly because of one person. Many people before me, and since me (been lots of years ago!) left because of the same person. For several years this particular department had the hightest turnover rate in the hospital, probable still does. This director is incompitant and impossible to work for.
In the community, the reputation is even worse. It has been brought to the attention of admin. time and again, yet nothing is ever done. Why do we keep people like this??? People with HUGE salaries and miserable employees???
Regarding "incompitant"
It is probably a good idea to spell "incompetent" correctly when you are accusing someone of it.
Ha! that is bad. Just finished 2 huge papers this semester, spell check has ruined my ability to actually spell! Promise to do better. ;)
New Albanian, if you don't want to make an issue of it, why blog about it?
I would be lost without my faith.
Post a Comment
<< Home