So, last Thursday, Mr. Doloresco sat down with the Chamber of Commerce and reviewed the issues (or, rather, most of the issues) that earned DRMC a preliminary denial of accreditation. I'd venture a guess that those in the room that day heard more about Joint Commission than most employees at DRMC have heard since the denial was issued.
With that in mind, I'd like to ask the Chamber members...are you satisfied with what you heard? Do you feel that a real action plan is in place to improve and safeguard the quality of healthcare available to your employees and your family members?
Readers of this blog can make comments that posting on the blog are from disgruntled DRMC employees hell-bent on the ruin of their employer (maybe it's just me, but there has to be some faulty logic in there somewhere). But now, with the Chamber presentation, people who can actually determine where commercial insurance dollars are spent on healthcare have learned more about the condition of their sole hospital.
I'm just curious...how do you feel now? And, if there are concerns, have you voiced them to the management team at DRMC? Please take a moment and post a comment on this blog so that we can start a dialogue with you, our customers.
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22 comments:
I did not know about this blog until I heard people talking about it at the chamber breakfast. Absolutely fascinating. I haven't read all of it, and that may take some time. Whoever is behind this clearly has created the most enlightened, positive community service dear old Danville has seen in a long, long time.
Congratulations.
To me, and the folks at my table, Mr. Doloresco did not make a good impression in any sense. He seemed almost desperate. He seemed very much out of place. Here was this smooth PR-type guy with a million-dollar Arizona tan trying to put a spin on something that I think most people have made up their minds about. LifePoint has been in charge for over two years, and things have fallen apart. It seemed to me that he was trying to grease the way for us to not be surprised when the hospital fails to get back its full accreditation.
But who knows. We're all country bumpkins to men like Doloresco, so it's very hard to grasp what he is really up to. Maybe he's doing the best he can, but, frankly, he does not exactly ooze credibility.
One thing for sure is that I do not personally know of anyone who would turn to Danville Regional for help with a serious medical problem. One of our community's greatest blessings is that we have Moses Cone and Centra Health a stone's throw away, and from those places we and our loved ones can go on to Duke or UVa if necessary. Since we have these great options, what's going on at DRMC is not a burning issue in my circles. Some good guys made a big mistake selling out to LifePoint, but that's done and over with. We've got what we've got, and that includes terrific medical facilities within an hour's drive in either direction.
Congratulations again on this great website. The Chamber of Commerce should put a link to it on our website.
Super website!
You should advertise this. I didn't know until I got the little card at my seat at the COC breakfast for Deleresco.
I thought that he was sort of greasing the skids for more bad news on the way. My theory is that they can handle heart attacks and car wrecks until you can get switched elsewhere. We had to use the emergency room for one of our kids recently, and I thought it worked okay. No complaints.
Maybe that's the best role for DRMC--sort of an emergency stopping point while you are getting to where you want to be.
Sorry, but there's something all wrong with Chamber members being indifferent to the mess at Danville Regional. As a community, we MUST have a decent hospital.
A strong hospital is essential for recruiting good companies with good jobs. I agree that DeLorescco inspired little confidence in his remarks, but that does not relieve us of the responsibility of demanding (and working toward) a decent hospital.
A lot of good things are going on in this region, but the hospital is a real blemish on everything we are trying to do. Thus, it is critical that we get it fixed--one way or the other.
Above all, it doesn't matter about the men who brought us to this point by selling the hospital. We just need to work together to get it fixed!
How True!
As a group, could chamber members somehow weigh in on this?......."A strong hospital is essential for recruiting good companies with good jobs."
Your opinions would certainly carry some weight. Please pass the word on to other Chamber members, you folks are some of the few in the public who have heard from Doloresco and so far 3 have responded all with the same conclusion (Not a lot of confidence).
A good start
Danville Register and Bee
Monday, June 4, 2007
Danville Regional Medical Center’s preliminary denial of accreditation has been a dark cloud over the hospital since it was announced in March. While Danville Regional remains accredited, the public can’t help but be shaken by the news.
Last week, Danville Regional CEO Art Doloresco met with members of the local business community to talk about the hospital’s accreditation status - including some of the factors that led to the preliminary denial of accreditation - and what he expects to happen in the future.
Doloresco has come a long way from stating that the hospital’s accreditation status was a “private matter between me, the hospital and the (Joint) Commission.”
“This is only the second time in the United States that a hospital has revealed a Joint Commission decision,” Doloresco said last week. “… This is a unique opportunity for businesses to take a look … There are more than 500 standards and we have 21 of those not in compliance.”
Danville Regional Medical Center isn’t required to explain the preliminary denial of accreditation, but the community served by Danville Regional isn’t required to take what Doloresco and other hospital officials say at face value. Having a national accreditation organization issue a preliminary denial was a shock. Not knowing exactly what the Joint Commission found lacking at Danville Regional has been an additional frustration.
Doloresco should be congratulated for his address to the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce - if the speech is the start of a more open dialogue with the public.
Dan River Region residents have to make up their mind about Danville Regional, and the best way for them to be able to do that is with more information, not less.
Hospital officials should continue the dialogue started by Doloresco during last week’s speech to local business leaders.
OK, so the CofC certainly recognizes the importance of a strong hospital as a part of attracting good industries. That has nothing to do with the fact that each member's first obligation is to find the best possible medical care for his/her family. Therefore it makes sense to do both--utilize Moses Cone and Centra while at the same time trying to improve Danville Regional under Lifepoint. Nothing disloyal about that. Just common sense.
I agree that this webpage is a great community asset, and I'm real glad to know about it. But I have to say, the hospital deal has become sort of a non-issue for me, my family and the people we know. It's been many months since I've known anyone who went to Danville Regional for any serious medical issues. Like the other writer said, it's easy to get to Moses Cone, and they are as good as it gets. I heard the DRMC director, and I thought what he said made sense as long as he was telling the truth. We MUST get the hospital back on track if we hope to attract industry. Some industries already here claim we over-sold them on the workforce, and that is a negative for new industry. The last thing we need is for word to get out that we don't have a good hospital. It is urgent that we get things fixed at the hospital, and if the director has a plan we need to support him.
First, congratulations on this website. We have such a pitiful newspaper that the depth of what you offer here is wondrous to behold. This a pretty amazing piece of work, especially the links.
I differ with some of my friends and colleagues on Art Doloresco's talk to the Chamber. We all have different styles, and I thought he made a conscientious attempt to let us know what's going on at Danville Regional. It was the first time I've seen him, but that is my impression.
Let me be the first to admit that my family and I only use it in emergencies, but that does not lessen the urgency of doing all we can to get the facility up to par. For many years, Danville Regional has been a major selling point in attracting businesses to the area. I think it has made a difference in economic development.
Frankly, from what I know, I think it was a mistake for our civic leaders to sell to a for-profit group, given the examples of great community facilities on our doorstep. But that's over and done with. Let's get the hospital straightened out, and it sounded to me like the local CEO has some productive ideas.
As long as the people who SOLD the hospital remain in charge of the proceeds then I am NOT done with them. They need to be removed from having anything to do with those funds.
Yes, the hospital situation needs attention ... but those people who did this to us (on purpose) have never been held accountable. Every one of then KNEW what HAD to happen to turn a non-profit medical center into a for-profit hospital. Everyone one of these people (with the exception of Ashby) are skilled businessmen. Since there WERE opportunities to partner with other non-profit organizations, this was nothing bit a MONEY GRAB at the expense of the citizens of Danville and the surrounding area. We are left to pick up the pieces.
Do these people REALLY deserve to be rewarded with $200,000,000?
That's theft in my book.
People love to squawk about how these bank boys stole the money. If that's so, why haven't they been prosecuted and jailed? It is disgusting that they have the hospital money to play with for their silly little projects like useless community centers, but theft? Hardly. Just wretched arrogance that has never been punished in Danville.
I agree, this is a great blog, but I do not do much blogging. I want to catch up on this, but my opinion is that we should quit worrying about the healthcare aspects of the "new" Danville Regional. The market will take care of that. People are not fooled by spin.
What must now be done is to work to make it an excellent emergency/temporary facility that can be honestly promoted as such to economic development prospects. At the same time, we can promote our neighboring medical facilities for what they are--excellent.
That's the way to go at this thing. Forget about restoring the old Danville Regional. It's gone. Make it into something it CAN be, and make it the best.....and then sell neighboring facilities in the same breath.
And forget about the guys who sold the hospital. They've been disgraced, so let's move on.
Thank you for alerting us to this webpage.
I respectfully disagree with the idea that we should write-off DRMC as a temporary facility. In its pre-Lifepoint life, DRMC was a tremendous magnet in any economic development effort. It has become a heavy negative, having to admit that we don't even have full accreditation. But too much has gone into the facility to let it go easily. Lifepoint has given us little or no reason for confidence in their abilities, but I personally am not ready to write it off. Mayor Williams has something cooking in this area, and I think we should wait and see.
Back in the day, we didn't really worry about competition with Moses Cone. Our sights were set on keeping people from having to drive down 86 to Duke. We only really thought about Centra as they related to folks in the northern end of Pittsylvania County.
Now? Every hospital within 60 miles has suddenly become serious competition. Why? People are beginning to evaluate all the choices and vote with their checkbook (or insurance card).
The focus will have to be returned to the consumer for this trend to end.
Chamber members, thanks for weighing in and posting!
As business owners and operators, let us ask you, is morale a "... nebulous thing and (that's)hard to characterize". ?
Try this one on, you decdicate your whole career to an institution, then the new owner comes in and says "thanks for the service, but the old owners were paying to much, we'll have to cut your pay to our level" and "oh by the way you'll have to work extra we're a little short handed today"
"we know you used to be proud of your comany, sorry for the bad PR but we aren't here for PR suck it up OK?"
Would you have any trouble characterizing the morale of the above employee? And is morale really all that important?
In a multi-faceted organization that deals with the public, no quality is more important than employee morale.
--Business 101
Get serious. No smart person is going to spend a second in a hospital that has had its full accreditation suspended. How can there be any discussion? And what's with forgiving these arrogant idiots who sold our hospital to start with? I think all of you have been sucking on the whoopee weed. Thanks for inviting me to look at this blog, but once is enough.
It is interesting, but I didn't realize anyone with good insurance was still using DRMC. Isn't that the key to it? I agree with the writer above who said the market will sort out the whole thing. Thats the god thing about market dynamics. Sharpsters try to create false impressuons, but in the end the market always gets it right.
Only the employees who have to .
And we don't like having those who end up here suffer the "business" model of LPNT
Screwed on both points.
I disagree with the above poster's statement "lets forget about the men who sold the hospital...and move on". Why should these five businessmen have control of the $200 mil? This money should be used for the community's benefit and none of them seem to be concerned with that subject; if they had been, DRMC would still belong to us. Dixie Doss
There are also great car dealerships , shopping and many other great services available in Greensboro. If we all use them we won't need a chamber of commerce.
Why pay more in Danville, we can work shop and get our medical care elsewhere. GREAT IDEA
"Anonymous said...
There are also great car dealerships , shopping and many other great services available in Greensboro. If we all use them we won't need a chamber of commerce.
Why pay more in Danville, we can work shop and get our medical care elsewhere. GREAT IDEA"
Not suggesting we do ALL of our shopping outside of Danville. But if you want to buy a new BWM or Jaguar where would you go? Just saying for the most important thing you can spend your money on (your health) you shouldn't SETTLE. If the facilities are better and offer a better product go there. If you wanted a new BMW and there isn't a dealer in Danville would you be doing a bad thing by going to Greensboro or Roanoke to get one? No. Then why not your healthcare? At least until a better product is offered here.
How many times do we have to say it? DRMC is a "corporate" business now, no longer a community agency. If they want to work for profits great, but believe this, since they now want to take our money and send it elsewhere they should have to earn it by being as good or better than the other options.
Goodyear employees a lot of Danvillians, every time someone buys a michelin, yokohama, or other brand of tire, goodyear is losing some profit.(And I know our local plant doesn't make car tires but they still fall under the corporate umbrella and are expected to make up for lost revenues wherever they occur) Do we feel "obligated" to pay more for Goodyear tires when we need them or do we shop for the best value?
The same could be said for Nestle products, Corning products, etc.
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