Danville Register & Bee
Thursday, May 31, 2007
DANVILLE - Portions of Danville Regional Medical Center’s Joint Commission evaluation were unveiled to area business leaders Wednesday, but the complete results have not been made public.
The hospital received a “preliminary denial of accreditation” from the national health care accreditation organization in March.
Art Doloresco, CEO of Danville Regional Medical Center, presented the results of the survey Wednesday morning at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast.
Doloresco, however, would not allow members of the media to have a copy of the presentation and did not want it to be recorded by radio station WBTM.
“This is only the second time in the United States that a hospital has revealed a Joint Commission decision,” he said. “This is a unique opportunity for businesses to take a look.”
He explained that the Joint Commission’s scoring was based on the number of standards with which hospitals are not in compliance.
“There are more than 500 standards and we have 21 of those not in compliance,” he said.
There were 22 RFIs, “Required for Improvements,” but the hospital successfully appealed one.
The areas the commission cited as needing improvement include home health, medical staff, nursing, data tracking, pharmacy and leadership.
Doloresco said the hospital is not only scored on compliance but on how long it has been compliant.
“You could be doing the right thing, but not doing it long enough,” he said. “For example, last August there were 180 patient restraint situations a month. Now we are having less than 30 patient restraint encounters a month, but when the Joint Commission was here, it was one of the 21 RFIs because (the decrease) had been less than six months.”
The survey uses a method known as “tracer methodology” that gives the commission a view of a patient’s stay in the hospital from the minute the patient enters to when he leaves and scores how the hospital processes functioned during that stay.
Nurse to patient ratio is not one of the areas scored, Doloresco said.
“We have sent an eight-page letter to the commission with an explanation of mitigating circumstances,” he said.
The commission will meet on June 14 and issue a decision the next day. The hospital could be moved from preliminary to full denial, conditional accreditation or full accreditation, according to Doloresco.
He said the hospital expects it will be conditionally accredited. Even if accreditation is denied, however, there is still an appeals process available.
With conditional accreditation, the commission will return in six months for another full survey.
“The Joint Commission doesn’t exist to put the hospital out of business but to raise the bar,” he said, adding that the commission has “really raised the bar” and the survey isn’t the same as the one the hospital passed before.
Doloresco said the hospital is in the process of recruiting someone whose only job will be to keep the hospital up to date on accreditation requirements.
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60 comments:
"Other problems included...the credentialing of physicians."
Wasn't there someone whose job this was who got laid off?
Yeah, she was part of that "waste around every corner" we keep hearing about.
I know for a fact that this person resigned. She told me so herself.
Didn't she resign after being placed in the pool?
Here's a second fine letter from today's Chatham paper. Mr. Casper is highly respected, and we should all be grateful for his efforts to help with this situation:
TO THE EDITOR:
I have been reading all of the letters concerning Danville Regional Medical Center.
It seems the letter written by Mark Percario struck a nerve with some readers.
I do not know Mr. Percario, but I would assume from the letter that if you read between the lines Mr. Percario has other issues with Supervisor Harville.
I think what irritated me most about the letter is that it was signed as president of Combustion Technologies as if that made it more important. I had to Google it to see what it was.
With that said, the issue at hand is we have a community that is being forced to deal with a failing hospital operated by a profit-grabbing company that has no interest in making the hospital a better medical facility.
As a long-time EMS provider in the county, I see how residents in the northern half of the county choose Lynchburg over Danville most of the time for their hospital needs.
As an EMS provider, I do not blame them as I choose Lynchburg for my medical needs for the same reasons they do.
It seems to me that attempting to get LifePoint to change is a waste of time.
If the citizens are really concerned about having a quality medical facility in the Danville area, they need to focus on replacing Danville Regional Medical Center, not getting LifePoint to fix it because that is not going to happen.
In closing, I say thanks to Supervisor Harville for his concern for our community and keep up the good work.
Alan Casper
Long Island
No, she did not resign as a result of being placed in the pool. She worked a two week notice.
Good, thats one less strike against them.
So clarify....she left on her own, or the position was eliminated?
If the position was eliminated, then the lack of planning line of thought stands.
She told me that she was leaving to stay at home and be a full time mom.
Either way, she left and wasn't replaced in time to get credentialing handled prior to inspection.
PPPPPP
Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance
There were 2 people in the Credentialing office. One retired in July 05 and the other took her position without the 2nd position being replaced. One person carried the office for a year until it had backed up and her multiple requests for assistance was denied. She finally gave up, due to her feelings of hoplessness and lack of support, to be a full time stay at home mom. (She gave up her career because LifePoint wouldn't listen to her...don't you think they should listen to the person doing that job when they say they need help??...This is where that worker harder, for less money and with less resources comes in) Then they had someone else come in for a short time and leave. There is someone in that position now but there was a lag between the time she got there and the time that the last person left. The problem with credentialing when Joint Commission came was that there were 2 full time people down to 1, then down to 0, then back up to 1. This is where LifePoint's lack of planning comes in. They knew that this was an issue that would be a Joint Commission RFI if it was behind and they still refused to listen.
The credentialing person was never put "in the pool"
We already clarified that.
So how many people are still in Medical Affairs that were there when Lifepoint acquired DRMC? Anyone?
I think it would be valuable to compile a list of dept.'s with how many left and how many have been hired to get an accurate picture of exactly how staffing has truly changed. I imagine lfpt has this info. but doubt they would share it. Is there a way to do this on here? I don't work there so have no clue as to the # of departments or personnel changes but deel like it would be an important statistic.
Old news maybe, but I just returned from Moses Cone where I had some work done that came in at around $5000. I'm fortunate to have excellent insurance coverage. I've got to tell you, Moses Cone is a superior medical facility in every sense. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
We don't know about Moses Cone, but my family has discovered Centra Health in Lynchburg. It's like we've died and gone to heaven. The place is sparkling clean and everyone we've encountered on the staff has been informative and cheerful. We first went when Duke pulled out of Danville and my dad needed attention. I do not know how you could find a better heart program. And now my mom has been treated there, as well as my husband. Thank the good Lord that we have community-run facilities like this within easy reach. I have two good friends who work at Danville Regional, and it is agonizing to hear their reports. We should keep all the employees who are still there in our prayers.
A Blairs Family
You are being selfish. Every time you go to Centra or Moses Cone, you are driving a nail in the coffin of Danville Regional. If others followed your lead, we would be left with all the non-payers, and soon enough destroyed. No medical care and no jobs. That's what your selfishness will get us.
Now, just who is being selfish?
And I guess you wouldn't drive to Reidsville, Chatham, Greensboro or Lynchburg to buy furniture, cars, appliances etc. if the businesses in those towns had better deals or better service? People do it all the time. Except for emergencies healthcare is no different. Other than a new home, you will probably spend more on healthcare than anything else in your life. If a doctor is not doing things the way you want or feel right about you have every right to go somewhere else, just like you would with an auto mechanic.
The difference is your health and well being should be infinitely more important than your posessions. It's all about relationships, confidence and being treated well.
Point being, some healthcare providers have learned it is still a "customer/provider" relationship and if you don't feel comfortable with the way you are being treated you SHOULD go somewhere else.
We should all try to do what is necessary to keep a strong healthcare facility here, but to have heart treatments at what you view as a lesser facility just to bolster that facility is insane. You surely wouldn't take your car to a local mechanic just to keep him in business if another mechanic a few miles away had a better shop, better reputaion, a treated you better.
Guess what DRMC is now a for profit business, not a community owned and operated agency. Its up to Lifepoint to sell themselves to their customers, not the customers responsibility to fix whats wrong. If Lowes sales drop they do what is necessary to bring customers back in, they don't say "The community owes us so you guys get back in here and buy what we have for what we want to charge, your not allowed to get a better deal or better products somewhere else.
Isn't that exactly why so many have been screaming to go back to a community owned non-profit?
Actually if they can't get their act together what should happen is a group of docs should open a surgical/recovery center and an ED clinic. Then we'd have emergencies taken care of....all others could transfer to Centra or Moses Cone for routine procedures.
I agree, it is absolutely insane to patronize Danville Regional/LifePoint in order to support a crass, profit-making crowd from out of town. Only idiots would set foot in the place.
The newspaper has an article in it today urging people to go the DRMC and states that we should give patients baths if the staff can't do it. I guess we need to clean up the vomit and blood also.
Have people around here just plumb lost their minds?
I don't think its ridiculous to set foot in the place IF you feel comfortable with it. I do think its INSANE to say we should choose it just to support the community.
Like was said earlier, we have choices and it's Lifepoints responsibility to sell us on the place.
If the way they treat their employees is any indication, I'm not sold. I trust the Doctors and nurses there, I just don't yet trust Lifepoint to give them everything they need to be as good as they can.
I also don't like the idea of sending my money to Brentwood. I would much rather it go to a non-profit that was going to spend it to pay the employees better, buy quality supplies, and provide more services even if it means I have to drive a short way to do it. At least if I spend my (or my insurers) money at one of the non-profits I'll know if I ever go back I'll reap some of the benefits.
Why should anyone deny Lifepoint the opportunity to be a good, local corporate citizen. Dan River Mills is the best thing that ever happened to our city. They paid fair wages and they were good citizens. They were for-profit, and they had stockholders. And the community supported them.
What's the difference. We need to give Lifepoint a chance.
How do you compare LifePoint and Dan River Mills? Obviously, you have missed the whole point and do not have family employed by LifePoint (DRMC) or have had an ill family member or loved one in the hospital lately.
What you are not getting is that we must support this hospital. Stop and think about this one small moment. DRMC is the second largest employer in town. I would bet those associated with DRMC, to include physicians and other health care professionals are some of the highest earning incomes in this area. These people spend money in this area. These people buy homes in this area. These people pay property taxes in this area.
There are over 1500 people who bring home paychecks from this business. And I dare say 500 more individuals who have paychecks directly related to the fact this hospital exists.
If you don't think it is not important to support this hospital then you have not thought of the implications it's absence would have to this city, county and your own life.
Local healthcare options are attractive to industry something we need in this vicinity badly.
Working to solve the problems is what we need to do. Continuous whining, complaining and "sticking it to LifePoint" will only hurt you if not directly then indirectly.
I don't think taking business elsewhere necessarily dooms a business to shut down. Many cities have Lowes stores, when Home Depot comes to town, those stores don't shut down, they just get more competitive.
Thats part of the problem, Lifepoint has a history of buying "captive" markets, they said so themselves. When you are the only game in town, you can do whatever the hell you want.
Problem is Danville was not a "captive" market and they came in running the hospital like it was.
Like it was said earlier if you are comfrotable being treated there, or taking your kids there, by all means do. I would just rather my business go to a facility that was going to keep the profits local.
Imagine if you will, 2 doctors in Danville. You are going to have surgery and followup treatments by one of them.
Dr. "A" has a good reputation, a nice clean office, helpful friendly staff and is well known in the community.
Dr. "B" has an equally good reputation, not so nice an office and is understaffed where the nurses and techs are rushed, overworked, and don't spend much time with you, and he spends his evenings and weekends in Charlotte.
Which are you going to choose?
Dr. "B" just to make sure he stays in business?
Not unless your an idiot. So what will eventually happen? Either Dr. "B" will get his act together to compete, or he'll move to another area and a new doctor will move in.
I'm not advocating boycotting DRMC, just saying its a business now. Not our responsibility to accept less than the best or to fix THEIR problems. It is incumbant upon the business owner to convince people to shop there not the customers responsibilty to keep going there hoping he'll be a better businessman one day.
Lifepoint has had a long time to listen and respond and admittedly derve a chance to right their many wrongs, just not on my dime while I accept less than what else is available.
Unethical corporations must be removed.Supporting millionaires with narcissistic attitudes is foolish. The City and State must provide for healthcare in a given area. If Lifepoint goes under, good riddance . They are a disgrace to healthcare in every sense of the word . I am tired of killing myself every day to take care of patients,be "in charge" and answer phones at the same time. You cannot effectively take care of SICK patients and assist other RN's due to no CNA's, assist other floors ,schedule, and take care of your own patients without risking someone's life and the FACT is these situations DID NOT occur brfore Lifepoint.
As far as the hospital attracting industry : Before Lifepoint No doubt-FULLY accredited with a Duke AFFILIATED heart program.
After Lifepoint NO Accreditation
NO affiliation and a crippled heart program.So what if Lifepoint goes bankrupt in Danville,the worst that would happen the City could petition for urgent care the Doctors and associates and community could contribute LIKE Before and it would take awhile but It would again be NON profit and community owned. Many large cities maintain NON profit hospitals. ( and Dan River DID NOT pay a fair wage a fact is Dan River kept Danville from growing due to saying that they owned the Dan River and wouldn't allow other businesses any use of the water, FACT.)
One can support the community and support the hospital by working to repair the problems not just complain and blame. What are doing to make it better?
I've patronized danville colleges while everyone else just HAD to go to others.I stayed while others left I've volunteered for the public safety for YEARS with no pay and no reward in the dark and in the cold I've served on boards and committees to improve the safety and health of this city/county only to see it sold out to a bunch of money grabbers.
This board has seen this idiotic "what have you done" post over and over, ENOUGH, I and others were born here graduated here and worked here and helped try to grow this city, not by hollow words from those like the BATB but by work and patronage.
And you better believe Lifepoint is putting blame on any nurse or others that they can.
Every "O" there has said " Well I've only been here a few days",They were obviously a marker for Lifepoints philosophy,"Don't do your homework before the test"as they knew NOTHING about Danville. And don't issue the Danville lied crap,If you make a purchase this large you had better do independant research.
Oh and I cannot rid the smell of crap that I didn't stir up.
"One can support the community and support the hospital by working to repair the problems not just complain and blame. What are doing to make it better?"
First, Amen to the last post. I too have volunteered 1,000's of hours to this community.
Second, How can I repair the problems? And what are you doing besides saying "Lets all work together"? I do not work at DRMC yet I have family and friends that do and did. Our citizens who don't work there are at a loss to do anything...oh we have voiced our opinions loud and clear to no avail. I know DRMC needs our support, but much like previous posts I refuse to cow tow to the "o"'s at Lifepoint so long as there is a better option. Except for refusing to give them my business (which happens to be the only thing they are truly interested in) I can do no more.
And to the poster who was exhorting the benefit of 1500 jobs, you are right in a sense but we have survived the closing of Dan River which employed way more than 1500. We survived the closing of Dimon. We survived strikes at Goodyear. We will survive more cut backs at DRMC. The question is will they? And if they don't, that building would be readily filled by a more capable hospital group.
So quit with all of the "What have you done"? and "We can all work together" comments. It was best said in an earlier post....
"Its up to Lifepoint to sell themselves to their customers, not the customers responsibility to fix whats wrong."
And as for the post about Dan River Mills who said.
" They were for-profit, and they had stockholders. And the community supported them."
True we supported them, by working for them and buying some of their products. I never recall them asking us to accept inferior products. I also believe none of our forefathers donated money to build their buildings and get them started. They were a true for-profit company that lived and died by the quality of their product and workforce. And before anyone says it yes they whined and complained about imports. But like a true for-profit they did what they could to compete until they couldn't anymore.
Danville Register and Bee
June 1, 2007
DANVILLE -- The Danville Regional Foundation has hired a Statesville, N.C. native to serve as its new president and CEO. Karl Stauber will start managing the $200 million foundation on August 1.
Stauber has previously worked as president and CEO of the Northwest Area Foundation. This St. Paul, Minn.-based foundation has assets totalling $500 million.
Read a copy of Saturday's Register & Bee for more information about Stauber and what foundation officials think he could do for the general community.
Question: If the boys at the bank are so smart and community minded, why are they spending money to hire someone to run the foundation? Wouldn't it be better if they volunteered "in the spirit of community" to do this? Or have they been being paid to spend the money they so eloquently took from us and appointed themselves guardians over? I can't wait to hear them finally speak.
Wake up. You'll never hear them speak. The are too busy laughing at us chumps who let them get away with this.
Although Doloresco pointed out that Joint Commision has really raised the bar on their requirements, they still DO NOT consider nurse to patient ratios.I don't see how this helps nurses at any hospital credentialed by joint commission to take care of patients better. Nurses are in the same boat as before. At least California has RN ratio guidelines. Does Virginia?
Great question.
How does one find out what the Virginia rules are?
Also, is it a fact that JC raised the bar? I hope Doloresco is not the only source for that info, given his record as a liar and spin-doctor.
I wouldn't believe him either.......googled....couldn't find much on state regs for Virginia in healthcare. Governor has a corporate commission in which he is giving more power to. But I'm not sure this would help make quality healthcare/ patient assurance enforced. Prob. Fed level. Joint commission is JUST now auditing without appointments. They still haven't addressed nursing:patient ratios or public access of information. Joint commission is an independant(paid) credentialing service with a product to sell also. Hard to get copies of reports to public. Guess American Citizens paying huge insurance premiums and trusting these corporations for healthcare are still in the dark! Doloresco is part of the Political/Corporate Showbusiness Org. whos motto is "Just tell your public/employees what they hope will happen, and they will swallow it" (at least for a little while) Overall allows for more money to be made,...whatever the cost.
The question and answer could be so simple:
How many FT RNs and PT RNs were on staff when Life Point took over? Same numbers, please, for now.
If the Mayor's commission could make them provide those numbers, it would be a significant co0ntribution to knowing what's going on.
Patients at other Lifepoint hospitals have reported 1 nurse to 26 patients recently(in 2007)-and middle aged patients dying/and almost dying whom were admitted with simple bronchitis. Impossible odds for successful patient recovery when patient fatalities dramatically increase with over 6 or 8 patients per nurse. Remember, Joint Commission doesn't release the information to the tax paying public voters, so do you think the hospital will? Besides, several nurses have posted that they've gone to other facilities that have better quality patient care. Physician's who really care migrate there too because they know the importance of good nurses. The jobs are gone from the community unless a)Another hospital moves in or b)Lifepoint sells Danville Reg.
The community suffers unless they sell.
There are currently 8 states that have or are in the process of passing minimum staffing laws
at 4,5-1 for general floors and 1,2-1 for ICU's.Many more states are starting to consider the huge amount of research that exists from hospitals and colleges around the world that generally states that as the number of pt's per RN increases so does the mortality.
To those that will say where's your proof? you obviously know how to use a computer so I suggest that you do so, There are hundreds of thousands of articles and references. And VA isn't one of the states listed as aggressively pursuing a low ratio.
as an employee of DRMC now, I will address the comment of june 1, I had a family member who worked happily for Dan River Mills until she retired due to downsizing, she was retired early, without choice, however never had a bad thing to say about it all, this is what happens in a country that is now relying on so much exported jobs, she learned a new trade at age 50, never complained, I relocated here in my late 30's, I have worked at Duke and also UNC, I find this hospital quite nice, the employees very pleasant, the Drs. on top of their game, yes I see things here as I have at any other facility, my point is both my parents have had multiple hospitalizations, some outcomes great, some quite poor, This hospital is no less then any other, on the contrary, It has a tremendous Heart, The community has chosen to spearhead a campaign of defeat upon Lifepoint for taking on the hospital for the community. They may have cut some of the things normal companies do to maintain appropriate care...This folks is so you get to maintain your jobs, and continue to serve the community...last time I looked no EMTALA violations are occurring due to privatization (meaning no ones insurance is checked prior to assigning a dr, Duke does refuse uninsured patients as private hospitals can)....EVERYONE gets treated, If you choose to go elsewhere its your choice...you still have one be happy. Tell me, who is still here serving the community...Lifepoint...or Dan River...Think about what company has stayed and is continuing to maintain its efforts at keeping a community hospital running. I happily work here, I am quite educated as are all of my counterparts, I would come here as a patient if I was ill. I do work overtime to help out when I can. I love my job here and truly get tired of the whining population who seem to believe that there is some sort of rainbow with a gold filled hospital bed at the end of it.
Have you researched your corporation's "gold ribbon" minutes? Have you seen what your directors/CEO take from you that could be put into technology, quality personnel salaries, and patient quality supplies? "Real" healthcare providers return larger portions to consumers/patient needs and do not continuously mislead them. Real healthcare providers do not create atmospheres than make innocent people-assuming they get qualified care-suffer. Didn't Lifepoint Hospitals get ranked as one of the most expensive in the nation rather recently? Believe me, they are not suffering-they are just dodging. Ever been to the lush neighborhoods of Brentwood Tennessee? Drive through sometime. Then re-evaluate the days you were trying to take care of patients, make them comfortable, and help them get well. Research who they're indebted to-whom they have binding contracts with-how these are set up-their allies(deals if you will) in the world of corporate monopolies. Evaluate what their goals really are. Look at how their corporate decisions are made-originate- and then re-evaluate their level of compassion for people.
I've been reading this website for 3 months and would like to make a comment about what suzy-q-rn has to say. She should be admired for having the inner resources to come to peace with her situation. A few people in this world are like that, and thank goodness for every one of them.
But most of us are not like that, not because we don't want to be, but because we can't. We live with crushing expenses, and in a city indifferent to the middle class that is threatening yet again to saddle us with a heavy increase in utility rates. The price of gas is threatening my husband's job 45 miles away.
All of these things make it very hard to work under conditions where every extra effort, every smile, every initiative is clearly for the benefit of far-off stockholders and wealthy managers who wouldn't give me a dime if I'm left begging on the street.
I don't know where SuzyQ's strength comes from, but she's a better person than me.
The point about SUZYQ is that she's inside the loop with the OOOOs. She can afford to identify herself--and maybe even get benefit from it.
Don't miss the fabulous supplement in today's Danville paper about Moses Cone. Without preaching, it tells you all you need to know about the difference in for-profit hospitals and a community hospital like Moses Cone.
But don't overlook Centra Health. We live between Chatham and Gretna and our whole extended family has begun using Centra. It's simply wonderful--doctors, nurses, support staff.
Except for the poor employees at DRMC/Lifepoint, all the rest of you need to quit complaining and be thankful that our neighbors to the north and south have had the vision to create great healthcare facilities that we can use whenever we please.
Ditto on Centra. It's time for the complainers to shut up and move on.
Yeah, I guess Lifepoint knows all about the great healthcare to our north and south. Seems they do have a bit of a "captive" customer base. If you work for Lifepoint and are insured through them, you HAVE to get your medical treatment there....employees can't seek their own treatment elsewhere unless it's a service lifepoint doesn't provide.
I'm new to this, but what an interesting question. Who handles Lifepoint's insurance? Or are they self-insured?
Why are so many posts to this blog so mean spirited? The name-calling, the backstabbing, and the character assignations are just plain vicious. Why do these people assume that just because someone works at DRMC they are unhappy? If someone makes a positive post about DRMC to this blog, they are attacked and criticized unmercifully. I have worked at DRMC for 17 years. I love my job and I know that I make a difference in the healthcare of this community every single day. I don’t drink "the LifePoint Kool-Aid", I don't work with the "O"s, I’m not dizzy from all the “spinning” they claim goes on, and I'm no one’s "mole". I do not fear losing my job is I voice my opinion. I am just one example of the many hard working people at DRMC who enjoy their jobs and try to avoid the negativity that is constantly being stirred up around the community concerning our hospital. Not everyone that works at DRMC is miserable, as the posters on to this site would have you believe. So please DO NOT believe everything you read. Don’t assume that the voice that grumbles the loudest speaks for us all. Cut us some slack, and give us some credit for our dedication to serving this community.
Hey guys...I've got an idea...let's get together for lunch to talk about this...
I know of a restaurant that we could go to...the wait for a table is only 4 hours (don't worry, that's down from 8 hours just a few months ago). Oh yeah, I guess you should know, the health department has possibly denied the renewal of their license...they should have that mess straightened up soon, so don't fret. And, unfortunately, there is only one waitress for 20 tables. She's tired, but she's a good waitress (not her fault she's overworked you know).
Sorry...after reading all the above posts, I just had to comment on the lunacy of being complacent about the situation at hand. I venture to say that no one would meet me for lunch at the restaurant I mentioned above (it's fictional, before anyone begins to yell)...
But, while we're on the subject...have you eaten at Maggiano's in Durham or PF Changs in Greensboro lately?
Late night post...forgive me.
Don't you think that if you worked for Moses Cone and Centera that their health plan would give you better coverage when using your own facility? Of course it does - it's not rocket science. Why would their plan reward you for going to Carilion or Duke? The same goes for LifePoint. You can go anywhere you want to for your medical care - but the plan pays a larger percentage of the bill if you use a lifepoint facility.
IF YOU CLOSE DOWN THE HOSPITAL JUST HOW FAR WILL YOU HAVE TO GO WHEN YOU HACE A CARDIAC ARREST. OUR PREHOSPITAL CARE IS GREAT BUT THE LONGER YOU ARE IN ARREST THE LESS CHANCE OF YOU BEING AROUND IN THE END.
AND JUST WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BLAME WHEN YOUR LOVED ONE IS AT TOWNES, WRENN-YEATTS, SO ON AND SO ON????
I GUESS YOU DO NOT MIND GOING OUT OF TOWN AND PAYING $3 A GALLON OF GAS AND STAYING IN MOTEL OR HOTEL WHEN YOU GO TO VISIT YOUR HOSPITALIZED FAMILY MEMBER.
OH BUT DON'T FORGET THE 1000 PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE TO LEAVE DANVILLE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT.
SO THINK ABOUT THE TOTAL PICTURE WHEN YOU LEAVE TOWN TO SEEK MEDICAL ADD, AND THE WORKERS OF DRMC CAN ALWAYS GO OUT OF TOWN TO BUY A CAR, TV.
KEEP SMILING.
WAH
If I "HACE" a cardiac arrest I'll be comfortable in the fact that the City is required to provide a certain degree of medical care for it's citizens. I agree our PRE-Hospital care is great....the comments have been about in-hospital care.
We can't close down the hospital, BUT watch what happens if admissions start dropping, Either they will clean up their act or sell...both better options than we have right now.
And no I don't mind paying a few bucks for gas or a hotel room if it means a family member receives better care.
Wah back
Dear Wah,
I think you are missing the point...people in this town do not WANT to commute to Lynchburg or Durham or Greensboro for their healthcare. But many are not confident in choosing DRMC for their care, thus, the choice is being made for them. An hour's drive is not an easy commute...not to go shopping, not for a job and certainly not while you are concerned about a loved one who is in a hospital bed.
I don't think anyone on this blog wants the hospital to close. We want to know that it is accredited, clean, technologically up-to-date, and properly staffed by trained individuals who have a vested interest in the community they serve.
That's all we want...seriously.
How we get there is what is really up for debate.
It seems that consumers could make intelligent educated decisions if all scores regarding healthcare were disclosed completely.
Wouldn't it be a good idea if current infractions of standards/regulations were publicized on a regular basis through print and web media? Also, perhaps critical alerts should be publicized on radio, tv, print and to all public and commercial health insurance providers?
Isn't availability and accessibility to current information regarding quality/accessibility/cost key componant to all consumer goods?
Otherwise, a community is lead only through advertising. Even elected officials have indicated difficulty in obtaining the information. How can local officials/public officials be informed to lead and guide their community if they are not completely informed of current events?
Consumer goods...Is healthcare and the safety thereof of American citizens really only a consumer good?
If this is the case, then the employees of a hospital are the only ones at liberty to educate their community based on "What they hear". Is this truly release of quality information? We've already heard how many are "afraid" to speak up-fear of losing their jobs....
and yes there is anger...apparent from those who struggle with ethical vocal strength verses personal income preservation.
We've heard time and time again, "How can we find out what is going on?" "Didn't this or that happen?" Chamber members report on how they saw Delorosco and what they SURMIZED of his actions and information....Do they still have any facts on which to base their opinions?
So in essence, shouldn't reports be made public for the good of the communtity? and its future?
Or is the vacancy of this resulting in prejudiced information to only a partial American public? ......
Without complete disclosure of all information regarding the quality of a health institutions quality/cost/accessability/management goals/perfomance how can the citizens of a community develop a plan of correction, if in fact they are the ones to govern it?
And how could those in the community possibly find the time to do it well?
As a non-profit you might be able to demand disclosure, now it is a different matter. They are a corporation much as any other with no obligation to be forthcoming with internal matters (as we have all seen).
As far as choosing the best healthcare for you and your family, Moses Cone and Centra certainly do a good job of advertising and I imagine they have PR people who would provide most any info. you would want to make an educated decision.
"There were 2 people in the Credentialing office. One retired in July 05 and the other took her position without the 2nd position being replaced. One person carried the office for a year until it had backed up and her multiple requests for assistance was denied. She finally gave up, due to her feelings of hoplessness and lack of support, to be a full time stay at home mom. ...
There is someone in that position now..."
Is there someone in that position now?
Or is as Art said..."Doloresco said the hospital is in the process of recruiting someone whose only job will be to keep the hospital up to date on accreditation requirements."
Maybe she should be worried?
Because you don't know, accreditation and credentialing are not the same job and/or responsibilities. But,understand once Joint Commission dinged credentialing/medical staff in its last audit, Lifepoint finally realized they needed additional help. Therefore, now there is a full-time employee plus a part-time employee and is this even enough???
Gotcha...makes sense, I do know the difference but was reading it wrong.
...credentialing of physicians or lack of credentialing physicians seems like a serious game of Russian roulette for patients and the community....and if administration was intentionally starving this department of funding....again more serious. Does anyone know what problem was cited or which physicians were practicing with questionable credentials? SCARY!
I spoke to a friend of mine who works in a metro hospital-another state...Her present job-professionally an O.R. nurse-is now to do "mock checking" to maintain the hospital's accredidation requirements. She responded that "credentialing of doctors in her area is a 'no-brainer'. Everyone knows it has to be done to stay in regulation boundaries-so its automatic and expected."
Looks like to me that Delerosco just didn't take the random inspection initiative seriously. Part of the reason the random investigations happened was due to the publicity of the V.A. hospital and staffing conditions in Salisbury.
Any hospital director in America should be up to date on accredidation events and happenings, and they should be proactive in insuring their accredidations at all times. their revenues depend on it. Honestly,
Administrative Healthcare Management 101
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