Forrest General cut backs

[politically incorrect]

My father-in-law works for FGH in a non-medical job (don't want to be specific). His department was recently told they would be losing 16 hours of paid work per month, would not be getting any more raises at their evaluation time, and would lose hours of vacation time. Their insurance is also going up. What gives? The hospital can build a new building on every block in Hattiesburg it seems, but claims their finances are too bad to keep everyone working as they have been? The brass blames it on people who are uninsured and not paying their bills, but that sounds like baloney. I think they have bitten off more than they can chew with all of the projects they have going on. Anyone else heard anything?

[Booshay]

I'm sure that some legal brainiac out there will correct me if I'm wrong...but I don't think they can legally take away vacation time that an employee has earned. I'd be getting myself a lawyer if they try it.

[Pirate_129]

This post is rather ironic. My brother-in-law (works at FGH) and I were just standing around the grill and talking about the cuts at Forrest General. I tend to agree that they have jumped in the deep end with no floaties.

[petalgirl00]

I think it is common in the hospital world. My inlaws work at a hospital and sometimes their hours get reduced. Not right but what can you do. And this is a bigger hospital than FGH and Methodist put together.

[Booshay]

Having hours cut, not getting raises does suck big time and is legal...but I dont see how taking away someones earned vacation can be.

[Hermione]

Someone I know works at FGH occasionally as a contractor. Told me they were in fairly serious trouble. Thought some of the problem was not being reimbursed for indigent care, etc. They have to treat anybody who walks in the door, $$ or no $$. This is fourth hand.

[politically incorrect]

FGH is a county-owned hospital. It used to be called Forrest County General Hospital until about 20 or 25 years ago. They like to point out that they have been self-sufficient for X number of years, but never talk about how the county backs them up on bonds for all of their building projects. That is why they must treat anyone, regardless of ability to pay. They are backed up by our tax dollars. But, believe me, they hound the mess out of you if you fall even one month behind on making your payments.

[mac]

My husband works there. He said something about some big time grant money that didn't come through as expected.

[noway]

Talk like this happens every year around the start of the new fiscal year (oct).. What is hurting hospitals and ems providers is if someone dials 911 for service or walks into a hospital needing medical care they get it. People used to pay their bills now they don't. The wage wars with doctors, nurses, ambulance attendants etc.. have caused problems also. Example 2 people work on an ambulance the provider could pay $5 & $10 per hour now they have to pay $10 & $15 per hour to keep employees. Collecting bills from the hispanic community is impossible.

Just my thoughts and opinion.

[Conveyor Belt]

I'm with noway on this one. This happens all the time. I remember when I was younger, and my mother talking with us about it.. about hiring freezes, and salary caps, etc. She said that FGH did fine under Woodall, but he's dead now, and they're in trouble, again.

They can afford to lose a few people here and there. Anytime you see a group of employees just standing around chatting, or sitting there reading a book... someone needs to go home.

[lwood]

I'm with noway on this one. This happens all the time. I remember when I was younger, and my mother talking with us about it.. about hiring freezes, and salary caps, etc. She said that FGH did fine under Woodall, but he's dead now, and they're in trouble, again.

They can afford to lose a few people here and there. Anytime you see a group of employees just standing around chatting, or sitting there reading a book... someone needs to go home.

I worked at FGH for 6yrs and I do remember every now and then between patients getting a break to chat and sometimes read a book, not often but CB do you ever take a break at your job. I can guarantee you the nursing staff is so stretched to the limit that there are 8-10 patients to a nurse and that is dangerous, but in nursing it is that way everywhere. By law we are suppose to get a 15 min break in the morning and afternoon and a 30 minute lunch rarely is a lunch taken that is 20 minutes long and you must clock out for breaks and lunch on most floors.:confused:

If you want to know where the money is going look at administration.:smt103

[mac]

I also happen to know that in certain departments there is NO accountability. They have people who go outside for smoke breaks for at least 15 minutes out of every hour. Other people leave work to take care of personal business while on the clock and stay gone for two, three, four hours at a time. Nobody notices. Nobody who can do anything about it, anyway.

These particular things are probably not true of the nurses-- if one of them disappears, I imagine it ets noticed. It's happening elsewhere though. I can promise you that.

[Conveyor Belt]

I worked at FGH for 6yrs and I do remember every now and then between patients getting a break to chat and sometimes read a Ibook, not often but CB do you ever take a break at your job. I can guarantee you the nursing staff is so stretched to the limit that there are 8-10 patients to a nurse and that is dangerous, but in nursing it is that way everywhere. By law we are suppose to get a 15 min break in the morning and afternoon and a 30 minute lunch rarely is a lunch taken that is 20 minutes long and you must clock out for breaks and lunch on most floors.:confused:

If you want to know where the money is going look at administration.:smt103

I'm in no way speaking of nurses. Some positions need a little down time, not that I think nurses get any. I'm not talking about the random session. I'm talking about seeing a group of people gathered around something, talking about soap operas, going inside, coming out 3 hours later, and the same group of people haven't moved. Or going to visit a room, coming in and out periodically, and seeing the same group of people doing nothing but read the whole time.

I realize that some of the positions are only needed at certain times, and they may need someone there at sporadic times, but I think the money and labor could be managed better.

Accountability is an issue. Department managers need to be held accountable for the hours they're given, and a thorough review of how many hours are required should be done. It's like that in most service industry places.

I'm in no way referring to nurses. Most of my attention is attracted to the lower payed employees and the bureaucrats. Positions that are there that only work 9-5 M-F. Duplicate posts, etc.

[hereiam]

This is 3rd hand but I heard that several hospitals in MS were banking on grant money from Katrina so they started all kinds of improvement and expansion projects, but the grants didnt come through. I've heard that Wesley was sold 2 days ago. I'm sure the $$ problems will force management to do some eye opening.

[Guru]

I don't want to come over as flipping a stated obvious or two but reading along here two things just jump right out:

1- Country Wide lending just got in a squeeze by their own device, careless financials. They are surely on the verge of financial disaster as we speak. Hamstrung by bad administrative decisions. FGH similarity?
2- The percentage of people in America whether "visiting" here or those that live here not paying their bills is becoming larger exponentially, and at a fast rate.

* You can't take away earned benefits. You can change policy for the future.

[Kitty]

It seems to me the citizens of Forrest County could demand accountability at FGH. Isn't the FGH Board of Trustees supposed to be representing the interests of the county?

As far as cutting vacation time, I suspect this can be accomplished legally by amending the hospital's vacation policy to reduce the amount of time earned in a year, with an effective date of ____.

A policy that impacts time already earned would probably not be legal.

[petalmom]

I think that paid vacation is an employee benefit, not a legal right. Most companies of course provide it but they are not legally bound by any law to do so. I don't think it's illegal to take the benefit away.

[Guru]

Actually I think there is a little problem with the wage & hour board for taking away agreed upon benefits of this nature when it has been an earned item. I could be dead wrong on this but situations similar to this I have seen in years past have taken the direction of surrendering the earn, changing the policy and moving on from there.

A similar note: I was told yesterday that Covington County Hospital will now be run by a 3rd party company, can't remember their name but they have had an office in Magee for years and run large hospitals throughout the country. Terrible terrible administration problems there as most of you are aware of. Piss poor planning by administration, some but not all employees that think being on the payroll there is an entitlement and not a job - very sorry approach to service, etc.

[JimmyJam]

My wife works as a nurse at FGH. Most of what you have heard is true. Vacation time (called "Personal Time Off" at FGH) will accrue at a slower rate. Nurse hours have been cut, and they are already far understaffed and overworked. Insurance rates are increasing stupendously, and some departments are no longer going to have staff continuously on-site (that means that in the case of an emergency, you will have to wait for someone to be called in before you can be treated).

According to a meeting with the "superiors", the blame was laid on people not paying their bills, and an "expected" cut in Medicare/Medicaid payments for the upcoming year. However, none of the administrators offered to take a pay cut to help out. :laugh:

Of course, these types of cutbacks have occurred in the past, and usually continue only until someone who is "important" or related to someone "important" gets inadequate care. Then the hospital goes back to more reasonable operational procedures. But it sucks to see all the new construction going on, while the staff gets cut over and over again.

[Kitty]

. . .some departments are no longer going to have staff continuously on-site (that means that in the case of an emergency, you will have to wait for someone to be called in before you can be treated).

Surely those employees will be paid to be "on call."

However, none of the administrators offered to take a pay cut to help out. :laugh:

Leadership by example. Not!

[Pirate_129]

My wife works as a nurse at FGH. Most of what you have heard is true. Vacation time (called "Personal Time Off" at FGH) will accrue at a slower rate. Nurse hours have been cut, and they are already far understaffed and overworked. Insurance rates are increasing stupendously, and some departments are no longer going to have staff continuously on-site (that means that in the case of an emergency, you will have to wait for someone to be called in before you can be treated).

According to a meeting with the "superiors", the blame was laid on people not paying their bills, and an "expected" cut in Medicare/Medicaid payments for the upcoming year. However, none of the administrators offered to take a pay cut to help out. :laugh:

Of course, these types of cutbacks have occurred in the past, and usually continue only until someone who is "important" or related to someone "important" gets inadequate care. Then the hospital goes back to more reasonable operational procedures. But it sucks to see all the new construction going on, while the staff gets cut over and over again.

That is almost word for word what my brother-in-law said last night he was told. Sounds like FGH has the party line together. I think it was the renal floor was losing continuous on-site staffing.

[Booshay]

I think that paid vacation is an employee benefit, not a legal right. Most companies of course provide it but they are not legally bound by any law to do so. I don't think it's illegal to take the benefit away. My earlier comment to this was in regards to vacation time that was already earned. If it was already worked for then the employee should be allowed to use it. Now if a employer decides "after Jan 1st 2008....there will be nothing known as vacation time"....well thats understandable. I cant believe an employer would ever even consider not giving a employee vacation time...not a good way to build loyalty in your employees.

[Honey]

That is almost word for word what my brother-in-law said last night he was told. Sounds like FGH has the party line together. I think it was the renal floor was losing continuous on-site staffing.

Renal floor was my floor. Very busy floor to work. Very sick patients.

[countrygirl]

I would like to say to you nurses out there that at Forrest General, in my experiences, the nursing care is excellent when compared to some other hospitals even though you are overworked and understaffed. I know that at UMC, I used to get frustrated because they hired floor nurses right out of school and they were working with some of the sickest kids in the state. Not saying they were bad nurses, they just often didn't have the experience they needed.

[Honey]

My first day of work as a nurse I had my new scope, new white shoes, new pen and clipboard. I was going to heal the world and I clocked in and went to the floor to get my patients and I have you know I couldn't even spell my name let alone do anything else. It is very scary the first days. Makes you wonder, "What was I thinking?" FGH does have excellent nurses and I hate to see anything bad going on there. I think it is a great hospital.

[Bella]

There is also word of FGH not paying for their employees to use the YMCA. They have created a room inside the hospital for their employees to use. Now, I've heard this from several people but unsure if it's true. Has anyone else been told this?

Another employee told me that she felt like they were about to totally do away with her department. She has been employeed at FGH for twenty years. She feels that things are not looking good for her job.

[politically incorrect]

The men in my father-in-law's department are talking about just quitting en masse and walking out. The young ones can afford to do that, but my paw-in-law is too close to retirement. He will just have to stick it out.

[faithram521]

That is almost word for word what my brother-in-law said last night he was told. Sounds like FGH has the party line together. I think it was the renal floor was losing continuous on-site staffing.

This is what i have heard as well from an employee at FGH.

[Maggie-Doodle]

My first day of work as a nurse I had my new scope, new white shoes, new pen and clipboard. I was going to heal the world and I clocked in and went to the floor to get my patients and I have you know I couldn't even spell my name let alone do anything else. It is very scary the first days. Makes you wonder, "What was I thinking?" FGH does have excellent nurses and I hate to see anything bad going on there. I think it is a great hospital.

My family uses FGH and think it is the best in the state. We have always had excellent care while there. The nurses all seemed to be very well educated and experienced and was attentive to our needs. When cuts need to be made it should be from the top down most of the time...after all that is where the big salaries are going...just like at the city, the big shots get paid good $$$ and the little people get the shaft most of the time. Everyone seems to forget that it is the little people who do the majority of the work and get things done...they can make or break a company if they so desired, after all that is who the people deal with most of the time...not Mr. Oliver or whoever else is "in charge."

[endofthetrail]

I hate to be a wet blanket but when my wife went to FGH her first and only time she had a terrible time there. My father went to the ER where they put him in a wheelchair in the hall and did not pay any attention to him until an hour later when he had a stroke right there. Not the best hospital in town IMO.

[fuzzis]

There was an article in the LAT today about several *private* hospitals there facing funding crises. One of the things mentioned for the impeding doom was an increase in uninsured patients with an inability to pay their bills.

I know it's public versus private, but it's interesting that some of the same things are being said. I wonder what impact these things are going to have on the health care debate in the coming year.

[Guru]

Maybe this will usher in a return to the Community hospitals like there used to be.

[Hermione]

I hate to be a wet blanket but when my wife went to FGH her first and only time she had a terrible time there. My father went to the ER where they put him in a wheelchair in the hall and did not pay any attention to him until an hour later when he had a stroke right there. Not the best hospital in town IMO.

Over the past eight or nine years, each experience at FGH has been a little worse than the last. The nurses are obviously stretched way too thin. The only exception was cardiac care for my ex, and once when I went in very short of breath I was seen instantly. Other than those, it's been pathetic.

On the other hand, my mom badly needs to see somebody out at Wesley and probably to have surgery, and that doctor's practice won't take Medicare patients at all. Can hardly blame them, the reimbursement rate is a joke.

[Guru]

FG has had some life. I remember when it was the hottest thing going in town.
It seems to me they have been both blessed by the administration over the years and cursed at the same time.
The growth has been awesome to me just watching how much more and more real estate has been taken up by the hospital.
I guess all institutions hit and miss in organization, staffing during growth, keeping up with technology, etc. Maybe they need a weekend organizational meeting to step back, look at their big picture and get a plan; and maybe this is what they have been doing if large changes are now being seen.
On my part I have never seen FG being the leader in patient organization. Those that work there or have families there please don't take offense at that statement, I think it is a wonderful hospital and they have certainly put me back together there before and I am most grateful for that.
I just remember the times I have gone there looking for someone that had been admitted and admissions couldn't find them, for whatever reason.
I also remember the time they flew me in an emergency helicopter from way down the bayou to Hattiesburg, my Mother drove, and when she got there I was still sitting in the emergency room and not even admitted yet. This was quite some accomplishment considering everything inside me and outside me had been torn off or rearranged, I could barely sit in a chair. All my medical cards were in my hand and financed by a large global company so there was no worry about them getting paid.
Maybe these problems can be attended to, a nice central help desk run 24 hours a day by some very competent people would be an asset if there is some reorg going on.
Nurses, doctors and their support have always been good, just so overworked.
Quality control, that was what I was looking for.

An addendum: it's the customer / provider relationship in any public endeavor that needs to remain the focus. Growth is great, but you have to keep your eyes on the prize, what brought you there, what you are there for.

[Bella]

I've worked at both hospitals in the past (eleven years at FGH and 2 years at Wesley(Methodist at the time) and I think the care at FGH is excellent. Having worked in the ER, I do understand the wait times. During my years we easily saw 150 patients a day but today I think it's double. Even today, when I'm the one waiting in the lobby I still get crabby and wish they would hurry!! When you order lab and x-rays it takes time to get the results and then when traumas arrive, everyone else comes last. Once you do get to the treatment area I've always thought the staff was top notch.
I'ts hard to continue to run a facility when you have so many who don't pay or can't pay. You feel the crunch in every department.

[Kitty]

Bigger does not necessarily mean better.

Quantity does not necessarily mean quality.

[countrygirl]

I have a few questions: Who owns Forrest General? Does the county still support Forrest General to some extent? Does Hattiesburg Clinic own Forrest General?

[firefly]

My best friend's boyfriend works at FGH. I am not going to say which department. He is in his late 40's & is afraid that he is going to lose his job. I have to wonder if treating all of the illegal aliens has ALOT to do with FGH whining about not being paid! I find it a curious coincidence that they did not have this "problem" a few years ago, but now that we're being overrun with illegals... I was a cardiac nurse for 18 years & I know what I'm talking about when I say that a single nurse cannot adequately & SAFELY take care of 8-10 patients! Nursing is the LAST department that should be cut. There is way too much gravy floating around & that is where they need to start--at the top. The waaaay overpaid idiots that walk around with a coffee cup in their hands need to go!:smt009

[SoMissTV]

I have a few questions: Who owns Forrest General? Does the county still support Forrest General to some extent? Does Hattiesburg Clinic own Forrest General?

FGH is a county-owned facility. Hattiesburg Clinic is the doctors' association that provides medical services to the hospital. From what I hear, HC calls a lot of the shots at FGH. The county has not allocated funding to the hospital since its first year of operation.

The question I've always had is: If FGH is county-owned, why don't their hospital vehicles have county-issued license plates?

[RedRocker]

It's not required that an employer grant either vacation or sick time. These are incentives that are up to the individual employer. To tell an employee they have earned comp time and then to take it away ... I would think that could be something worth pursuing litigation over.

Breaks of any kind are not required by federal law for workers over the age of 16. Sounds harsh, but if you check http://www.dol.gov in the FAQ section, they clearly state that. We had a convenience store employee try to start something over her not getting breaks, and she was shot down cold. Funny thing about that ... convenience store clerks at all but the busiest stores sit on their butts most of the shift anyway these days. Dirty stores are a good clue ...

[r13]

I believe OSHAA requires a certain amount of break time for an 8 hr. day.

[firefly]

I believe OSHAA requires a certain amount of break time for an 8 hr. day. r13, I think that you're right about that.;)

[fuzzis]

I believe OSHAA requires a certain amount of break time for an 8 hr. day.

r13, I think that you're right about that.;)

As RR says, you're both wrong (http://www.dol.gov/dolfaq/go-dol-faq.asp?faqid=317&faqsub=Work+Hours&faqtop=Wages+%26+Work+Hours&topicid=1&lookfor=breaks).

[firefly]

Well, that is just inhumane to work people 8 hours without a break. Somebody need to change that!:smt103

[politically incorrect]

FGH is a county-owned facility. Hattiesburg Clinic is the doctors' association that provides medical services to the hospital. From what I hear, HC calls a lot of the shots at FGH. The county has not allocated funding to the hospital since its first year of operation.

The question I've always had is: If FGH is county-owned, why don't their hospital vehicles have county-issued license plates?

That is a good question. The Forrest County Board of Supervisors appoint the members of the hospital's board of directors. And, like I said earlier, the county backs up any bond issues the hospital uses to fund major projects. So, the county still has a large stake in the hospital, despite FGH's attempts to cover up that point.

[Kitty]

It sounds like FGH uses the "county connection" when it needs something from the county.

Like bonding for capital projects.

[countrygirl]

There were many days in teaching in MS when I didn't get any kind of break...

[bpitt]

I'm getting into this late in the game, but my oldest bro-in-law's wife is a nurse at FGH, and by what she says, they're already understaffed, I can't see how they gonna do cutbacks.......she already pulls extra shifts every now and then.......

[TheKing]

i think the break thing is a state law

youre supposed to get 15 minutes for every 2 hours worked

IANAL but im sure its state based.

[aaron]

i think the break thing is a state law

youre supposed to get 15 minutes for every 2 hours worked

IANAL but im sure its state based.

Nope, not required even if you work 12 hours.

[TheKing]

i decided to do some googling

sho nuff we arent in the list of states with this law

http://www.dol.gov/esa/programs/whd/state/rest.htm

edit: here is some forums dedicated to thsi very thing...mississippis section is linked because im cool like dat

http://www.laborlawtalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=73

[Guru]

Well, that is just inhumane to work people 8 hours without a break. Somebody need to change that!:smt103

* In conditions people do change that.
They hang around, don't get involved in the work, slack off every chance they can, then quit and move on as soon as they can find another job.

[metal protector]

I have been wanting to post something about FGH for months. It has been getting worse and worse. I was asked not to start anything though....:ohnoes:

Every business does a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. I don't understand how they could have come up with a budget for this year and say how they have the money to pay everyone's salaries and now at the end of the fiscal year they have no money left. Sounds to me like someone either does not know how to manage money or someone has been dipping in to the salary part of the budget.

I also heard that they just promoted someone to ANOTHER V.P. to go along with the other 7 that they already have, all making MEGA $$$$. If they can't afford to pay people their salaries, why are they promoting people to that kind of pay????????

I think management is a big factor for all the problems. I could go off on so many things

[BlueDogDemocrat]

Illegal Aliens.

[Guru]

I have been wanting to post something about FGH for months. It has been getting worse and worse. I was asked not to start anything though....:ohnoes:



I think management is a big factor for all the problems. I could go off on so many things

* Most corporations call that their GA cost. Don't ask what that stands for, I just can't remember at the moment.
Zero-Base is a financial management reorganization tool that I am very fond of and support.
A good example is this:
We want a tree-farm.
We need land.
We need a tractor and some implements.
..........
This continues with the grass roots needs to get the tree-farm to the point of collecting the first money for the endeavor and getting that money situated.
Very basic, very efficient.

[cubby 1]

I know there are shortages on the nursing staff... but it really looks to me like some folks just don't give a $#!T.

[RedRocker]

One thing alot of people don't know .. and I have heard people talk about this before, is if your employer offers you a break of between 5 and 20 minutes, it is considered conpensable work time and you are not required to clock out for it. Alot of employers rip their employees off by being such tightwads as to make them clock out for short breaks. Jerks. Lunch breaks, if offered, of 30 minutes or more are not covered by this, and they can require you to clock out for it. (Mine doesn't) :)

[politically incorrect]

The break thing is really not the worry with the men in the department in question. The loss of hours - pay - each month and the rise in insurance cost is.

I don't understand why the hospital does not simply pay for any treatments their employees receive from their doctors, or the doctors at Hattiesburg Clinic, instead of charging an arm and leg for health insurance. Wouldn't that be the better route?

[RedRocker]

Here's something that will shed a little light on the vacation/sick time issue discussed earlier. Bummer.
http://www.laborlawtalk.com/showthread.php?t=174546

[Pop]

WANTED

Nurses to work long hours with frequent mandatory overtime. Few holidays and weekends off. Must be able to keep massive amounts of paperwork up to date while making split-second, life or death decisions.

Must be immune to verbal abuse and able to neutralize the occasional physical assaults. Must display patience, kindness, understanding and caring even when your personal life is coming apart at the seams.......

Must Show no aversion to blood, vomit, oozing Infections or human body wastes. Salary In no way commensurate with knowledge and ability. Only those interested in dealing with depressing situations on a daily basis………....need to apply!

[EricStratton]

Sounds like hospital workers need to form a union.....

[cubby 1]

Sounds like hospital workers need to form a union.....

yeah, and add in the insurance that doctors and hospitals have to pay... a union might would help that situation.

[r13]

"Union" is definitely a word most employers do not like to hear...some may even consider the mentioning of it grounds for termination. But, sounds like a great idea ERIC! Could a county facility do this?

[MMA]

You are aware there is another hospital in Hattiesburg??

[birthdaybunnie]

OK, nurses are not the only vital part of the plan. Yes, they play a very important role...but just imagine if laundry, house-keeping or dietary shut down. A hospital is a group of individuals, educated through college and life. It takes every person to make a team, not just one group. Yes, I work in a hospital and I appreciate every person who contributes team-work.

[BlueDogDemocrat]

OK, nurses are not the only vital part of the plan. Yes, they play a very important role...but just imagine if laundry, house-keeping or dietary shut down. A hospital is a group of individuals, educated through college and life. It takes every person to make a team, not just one group. Yes, I work in a hospital and I appreciate every person who contributes team-work.

careful bunnie, in a not so nice way, I made the same argument about teachers--- they didn't like it one bit.

[BlueDogDemocrat]

Sounds like hospital workers need to form a union.....

Yeah, and when the go on strike, I hope they kill one of your loved ones and not mine. :)

[Hermione]

OK, nurses are not the only vital part of the plan. Yes, they play a very important role...but just imagine if laundry, house-keeping or dietary shut down. A hospital is a group of individuals, educated through college and life. It takes every person to make a team, not just one group. Yes, I work in a hospital and I appreciate every person who contributes team-work.

I used to work in a medical school and we would joke that the chairman of our department could be gone a month before we missed him, but if our custodian missed a day, people were upset! We were very, very good to her -- she had a hard miserable job.

[Honey]

Yeah, and when the go on strike, I hope they kill one of your loved ones and not mine. :)


Oh BluedogDemocrat-Wishing death upon someone's loved one is a very ugly thing to say. I would miss my loved ones the same as you would miss yours. Could you pick someone in your family that you would like to die right this minute? Then why would you hope someone else would lose one too. Cherish life not wish death. Death comes too fast as it is.

[RedRocker]

Could you pick someone in your family that you would like to die right this minute?

I can.

I can also hear Booshay chuckling.

[Fish-Bait]

Sub-contract......

[BlueDogDemocrat]

Oh BluedogDemocrat-Wishing death upon someone's loved one is a very ugly thing to say. I would miss my loved ones the same as you would miss yours. Could you pick someone in your family that you would like to die right this minute? Then why would you hope someone else would lose one too. Cherish life not wish death. Death comes too fast as it is.

Do you seriously think I was wishing death on his family? :bowrofl:

Ya'll come on, lighten up.

[birthdaybunnie]

I used to work in a medical school and we would joke that the chairman of our department could be gone a month before we missed him, but if our custodian missed a day, people were upset! We were very, very good to her -- she had a hard miserable job.

Lesson learned, never piss off your food server/preparers...make friends with them as well as the one who watches your well being and your parking place.

I find it sad that FGH as well as other hospitals in the area are facing this and that the employees have to suffer. Just remember if all of the employees do "a little bit" of reducing costs, then everyone keeps their jobs.

[TheCapitalist]

I would think a bluedogdemocrat would be union all the way!

[hereiam]

I LOVE unions!!! We need to make more! It would force administrators to think twice about those FAT paychecks because if the company isn't making it, their jobs are on the line.

[Kitty]

As Politically Incorrect noted (http://www.myhattiesburg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22787), MH started the discussion about FGH cutbacks, and now the HA has it as the front page story (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071006/NEWS01/710060305).

The accompanying StoryChat (http://forums.hattiesburgamerican.com/viewtopic.php?t=11599) includes a link to another forum in which the FGH cutbacks are being discussed.

Pretty interesting stuff.

[exBearingPointer]

At least you didn't get your raise taken away from you three days after receiving it.

Companies cut hours but whoever heard of getting your raise taken away?

http://bearingpointhattiesburg.blogspot.com/

[Conveyor Belt]

Yeah, unionization is the way to go... whatever. A union would do more harm to the level of healthcare in the facility. Want to talk about raising some prices? Get a union in there.

The issue at FGH is stictly a management, or lact thereof, issue. The management is fat and there's fat in the regular staff that needs to be cut. There are plenty of employees I've noticed on the clock who sit and read a novel for 8 hours. Or chat. and they're getting paid for it. not a good way to make money or keep a company profitable.

And I'm almost positive the cutbacks aren't going to involve critical care postions like nurses and doctors. most likely, it will involve secretaries and receptionists, and transporters and sanitation workers, etc. Positions that are lower on the skill level and easily replaced by someone at a lesser pay grade.

However, I'm a big fan of cutting fat away from the top first, before getting into the lower level fat. I think a good cleansing and good financial policy would go a long way at FGH.

[Kitty]

I think a good cleansing and good financial policy would go a long way at FGH.

Sounds like FGH needs an enema.

[CircusRide]

Yeah, unionization is the way to go... whatever. A union would do more harm to the level of healthcare in the facility. Want to talk about raising some prices? Get a union in there.

The issue at FGH is stictly a management, or lact thereof, issue. The management is fat and there's fat in the regular staff that needs to be cut. There are plenty of employees I've noticed on the clock who sit and read a novel for 8 hours. Or chat. and they're getting paid for it. not a good way to make money or keep a company profitable.

And I'm almost positive the cutbacks aren't going to involve critical care postions like nurses and doctors. most likely, it will involve secretaries and receptionists, and transporters and sanitation workers, etc. Positions that are lower on the skill level and easily replaced by someone at a lesser pay grade.

However, I'm a big fan of cutting fat away from the top first, before getting into the lower level fat. I think a good cleansing and good financial policy would go a long way at FGH.

You're wrong on both counts. The loss of funding from the state is the greatest contributor. FGH had problems before the funding shortage, which does indeed include too much mgmt. But with this huge loss in funding, nurses etc. are losing their jobs. FGH isn't the only hospital in MS that's cutting jobs now. The governor screwed MS healthcare.

[Fish-Bait]

Uncompensated Healthcare.....people ain't payin' their bills.

[Fish-Bait]

Also, those of us who do pay their bills get 8,465,321 phone calls a month saying we haven't even though the check is in the MAIL!!!! Then, even after the check clears and we fax it to em' showing them a guidline and spend countless hours proving that we, in fact, DID pay the dam bill, get another phone call the next day saying we haven't......DAMMIT!!!!!

[TheKing]

the healthcare industry is bloated beyond belief

the healthcare industry is proof that capitalism can run amuck

[Fish-Bait]

It's prolly due a good fart huh?

[CircusRide]

Uncompensated Healthcare.....people ain't payin' their bills.

Yep, and when your own state doesn't pony up the money they're allotted to cover part of these losses, the hospitals are stuck.

[Kitty]

It sounds to me like too many uninsured people are using the FGH emergency room as a free primary care facility, knowing the hospital cannot refuse them treatment.

It also sounds to me like the hospital's board of trustees and the Forrest County board of supervisors should step in and demand to know why the hospital is in its current financial situation.

[Fish-Bait]

It sounds to me like too many uninsured people are using the FGH emergency room as a free primary care facility, knowing the hospital cannot refuse them treatment.

It also sounds to me like the hospital's board of trustees and the Forrest County board of supervisors should step in and demand to know why the hospital is in its current financial situation.

The reason they are in it is because they didn't get grant money they were supposed too and people ain't payin' their bills.

[Kitty]

The reason they are in it is because they didn't get grant money they were supposed too. . .

Isn't that called counting your chickens before they are hatched?

[Fish-Bait]

Isn't that called counting your chickens before they are hatched?

Sorta' like predicted earnings.

[bpitt]

I pay my medical bills, what part the insurance doesn't pay. But, I've seen on SEVERAL occasions where I was billed for something, and paid it, and then they billed my insurance too! Talk about double dipping. But when we point it out to Hattiesburg Clinic or Forrest General, it's always, "No, we don't bill both of y'all." My ass!!

[CircusRide]

It sounds to me like too many uninsured people are using the FGH emergency room as a free primary care facility, knowing the hospital cannot refuse them treatment.

It also sounds to me like the hospital's board of trustees and the Forrest County board of supervisors should step in and demand to know why the hospital is in its current financial situation.

Once again, see the funding cuts by Haley Barbour. That is your funding shortage. In the case of one local hospital, it's a $10 million loss in funding. That's a lot of money. Because FGH is larger than the hospital I'm referring to, it's likely FGH took an even bigger hit.

[Honey]

It sounds to me like too many uninsured people are using the FGH emergency room as a free primary care facility, knowing the hospital cannot refuse them treatment.

I wonder if something like a 24 hour clinic that was located next to the hospital or perhaps within the hospital that tended to the needs of the uninsured would work. It would free up the ER for bigger emergencies. I'm talking about runny noses, minor cuts, sore throats and other such things. Even insured could use it also. It could be staffed by new doctors and new nurses, student nurses, and volunteers to keep the cost down. It could be overseen by FGH or HC. Kinda like a doctor's office but opened 24 hours because that seems to be a need of the community. Even retired nurses and doctors could volunteer to keep their license up. Just a thought I had. And if the need should arrise and a person needed a more detailed evaluation then FGH is right there on site. And then the ER staff could focus on real emergencies.

[TheKing]

It sounds to me like too many uninsured people are using the FGH emergency room as a free primary care facility, knowing the hospital cannot refuse them treatment.


is that being done because they just like to do things like that or because other, less expensive treatment options are being refused because of a lack of healthcare coverage?

in many ways...the healthcare industry is cannibalizing itself

[TheKing]

I wonder if something like a 24 hour clinic that was located next to the hospital or perhaps within the hospital that tended to the needs of the uninsured would work. It would free up the ER for bigger emergencies. I'm talking about runny noses, minor cuts, sore throats and other such things. Even insured could use it also. It could be staffed by new doctors and new nurses, student nurses, and volunteers to keep the cost down. It could be overseen by FGH or HC. Kinda like a doctor's office but opened 24 hours because that seems to be a need of the community. Even retired nurses and doctors could volunteer to keep their license up. Just a thought I had. And if the need should arrise and a person needed a more detailed evaluation then FGH is right there on site. And then the ER staff could focus on real emergencies.

that would require kindhearted people...theres a shortage of that these days

[CircusRide]

is that being done because they just like to do things like that or because other, less expensive treatment options are being refused because of a lack of healthcare coverage?

in many ways...the healthcare industry is cannibalizing itself

The healthcare industry is not the insurance industry. Hospitals have no choice but to see each patient.

[Fish-Bait]

The healthcare industry is not the insurance industry. Hospitals have no choice but to see each patient.

From what I understand not all hospitals are that way. I heard that Wesley will turn you away w/o insurance. Will someone confirm this for me?

[CircusRide]

I wonder if something like a 24 hour clinic that was located next to the hospital or perhaps within the hospital that tended to the needs of the uninsured would work. It would free up the ER for bigger emergencies. I'm talking about runny noses, minor cuts, sore throats and other such things. Even insured could use it also. It could be staffed by new doctors and new nurses, student nurses, and volunteers to keep the cost down. It could be overseen by FGH or HC. Kinda like a doctor's office but opened 24 hours because that seems to be a need of the community. Even retired nurses and doctors could volunteer to keep their license up. Just a thought I had. And if the need should arrise and a person needed a more detailed evaluation then FGH is right there on site. And then the ER staff could focus on real emergencies.

There would still be overhead/expenses involved and no one to pay for them.

[CircusRide]

From what I understand not all hospitals are that way. I heard that Wesley will turn you away w/o insurance. Will someone confirm this for me?

You're either a "for profit hospital" or a "not for profit hospital". Wesley is a "for profit hospital".

[Fish-Bait]

You're either a "for profit hospital" or a "not for profit hospital". Wesley is a "for profit hospital".

Being for profit means.....turn yo' butt around if'n you ain't got no insurance....we only take visa or mastercard..?

[Honey]

There would still be overhead/expenses involved and no one to pay for them.

But the write off would be smaller.