June Meeting
Several people aske me about the Medical Staff meeting on Tuesday and there were some comments from readers about it.
It is true that the CEO gave brief report on the financial situation and did mention the audit was completed and accepted by the Board. He did not elaborate any further until questioned about more specifics.
The CEO didn’t hesitate to mention that the financials for May were improved over the prior few months. This should not come as a surprise with the tremendous slashing of employee hours and other major cutbacks implemented since the $11.5 million dollar mistake.
The issue on the audit was discussed in the April Medical Staff meeting and we were told by the CEO “current results will be available in May." Since the results were completed, and the CEO failed to give us any information, I specifically asked him to give the Medical Staff the results.
When specifically questioned on the “results”, the CEO stated that they were accepted by the Board but not yet approved because they were being sent to the State Board of Accounts and the “Chairman” did not want the results released at this time. (certainly made many of the staff wonder about the results)
A follow-up question was asked about the Bond Rating review that many of us were led to believe was also going to be reevaluated in June for possible revision. Our current rating is an A minus by Standard and Poor. The CEO stated at the meeting that this was not an official review of our rating and he did not expect any revision.
I understand everyone’s confusion because many physicians, staff and Board members were led to believe that one of the main reasons for all the financial cuts and changes was because of the potential for a rating adjustment in June by Standard and Poor.
The Medical Staff received little more information than the Tribune reporter who tried attending the last Board meeting.
It is true that the CEO gave brief report on the financial situation and did mention the audit was completed and accepted by the Board. He did not elaborate any further until questioned about more specifics.
The CEO didn’t hesitate to mention that the financials for May were improved over the prior few months. This should not come as a surprise with the tremendous slashing of employee hours and other major cutbacks implemented since the $11.5 million dollar mistake.
The issue on the audit was discussed in the April Medical Staff meeting and we were told by the CEO “current results will be available in May." Since the results were completed, and the CEO failed to give us any information, I specifically asked him to give the Medical Staff the results.
When specifically questioned on the “results”, the CEO stated that they were accepted by the Board but not yet approved because they were being sent to the State Board of Accounts and the “Chairman” did not want the results released at this time. (certainly made many of the staff wonder about the results)
A follow-up question was asked about the Bond Rating review that many of us were led to believe was also going to be reevaluated in June for possible revision. Our current rating is an A minus by Standard and Poor. The CEO stated at the meeting that this was not an official review of our rating and he did not expect any revision.
I understand everyone’s confusion because many physicians, staff and Board members were led to believe that one of the main reasons for all the financial cuts and changes was because of the potential for a rating adjustment in June by Standard and Poor.
The Medical Staff received little more information than the Tribune reporter who tried attending the last Board meeting.
posted by Anonymous at 5:58 AM
21 Comments:
Why don’t you take up your concerns with the board chairman instead of spreading innuendo and unfounded suspicion on this blog? Based on his resume, the chairman would seem to have a strong background in financial matters. Since the CEO stated that his silence on the audit was at the request of Mr. Miles, shouldn’t you ask him the reason before jumping to the conclusion that the CEO is engaged in a cover up?
You keep saying that you respect and have confidence in Mr. Miles, but your actions seem to say just the opposite. By failing to allow him (and the board) to handle matters in an organized and methodical way, you would lead your readers to believe that he is either a partner in a cover up or that he is incompetent to stop it.
As others have pointed out in the past, you really don't seem to understand how to work effectively within organizations. Questioning board members integrity and undermining the board chairman hardly seems like a good way to get people to see your point of view.
Thanks Dan,
Your fellow physicians do appreciate your efforts and feel bad about the ridicule you have endured.
You have made significant improvements and changes. As you know, most of your colleagues are just fed up with the administration and have basically just given up.
Your efforts do not go unnoticed. The minutes were very clear in that we were supposed to have been given the results on the audit.
It would have been swept under the rug (again) without your direct questioning.
This is a county owned hospital and this should be public information. Someone is hiding something. The question is why!!
Since you are speaaking for HB's "fellow physicians", it might be a good idea to identify yourself--otherwise, it looks like "someone is hiding something." Why?
With the meeting minutes stating the results would be available in May, the burden of communication fell on the CEO.
He should have communicated this information without having to be questioned. Since he chose not to, you would have to wonder especially in light of all the other problems. Where there is smoke, there is fire.
I find it amazing that someone critisizes HB continuously stating he doesn't work effectively within the organization with no knowledge of what happens in meetings, correspondence etc.
In failing organizations with failing leadership, there is sometimes no effective way to work until the leadership is changed.
That appears to be the case here.
Still waiting to understand why these questions aren't put to the board chair--he, and the board, are the CEO's boss. Absent that, it sure looks like rabble-rousing rather than fact-finding.
There are many physicians that unlike Dan do not have the broad shoulders to take the continuous unfounded abuse.
There are others of us whose schedules and procedures can be made much more difficult when you speak out against the administration.
For these reasons I will remain unnamed.
To answer the question, the Board Chair was not at the meeting and the CEO is the appointed representative. It was his responsibility.
By the way, why don't you ask Mr. Miles about some of the physician meetings he has held and ask if there is a common theme. We already know the answer.
Has this blog outlived its usefulness?
Over the years I have been in many meetings with Dan...maybe as many as anyone else. He conducts himself in a professional, gracious manner...until he doesn't get his way. Then it is almost comical the way his jaw tightens up and the veins in his neck begin to bulge. He has a very poor ability to handle dissent and very frequently attacks the motives or intelligence of the dissenter rather than the merits of the dissent. Let's not confuse Dan with Mother Teresa. He has agendas of his own carries biases just like everyone else.
I too have worked with Dan and have known him since he worked in Environmental services in the 1970's.
I have also been with him in numerous meetings and wholeheartily disagree with the previous comment. He conducts himself professionally and takes disagreement very well.
It is the administration that is always unwilling to hear any bad news or complaints of any kind.
They only listen and only respond when items are pushed to the very edge. That is why most things never get addressed or fixed.
I'd say everyone has an agenda. Dr. Dan's just happens to be to improve Floyd.
Why doesn't anyone address the real topic of this post. The topic is not HB and whether he does or does not work effectively at meetings, but rather why the CEO chose to not share the information when it was obviously a f/u item from a previous meeting.
This is a county hospital and the Chairman nor the CEO should be withholding information about the financial situation of the hospital. This is public information.
It appears the CEO is finding reasons to delay disclosing the financials at long as possible until the current month-to-month results show improvement. Then he can focus on that, and soft-peddle the dismal past results.
OFF with their heads( CEO)!!
Let's be realistic and logical here. Everyone is human and as such is subject to emotions. Neither Dr. Dan or the CEO is an exception. I suspect there is a middle road. At times Dr. Dan goes overboard and sometimes the CEO does.
But if we focus on the real issue which is the state of the hospital, we must admit that something is drastically wrong. I ask that we get answers to that and leave personalities out of it.
This is a county owned hospital and therefore we should be informed about its liability. After all, we are untimately responsible for its survival and the bill. I know that much info is withheld from the public due to competition with other hospitals, but sometimes I also think that is just an excuse not to reveal to the public the true state of the facility.
Why doesn't the commissioners get more publicly involved. I know they think they have served their responsibility by appointing the board and therefore are not obligated to get involved. But since the hospital is in such a mess, are they not being delerect in their duties as our county leaders?
last posting had grammatical errors.
Third paragraph, Third line, the word is: "ultimatley responsible for its survival."
Last paragraph, last sentence the word is: "derelect in their duties".
too much of a hurry.
I find it interesting, all this talk about the audit and bond ratings. It's true Mr. Hanson is worried about the Bond Rating, why shouldn't he be. There haven’t been any sound or believable numbers from the Finance Department in a number of years. It has always amazed me that a CEO can put such blind faith in a CFO and not questions the numbers when they were clearly out of normal ranges for an Organization our size. Members of Management Council have questioned the validity of the monthly reports for years. When you ask a question or challenge a number with the Finance Department, all you get is a lot of double talk and no straight answers. Ask any of the Service Departments how volume statistics can be quoted as low when everyone in that particular department is working their tail off to keep up? Controls, accountability, discipline, aren’t these the responsibility of the Finance Department to train the Organization on these principles? Most organizations I am familiar with insist on this in order to produce monthly financial statements for each department. By doing so, not only is Finance aware of the financial condition of the organization, so are the members of the management team that is responsible for running their departments in an efficient manner. The prior CFO did not have the ability to create such an environment. He was so wrapped up in micro managing everyone in all of his departments, he didn’t have time, or the ability, to concentrate what should have been done. I have been in meetings with him when he was asked these types of questions and the response was always the same, a shrug of the shoulders. That’s a confidence builder!
As long as we are talking about the financial condition of the Hospital, can someone tell me why the CEO feels that the Director of Finance is deserving of a bonus because of the hours she has put in during her interim CFO stint? I personally know of a number of members of Management Council that work just as many hours and they didn’t see any bonus last year, much less this year. If anything, the Director of Finance is just as incompetent as the prior CFO. If she isn’t that incompetent, then why did she allow the strange bookkeeping methods to continue for all those years? Members of her staff have questioned that in private conversations and I know of a couple of Associates that quit because of it.
One of the many reasons Mr. Hanson is having a difficult time these days is due to his lack of understanding on how to build a team environment. One of the biggest complaints you here in the halls of the Hospital are that Administration does not WALK the TALK. The Care and Serve principles do not apply to them! Team building between Associates, Departments, Physicians, AND Administration is going to be a requirement in order for our Hospital to survive in these troubled times in Healthcare. Wish us luck!
Why is anyone getting a bonus?
HB, you should do what you deem to do best, take care of your patients. The Administration and Hospital Board has a job to do and you should let them do it. If and when something or someone at the hospital infringes on your ability to serve your patients, then you might have a legitimate gripe. I respect your ability as a Physician but you also must remember you are not here to save the world. I cannot understand why you feel that you must question everyones motives, as they are trying to do what they have been hired to do. I certainly hope you put as much effort in taking care of patients, as you do in complaining about FMH.
Now we know why Dr. Dan feels he has a gripe. When he went from Environmental services in the 1970's to putting Dr. before his name I bet he thought that put him at the top of the ladder. I think he forgot it gave him the right to administer to patients not a hospital.
Are you kidding me? Comparing Dr. Dan to Mr. Hanson is nuts. Yes, we all have our agendas but most of us do not cost Floyd county 12 million dollars!
I read with interest everyone's comments both positive and negative regarding Dr.Dan. I worked with him from the time he was an orderly until I retired recently. I am sure he had nothing but the best interest of the hospital in mind when he questions certain practices of the current administration. I am confident that he realizes his main concern is the welfare of his patients but for those of you know don't realize it.....the condition of the hospital and its employee have a direct influence on his patients. As a former long term employee, employee satisfaction and faith in the administration is so very important to most employees and is reflected I feel sure in patient care. It doesn't take a "rocket" scientist to know that something is really wrong when a hospital looses that much money. Now who is to blame I am not the one to say but the cause and proposed solution should certainly be made public. I am sure Dr.Dan wants Floyd to be successful and continue to be a major factor in the healthcare of southern Indiana.
Are the bonuses awarded by the number of hours worked? (That sounds like another statistic from finance, like the labor statistic.) When is the CEO going to stop believing the fallacies and fiction generated from the basement? A vote of no confidence and a clean slate are in order. We have a new CFO, let's get a new Director of Finance. It's time to move forward and leave the past behind. Everyone needs to be held accountable for their decisions, and leadership needs to hold them accountable. If they cannot do so, it is time to leave.
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