Danville Register & Bee
Monday, July 30, 2007
DANVILLE - City leaders are moving forward with plans to establish a hospital panel devoted to improving care at Danville Regional Medical Center.
A meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 8 in the city manager’s conference room beside City Council chambers to discuss the formation of a Hospital Healthcare Panel, according to Danville Mayor Wayne Williams.
The meeting is open to the public.
The panel was a recommendation of the Citizens Commission Related to the Danville Regional Medical Center, which gave its final report to City Council on July 3.
“The commission recommended the formation of a panel to continue the dialogue with the hospital and to serve as a route for people to express their concerns,” Williams said, “as well as help guide LifePoint and assure the continuation of quality improvement.
“It will also help ensure that LifePoint will follow through on the commission’s recommendations.”
The mayor said he plans on the panel consisting of a citizen from Danville, Pittsylvania County and Caswell County, N.C., and two doctors, as well as a representative from LifePoint Hospitals Inc.
Williams also has invited Coy Harville, chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, and George Ward, chairman of the Caswell County Board of Commissioners, who will recommend a citizen from their area.
Williams, who is a doctor, said he is taking recommendations on the doctor slots from other medical professionals.
He also invited Delegates Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, and Danny Marshall, R-Danville, to the meeting and told Ward to invite the appropriate Caswell County delegates.
Williams said, however, that he believed Marshall would be out of town next week and that the North Carolina delegates are is session and would be unable to attend.
Jess Judy, LifePoint’s Gateway Division president, volunteered at the July 3 meeting to be the hospital representative, Williams said.
“I feel that it is a positive sign that such a high-level person with LifePoint would be appointed,” he said.
Williams said the panel will be long-standing and ongoing as long as it is necessary.
“We will be looking at term limits and how to structure the panel,” he said. “We want it to be two way. When the hospital does something good, the panel will help disseminate that information, but it will also take problems to LifePoint that are based on public concern.”
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79 comments:
Quotes from tuesdays R&Bee
"It will also help ensure that LifePoint will follow through on the commission’s recommendations.”
-How ?, it's a private corp. now.
"Jess Judy, LifePoint’s Gateway Division president, volunteered at the July 3 meeting to be the hospital representative, Williams said."
-I imagine that he will try to use his "local ties" to pull the wool over everyones eyes so that he can stall for more money grabbing time.
“I feel that it is a positive sign that such a high-level person with LifePoint would be appointed,” he said.
-If you can't convince them confuse them = lifepoints strategy, I say
-Seems that the pickin's were so good for the bank boys that now there coming from (clarksville)everywhere for a piece of the pie.
-Of course those of us unfortunate enough to be stuck here already know about the infamous
(under)staffing grid and it's affect on patient care but instead of taking care of patients like we were doing now we have to feed the O's too, DISGRACEFUL...
Although it is important to have a positive attitude, I question how effective the soon to be formed Hospital Healthcare Panel will be. Given the recent actions of Ruth McDaniel and Jess Judy it is doubtful that LifePoint has any intention of maintaining an open dialogue. Their interaction with members of the Medical Staff Action Committee should serve as a warning.
THE MSA Committee was formed as a means of communication between the medical staff and hospital administration. Both McDaniel and Judy sit on this committee along with some of the physicians. It was to this group that Jess Judy directed his now infamous email (dated 7/17/07) that requested the committee members "discussing how to deal with members of the Medical Staff who continue to misrepresent issues about the hospital and its future." This resulted in some harsh responses by the physicians to Mr. Judy.
To make matters worse, Ruth McDaniel has added fuel to the fire. Last week a physician (also a member of the MSA Committee) spoke to the acting CEO about concerns voiced by the hospital's pharmacy department regarding some possible changes. Ms. McDaniel's response was to go the pharmacy department and demand to know which pharmacist(s) spoke to the physician. So much for open communication with LifePoint. It is no wonder that many hospital employees are afraid to say anything when even constructive comments/concerns are met with disdain by LifePoint.
The MSA Committee has a scheduled meeting tonight. Fortunately some of the physicians serving on this committee are willing to be vocal about continuing issues with LifePoint. It may be awhile before the physicians can help Mr. Judy with his request to "accomplish much with a shared vision of making DRMC the hospital of choice for the citizens of the Dan River Region."
A ridiculous waste of time. If we don't understand what LifePoint is up to by now, we never will. How many times do we let them lie, cheat and steal? A prediction: They will go down bigtime somewhere, and we will look like the yokels we are for continuing to offer them our leg to p--- on.
Why is Mayor Williams NOT incluing the bums who sold the hospital in secret on this panel. Doesn't he remember that they are the ones who got our $200 million?
Hard to take any of this seriously.
I heard that Wayne indeed did try to get Ashby and/or Davenport on the panel and that each guy laughed in his face.
So what about Majors? Or James Motley, the senior Bank Boy?
Why in God's good name would anybody want one of those horrible community destroyers on this panel?!?!?!?!
The "Bank Boys" should be put in stocks for public display, but only after they are removed from the Hospital Foundation and access to their sand box ($200 million).
The only question that matters is whether Lifepoint has agreed to take into consideration or implement any of the suggestions/recommendations that may come from this panel.
If not, it's a moot exercise.
And if they have agreed, upon what basis do you suggest we believe them?
lets see, fewer in patients, fewer out pt procedures, low employee morale, mandatory use of pto,poor public perception and more deception and lies from lifepoint. so lets create ANOTHER panel and drop another layer of crap on the people of danville. Its the lifepoint way
lifepoint -the ultimate mushroom farmers, they keep the staff in the dark and feed us a lot of crap.
We have seen the infamous e-mail and a few of the replies , thank you to the MD's standing up for us and the pt's.
As for "Mr" Judy and his head misrepresenter Ruth(less)I say "bent truths" and bully techniques may have worked for the early 1900's workforce but I personally will not cave to the "lifepoint mafia"
You won't talk so big when they find out who you are and throw your hinnie in the Dan River.
A report from a Martinsville LifePoint insider:
LifePoint is going to reduce the size of DRMC by closing down enough real estate to make it something like a 150--200-bed hospital. Their theory is to work from that level toward their version of the sort of hospital they want. People and jobs? Bye Bye! This way, they can blame the employee slaughter on the community and the lack of support they have found here. This may also be a quiet threat concerning the Certificates of Need for other operations who are trying to save us from LifePoint--i.e., if the state issues CONs to the new places, then LifePoint can say that the state has made their reduction necessary.
Keep your eyes open.
That Martinsville report is very interesting. Next time Jess Judy is talking about "open dialogue," ask him about that report and see what he says. Or try it on Ruth. Dare you.
I'll ask, I have my education and none of them own me to throw me in the river, There are 100's of thousands of jobs in places far better than Danville and I'm on the way to one.
I'll ask, too. I do not have a new job yet, but I am plenty mobile right now and am trying to get out. I had determined to keep my mouth shut because I can't change anything, but how can they fire me for asking a question? I might just take it off this blog and show them and ask them.
Don't miss the latest letter in tomorrow's paper, written by the DRMC pr department. The paper has quit running critical letters.
Odd that this change coincided with the return of LifePoint ads to the paper?
Come on, I saw that letter, too. Yes, of course they are written by the hospital pr people, but I don't think the paper is banning negative letters. I think people have given up writing letters. I've written them in the past, but no more. It's a wasted effort. People have found their own ways to get what they need. This blog has helped greatly. People have come to understand that it's a waste of time to write about bad experiences. Nothing happens and nobody cares.
And nobody should care about the pr letters now appearing. They are what they are--slick work by pr people.
WOW. Just read the letter. Can you get more sappy. That is truly a PR letter. I wonder how much they paid Dr. Miller for his letter? As vocal as he is when he makes rounds throughout the hospital, I am surprised that he is still singing the same "let's work together" song. Lifepoint has proven time and again that they will not listen to nurses or doctors on safe staffing issues, especially if it cuts into their profits and bonuses.
Anybody see Lifepoint stock today. Closed at 29.55/share. Fell another 35 cents today. Lookout my fellow employees, more staff cuts coming.
Many Americans felt the pain of Virginians when the Virginia Tech shootings happened. As Americans, we watched and cried with you. We felt Virginia's heartache to see so many hopeful futures lost senslessly. We felt pride in your strength, as you stepped into each next day.
Many of those same Americans are tuning in still, and we do care, but the obstacles are complex. We are praying for answers for you and other communties struggling in the same situation.
We admire your courage and diligence toward your goals to see to the needs of others, amidst difficult and perplexing personal decisions. We admired Virginians as you overcame that terrible day at Virginia Tech. and we still do today. You are showing Americans real struggles of heartfelt healthcare in a corporately trapped environement. We tune in because you give us hope too.
"Lifepoint has proven time and again that they will not listen to nurses or doctors on safe staffing issues, especially if it cuts into their profits and bonuses"
You are exactly right.
As for the Dr Miller Letter...
"her shift" we are not all women, and as far as the remainder of the letter ....I've tried the get along approach with the tyrannical lifepoint mentality and any board that has no control (over an independantly owned corporation) will never work...unless they buy up enough stock to control it or get elected to Congress and pass a resolution. The US and Danville is in the shape it's in because of corps. like lifepoint , Dan River was killed because of it and so was healthcare in this area and no amount of pleading and window dressing will fix it.DRMC died the day it was sold, maybe we could tear it down and sell the bricks to the rich folks in brentwood for their mansions built of the lives and deaths since .
And as for the "Bank" fab five
it would take volumes to list the ignorance exhibited but I guess if you get 200 mil to play with that you didn't earn or sweat to contribute to it's no problem.
Take Two And Call In The Morning (LPNT, HMA, CYH)
July 31, 2007 | By Dean Lundell
Investors love a product where the end consumer has no choice but to use it. It's called a vertical demand curve - the product is worth buying/using at any price. Such is the case with hospitals in general and rural ones in particular. However, all is not as it appears to be since some of these companies do better than others depending on how they are managed and how they deal with adversity.
Carpenter To Hammer Out New Plan
LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. (Nasdaq:LPNT) was spun off from HCA in 1999. The bulk of its 51 hospitals represent the only acute-care facilities in their respective areas. A locked market sounds like a great idea but that does not make LPNT or any other healthcare company immune from bad debts from uninsured patients, higher physician and staff fees, and ever-climbing malpractice insurance. LPNT's mediocre Q2 results were the culmination of all of those factors.
After a series of ill-fated acquisitions, new boss Bill Carpenter has come on board and is already taking aim at what's wrong with the company. Carpenter has embraced a new philosophy. He has refocused the firm on customer-service, has stepped up recruiting physicians and replaced the emphasis on rural areas. In the past, the relationship between hospitals and physicians was competitive at best and antagonistic at worse. Carpenter decided to give the physicians a vested interest in the outcome of the organization by offering them partnership agreements, at least to an extent.
LPNT has had limited success with this plan so far, but time will test this hospital cure-all. (To read more about acquisitions, see The Basics Of Mergers And Acquisitions and The Wacky World of M&As.)
What Works For One...
Health Management Associates, Inc. (NYSE:HMA) has also embraced the physicians-as-partners concept in order to turn this organization around, no doubt at the behest of new CEO Burke Whitman. Now, instead of an adversarial relationship, the physician is an ally who serves everyone's interest. Further, HMA is even acquiescing to independent surgery centers on the part of its physician partners, as HMA would rather have its physicians work that way than to directly compete with them.
Like many hospital organizations, HMA is suffering the effects of uninsured patients and the bad debts that seem to along with them. Although this is an industry wide phenomenon, the level of bad debts is cramping HMA's historical industry leading margins.
HMA's selection model for acquisitions is sound. The company picks on areas where there is only one hospital in town, in a rural area, where the town is not dependent on a single large employer and where the population is aging. HMA employs a decentralized management model which has served its business model well.
More follows at http://research.investopedia.com/news/IA/2007/Take_Two_And_Call_In_The_Morning_LPNT_HMA_CYH.aspx?ad=IA_RSS_7312007
Thanks to all whom are posting! This information is vital to all communties and their well being! It helps to put the pieces of the puzzle together for all of those dealing in this mess.
They've been hitting us any way they can to shut us up. Please help. There is so much more.
More diversity of postings in the U.S.A. would really help.
There has been an intentional maneuver by senior stockholders happening again also. SEC ethics needs to look into this!
Put a timeline on this. After senior stock sold earlier this year, analysts report caused drastic fall in stocks, management indicates bad debt origin of causes. Now, patients are getting bills they've never seen and heard of before due to incorrect previous billing addresses-(which was not done), with diagnosises changed from original diagnosis and test reports.
Consumers should(common sense analysis)
A)First ask how much insurance paid.
B)Ask for a detailed statement.
C)Do not admit anything during telephone conversation due to recordings, even though they tell you it will still be reported to your credit bureau.
D)Have previous reports, photos, second opinions statements available.
E)Remember pictures are worth a thousand words.
They are making some attempts to collect funds rapidly by changing ER diagnosises and high billing now.
Seems to me, that debt was "set up" previously, because I am positive they originally had correct address-I checked it!
We have good insurance, they had paid nothing? Hospital sent co-pay bill timely. No problem there.
The thing is, we were told there was nothing wrong! Now they say there was! You mean to tell me that everything my child has been through that now could be related to this previous injury(which they had previously reported as null and void), could have been prevented! This is appauling! This is my child you've wrapped up in your maneuvers you creeps!
Super Blogsite! Go Danville!!!!
What happened to DRMC "Danville News and Views?"
"HMA's selection model for acquisitions is sound. The company picks on areas where there is only one hospital in town, in a rural area, where the town is not dependent on a single large employer and where the population is aging. HMA employs a decentralized management model which has served its business model well."
So, if a surgery center is set up under a different corporate name, yet still owned by the same originators of the sole rural hospital, it could become same song, next verse?
Also, if this is what is happening, there might need to be transports out due to little unforseen complications, thus sending the patient right back to the "original sole hospital". (As we have seen posted on this blog that they rarely transport out)
Of course.... they will absolutely scratch each others backs, at an increasingly rapid rate! (More like the nature of dogs though, when a person scratches its back!)
The consumers caught in these situations will still be imprisoned to it, by thinking that what does not appear to be the same, isn't ....when it actually is!
Factor this in too, physicians cannot say anything, or re-direct care because they answer to the same entities!
"System payments" continuously have to pick up more payment, for transports, incidentals, etc. Public insurers continuously have to pay more in incidentals. Health insurance rates climb. Taxes climb. Healthcare costs climb. Patients continue getting abused and lied to. All the money can still go into the original entities hands through one funnel or the other, or even another with enough capital!
But don't the physicians understand that malpractice insurance will go up too, if they don't speak up?.....if ethical judges are... in place......oh my........personal favors..........
This is why CON's are still in place in some states!... The people making the decisions get paid one way or the other, all at the expense of the people-physically, emotionally, and financially. They control the final decision, yea or nay..veto or not.....
.....oh....take it up one more step........national level.....oh my.................... Bush's brother......now at Tenet.
But the people in many of these areas don't really have a true vote any more......too much corruption....threats.....state funds used to sway local officials into public statements-like "You'll only get this project or that one if"....... or just cash, kickbacks, a bottle, they'll do whatever it takes to protect their investments.
Then the count just doesn't make sense. The reasons don't either. Part of it is fear, the other part is dependancy. Jobs of some or spouses are bought and sold..............either into the media or into the road of the original effort.................. they don't control just a few........it's almost all in some communities......every avenue...people have had to pay so much in taxes and living expenses that they are extremely dependant from paycheck to paycheck!
They probably would have already either tried to hire me or kill me by now, but I have too much on them.....documented....copied....inseveral places....x-rays....test reports................with instructions....with photos they don't know about...records they didn't know I had....then new ones that look different......I've been waiting for a clearer/fairer trail. I listen to the answers I get with real prayer.
The thing is.....this is going to explode if we don't wake up as a nation. This is rural America folks, where traditionally people carry guns and practically take an eye for an eye! The pain when you loose someone you love, and then you find out why is intense! You'd almost have to be Mother Teresa to let it lay very long-once you realize the lies, manipulation, and some of the results. Some just cause injury, some cause death! This is serious! And its not hap-hazard! It's been planned, seeded, planted, and fertilized for the harvest! BIG TIME PLANNED!
Letter to the editor - Aug 1
A problem we can all fix
To the editor:
During a recent Citizens Commission hearing, a long-time patient of mine told of driving right on by the hospital’s Emergency Department to go to Reidsville, N.C., when his wife needed urgent care.
This troubled me for several reasons:
-- Their loss of confidence in our local hospital;
-- In a true emergency, one needs to go the nearest available emergency room; and
-- Our overall community is hurt if the hospital performs poorly. Jobs are lost, new industry does not come into town, etc.
So, what does LifePoint Hospitals Inc. need to do?
As per the committee report, adequate staffing of nurses — as well as other hospital personnel — needs to occur. However, a nursing ratio means nothing if a registered nurse spends her shift answering the telephone, taking off-chart orders, transporting patients, etc. Comparing our ratio to a “surrounding community hospital” sounds good, but we must compare apples to apples. Comparing us to other LifePoint hospitals that may be understaffed as well is pointless.
The next CEO needs to live in our community with his or her family. The hospital needs to be more patient-, physician- and staff-friendly. Danville Regional may be the only hospital physically located in our community, but it is situated in a highly competitive environment. It is easy for patients to seek medical care — and for employees to seek work — in Greensboro, Lynchburg, Durham, Eden and Reidsville.
What do physicians need to do?
This won’t be popular to say, but I think all physicians — including those alienated by prior CEOs — should come back in “out of the cold” to start working to improve the care of our community hospital, rather than taking their skills and their patients to surrounding medical centers. Numerous working groups are being formed in the hospital to work with the nursing administration and other departments to ensure the input of physicians. Our patients will be considered before arbitrary decisions are made from above.
What should the public do?
I ask the public to “keep faith” in our hospital, which has served this community for more than 120 years. We will work diligently to get our Joint Commission accreditation — and we will improve the quality of care to a level better than seen even prior to LifePoint’s arrival.
GARY P. MILLER, M.D.
Danville
"Our overall community is hurt if the hospital performs poorly."
Our community was hurt by 5 "men" and previous/current city councils that were only inerested in money for pet projects,( ie. the cyber park, about 26 years too late.) This hospital chain and it's parent companies have a long history of ineptness and misrepresentation yet no one was allowed to know the pro's cons ahead of time most likely so "the boys could get their "monopoly"...uh money.
"In a true emergency, one needs to go to the nearest available emergency room" True especially trauma and heart patients but, if they have to wait in an inexperienced or understaffed ER -Or- if they receive no treatment due to being rushed to the floor for the floor to do all of the tests meds because the ER "ran out of time " then the 25-45 min drive is actually faster.
"Jobs are lost, new industry does not come into town, etc."
Lifepoint is causing job loss and loss of disposable income.They just recently "let go" certain people then brought in the Martinsville folks for the same job,hmm ,Also, cutting staff and the hours worked has reduced the once disposable income of the remaining employees ie. "if we pay you for your PTO so we'll have staff we pay 75 cents on the dollar", yeah that's fair.
"As per the committee report, adequate staffing of nurses — as well as other hospital personnel — needs to occur"
Lifepoint has recently informed the MD's that "adequate" staffing(ie. minimum staffing will NOT occur)The new CFO is currently patrolling the facility looking for positions to cut.
"Numerous working groups are being formed in the hospital to work with the nursing administration and other departments to ensure the input of physicians."
As we've discussed before they take all of the input we can give them but they won't use it.All the groups are for is smoke and mirrors.
"and we will improve the quality of care to a level better than seen even prior to LifePoint’s arrival." Never happen For profit hospitals will never be equivalent to non- profit hospitals particularly non-profit teaching facilities such as what surrounds Danville.
LPNT stock closed the day at 28.99.
That's a new 52 week low...
It's hard to believe that Dr. Miller would throw in with this crowd. We all know he knows better. Disappointing.
How much has this turkey of a stock dropped since the bad news came down?
New bad news?
What's the facts about closing down a big chunk of this hospital o make it one this bunch knows how to run. how many opf us be fired? You docs and nurses can find work, but a lopt of us have to go work Mcdonalds.
What we hear is that the closing plan is being discussed in Tennessee right now and that we will begin to see signs of the implementation of the plan when Miss Ruth and Anderson return next week from being programmed. To be sure, they will carry on the same lies and spin we are used to, but this is where it's headed. Yes, folks like you will be needing new jobs, but here in Danville you should be able to do better than McDonald's. Other places are paying likw $10 an hour.
What a sad discussion. Word sure gets around about a place with so much low-hanging fruit!
Folks had been referring to a big August 1 announcement...any word as to whether this was real and what the announcement was to be?
"How much has this turkey of a stock dropped since the bad news came down? "
Last August, LPNT stock was at about 35. It actually broke 40 back in May and again in July. I believe that it was up at about 38 or 39 around July 20. Since that time, it passed down through 30 on about July 26.
It opened today at 28.99.
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=LPNT&t=3m&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=
The Code of Ethical Behavior for Patients
1. Do not expect your doctor to share your discomfort.
Involvement with the patient's suffering might cause him to lose valuable scientific objectivity.
2. Be cheerful at all times.
Your doctor leads a busy and trying life and requires all the gentleness and reassurance he can get.
3. Try to suffer from the disease for which you are being treated.
Remember that your doctor has a professional reputation to uphold.
4. Do not complain if the treatment fails to bring relief.
You must believe that your doctor has achieved a deep insight into the true nature of your illness, which transcends any mere permanent disability you may have experienced.
5. Never ask your doctor to explain what he is doing or why he is doing it.
It is presumptuous to assume that such profound matters could be explained in terms that you would understand.
6. Submit to novel experimental treatment readily.
Though the surgery may not benefit you directly, the resulting research paper will surely be of widespread interest.
7. Pay your medical bills promptly and willingly.
You should consider it a privilege to contribute, however modestly, to the well-being of physicians and other humanitarians.
8. Do not suffer from ailments that you cannot afford.
It is sheer arrogance to contract illnesses that are beyond your means.
9. Never reveal any of the shortcomings that have come to light in the course of treatment by your doctor.
The patient-doctor relationship is a privileged one, and you have a sacred duty to protect him from exposure.
10. Never die while in your doctor's presence or under his direct care.
This will only cause him needless inconvenience and embarrassment.
Dr. Miller's letter is clearly a statement that citizens are making wise decisions based on information and education. Evidently the patient is doing OK or he would have stated that she died as a result, or received more injury etc.
Is it possible he received a "threatening letter" to support the hospital? If so, he is loosing credibility by writing a letter like this.
Is it possible that he will be a partner in a joint venture with a corporation building a new surgical or critical access center?
If so, he is loosing credibility by doing so.
Sentinal Event is doing this community a huge favor with this blogsite! A Marvelous Blessing!
I agree. I'm home for the summer and this is one cool site. I never thought I would see anything like this in Danville. The newspaper is such a joke with its grammatical errors, misspellings and incomprehensible reasoning in its editorials. I never believed that Danville had what it takes to support such a class act as this.
My folks quiit using LifePoint/DRMC last winter, but I think it is important to see our hospital "fixed." You never know when you might have to go there in an emergency.
I wish SE would delete the so-called joke about the dead nurse being washed up. Things are bad enough without become grotesque.
I am home right now and we took a friend to the hospital because he drank way too much grane alcohol in orange juice and was out like he was dead and I thought they did a nice job fixing him up and I don't see why so many people are upset. Go Danville Regional!
also this stuff is cool, right here in danville
Yahoo finance reports tonight that Lifepoint stock after today's market closing hour is 28.71, down 0.35 (1.20%) as of 6:58PM ET on 08/02/07.
Lifepoint's net income for the last 3 quarters:
$38.4 million (4th qtr 2006)
$29.8 million (1st qtr 2007)
$13.4 million (2nd qtr 2007)
from
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=lpnt
Income falling, share price falling, as other posters have noted.
The market gets fooled now and then, but in the end it always finds the truth. Sometimes the truth comes too late (Enron, etc.), but it will come.
Yeah, they did a good job working on my buddy. I thought hes gone.
I be glad when school starts. Been rough summer on friends.
Being Unhealthy Could Cost You -- Money By Jena McGregor
Thu Aug 2, 8:08 AM ET
For employees at Clarian Health, feeling the burn of trying to lose weight will take on new meaning.
In late June, the Indianapolis-based hospital system announced that starting in 2009, it will fine employees $10 per paycheck if their body mass index (BMI, a ratio of height to weight that measures body fat) is over 30. If their cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose levels are too high, they'll be charged $5 for each standard they don't meet. Ditto if they smoke: Starting next year, they'll be charged another $5 in each check.
Clarian has been making headlines for its aggressive and unusual approach to covering escalating health-care costs. Rather than taking the more common step of giving employees incentives for merely participating in its wellness programs, such as joining a smoking cessation group or using a health coach, Clarian is actually measuring outcomes. And unlike most employers, it is penalizing workers for poor health instead of rewarding them for taking healthy steps.
"More Transparent"
But some employment lawyers and wellness program administrators believe Clarian's approach may not be so unusual in coming years. They see employers, already overwhelmed by rising health-care costs, getting more aggressive in mandating changes in employee behavior. Garry Mathiason, a senior partner at employment law firm Littler Mendelson, says more than 300 companies have requested its assistance on mandatory wellness initiatives since it released a study on the topic in April. "In reality, you only get a certain amount of participation with incentive and encouragement," he says. "The demand for (curtailing health-care costs) is so great that (employers) are willing to take the next step. It's tough love." As BusinessWeek chronicled in February, some outlier companies have even banned tobacco use for its employees altogether (see BusinessWeek.com, 2/26/07, "Get Healthy -- or Else").
In addition, regulations that became effective July 1 could prompt cautious employers to step off the sidelines. The federal government recently issued final rules on how wellness programs could comply with the nondiscrimination conditions of the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA). While the new regulations have been proposed for years, the final rules provide employers with some sense of security and more clarification on how much they can reward or penalize employees based on specific health results. "When you get into things that involve discrimination, employers aren't very comfortable with the words 'proposed regulation,'" says Jerry Ripperger, director of consumer health for the Principal Financial Group, a financial-services and insurance firm that offers wellness programs for large employers.
The final regulations were a major catalyst for Clarian Health's new program. Steve Wantz, Clarian's senior vice-president of administration and human resources, says his team had been considering their plan for two years, but the new regulations "gave us a lot more confidence." Another change in Indiana state law that allowed employers to offer financial incentives or surcharges to smokers in their health plans was also an impetus. After benchmarking other companies, Clarian, which had already been encouraging employees to join smoking cessation programs and take health risk tests, decided charging employees was more "transparent." Other companies "were providing what they called incentives through credits or discounts toward health premiums," says Wantz. "What we found was what those employers were doing, many times, was raising their premiums and discounting them back."
Sticks and Carrots
At Clarian, employees who have blood pressure that's above 140 over 90, blood glucose levels over 120, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol over 130, or a BMI over 29.9 could be subject to the paycheck deductions. Of the company's 13,000 employees, about 8,000 are enrolled in the company's health plan. The company estimates that as many as 34% of its employees will meet the definition of being obese, while it expects lower levels for other health measures. About 26% are tobacco users. The fines are waived for employees who can provide a doctor's note stating it's not advisable for them to try to meet the benchmark -- employees will be able to submit new notes from their doctors quarterly -- and that they are complying with the proper diet, exercise, and treatment plan.
While Clarian's plan is highly unusual, a few other employers are using the stick approach, too. Western & Southern Financial Group, a Cincinnati-based insurance and financial-services provider, has been issuing employees with high BMIs a surcharge to their premiums since 2001. Depending on their scores, employees are charged a tiered fee of between $15 and $75 a month if their self-reported BMI is high, but can have those fees refunded if their numbers go down. Preventure, a provider of fitness and wellness programs for midsize to large employers, has one client in the manufacturing industry that rewards employees when their BMI falls from their baseline score and charges them more when their number rises. "We haven't seen a lot of companies do it," says Laura Gilligan, director of business development for Preventure, "but I sense it might be a trend."
What's more likely for employers who start measuring health results is that they will provide carrots. In July, UnitedHealthcare began offering a new plan targeted at small businesses called Vital Measures, which combines a high-deductible insurance plan with a supplemental plan that provides discounts for healthy outcomes. Members who choose to participate will receive $500 discounts toward their deductible for each cholesterol, blood pressure, and BMI level they meet, along with refraining from tobacco use or taking a health risk assessment.
I wonder if the institutions proposing the health standards plans will administer mandatory drug testing, (showing all prescription and non prescription drugs, as well as alcohol) and apply discounts or benefits accordingly?
I also wonder if all staff, management and non-management would be subject to testing?
(DANVILLE) -- THE NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE DANVILLE REGIONAL FOUNDATION SAYS HE WILL STRESS "PATIENCE" AND "FOCUS" AS HE BEGINS OVERSIGHT OF THE FOUNDATION'S $200-MILLION FUND. KARL STAUBER, 56, BEGAN WORK WEDNESDAY AT THE FOUNDATION, WHICH WAS FORMED TWO YEARS AGO FROM THE SALE OF DANVILLE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (DRMC). HE SPENT THE PAST DECADE IN CHARGE OF A SIMILAR FOUNDATION IN THE MINNEAPOLIS - ST. PAUL AREA, BUT HIS ROOTS ARE IN SMALL TO MIDDLE-SIZED COMMUNITIES. ALTHOUGH HE IS A NATIVE OF STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA AND HIS WIFE IS FROM LYNCHBURG, STAUBER SAYS HE WILL HAVE TO REORIENT HIMSELF WITH THE AREA. LAST YEAR, THE FOUNDATION AWARDED MORE THAN $17-MILLION IN GRANTS TO 5 LOCAL AGENCIES.
FROM WBTM website
The only thing Stauber has to do is to say "Yassuh Boss" to the Bank Boys who hijacked the hospital and stole our money. As long as he says "Yessuh Boss" at every turn, he will do just fine.
Minnesota????
First, Majors and Davenport and Ashby hired a guy from NC to find someone to give out our $200,000,000. They did not trust a local person. Then that person hires a guy from Minnesota.
Why have they got such contempt for local people? Whether it's economic development, city management, police chief, they always get an outsider. And look at the suits at the Institute. Same thing.
Their contempt for this area's citizens is unbounded.
What disgusting people control our lives, and I write that knowing how much they love it.
You better knock off this stuff about the grane acohol. Nobody got in trouble and everbodys cool.
Relax. He would not have gotten the job if he had not promised that his mantra will be yessuh-boss.
What are we paying this guy to give out our money?
Too much.
Anybody know who puts these letters in the Danville paper praising LifePoint? Do they come from an outside pr outfit, or the inside pr "team"? There's a very nice one in today.
One of the keys to keeping the hospital management as well as the "Register and Bee" ethical is supporting transparancy. Perhaps we should see who owns the "Bee". If their articles and letters only support a corrupt control forum, the community should question it. Communities must make everyone accountable.
The posting about the Clarion hospital and insurance companies brings up a valid concern as more of a "Management rewards" system would be much more productive.
One should always question a "Management Negative" rewarding system with threatening tactics and fears as support or retaliation. This type of management is RIDICULOUS- HIGHWAY ROBBERY!
It creates a negative re-enforcement which is counter-productive. So....first you must ask, "What are their goals in this?" or "What are they hiding which they will benefit monetarily from?"
Negative management re-enforcement(like LPNT) is certainly COUNTER PRODUCTIVE. This management technique should always be questioned and POSITIVE RE-ENFORCEMENT should always be SUPPORTED. It is much more productive. It eliminates any morale problems, and lesser productive employees. Without transparancy of information the true issues cannot be brought to light, therefore community decisions cannot be intelligently decided.
Correction-they can be brought to light in blogs like this, however, it will continue to be a battle with the main source of news(via newspaper) in a community. Available distribution of information is of concern. All people do not have computers.
"Low hanging fruit" communities have less.
Of course radio, television, are also factors-but expensive.It's also difficult to put these issues in form of 30 second or 60 second commercials.
No wonder Al Gore felt so strong on transparancy, internet, education. He was from Tennessee where the Frists(LPNT originators) were from. He knew the way they operated, because he was in direct battle with them! He saw how they were going to destruct these communities! He also realized how "the vote" was being manipulated. He must have seen their cob-web early!
Interesting points. I wonder if the paper would accept an ad for this blog? Someone distributes the little slips of paper telling about this blog and giving the address, but I wish it could be better advertised. The paper has not the inclination, the energy or the talent to report much of what's going on, so this medium becomes more important than ever.
Sort of an unbright idea. Of course the paper will not accept an ad. This blog makes them look very inadequate and foolish. Besides, Lifepoint has them bought off now.
If you want to do some good, figure out how to get this blog more widely read in cities that have Lifepoint facilities. You did some good among the undecideds on that last Texas acquisition. And you can do good by getting this more widely read betyond Danville and the places that are already reading it.
Picked up:
Anonymous said...
I have a copy of the e-mail from Jess Judy but I don't know how to post it on this blog. Can anybody tell me?
August 2, 2007 6:32:00 PM EST
Just retype it, if nothing else.
Aren't local churches telling folks about this blog? Ours did, and I can't imagine we were the only ones.
You may send it to drmcanon@hotmail.com and I will post it on the site.
My church did not circulate anything. I'll see if our bulletin can alert people. This is enormously important.
Gut check today. How is all the other floors doing? ICU 12 patients, 4 nurses. Yes all nurses tripled. Great day at DRMC.
WOULD THE PIEDMONT SHOPPER POST THE WEBSITE?
This hospital panel would be more legit if a few employees were part of the mix. Why must it always be the doctors? I hate to say it but the majority of those in this town are not the "voice" of the hospital staff and there other professionals (nurses, pharmacists, lab, radiology etc) who could offer insight of the needs and issues within the hospital. these individuals would give a more objective approach then many of these angry physicians.
To the comments that many are afraid to speak this is a direct connection to RUTHless. She does not welcome those that bring a different views to the table, nor does she welcome disagreement. this is seen as naysaying or lack of loyalty. just look at her relationship with her nursing directors that she so proudly keeps saying she has fixed. if you agree with her and smile at her jokes and games you are rewarded. if you disagree or stand up for the real truths you are cast away. She is devisive. Her actions alone are causing infighting amongst her so called leaders. She hasn't built a team. She has created a group of those who fear her to the point that they publically kiss her butt and a group who have withdrawn to protect their own dignity. One can not lead by fear. Hitler did it and he eventually failed. Even her loyal followers are starting to see they have sold their souls to the devil. If you don't know what I am talking about just observe her every wednesday morning with her nurse leaders.
What leaders , I don't see any, lifepoint, city of danville, or otherwise.Not a leader in the whole stinkin' bunch.Danville has been plagued by a lack of leaders in the right places to do any good. While there are ,and have been, those capable of leading in danville at various times, none have been allowed to exist for very long whether due to :lifepoint the City of danville or any individual interests.Anything that has had to be associated with, or deal with the "leaders" in danville has been held down or destroyed so that a few could be rich while the rest were held down(Dan River, The city of danville, lifepoint,ANB,etc.) Towns around us with far fewer geographical benefits (such as a water source and multiple highways intersecting in the city) have surpassed danville by leaps and bounds in the last 15-30 years due to a few people and /or corruption of an epic scale in general. Irritating and disgraceful.
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