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Hospital lays off 65 workers
Published Saturday, May 17, 2008
NATCHEZ — On Monday morning Evelyn Kirby isn’t going to work — she’s going job hunting.
Kirby, 50, a veteran registered nurse, was one of 65 employees of Natchez Regional Medical Center laid off Friday.
The hospital’s CEO Scott Phillips said the lay offs were necessary for the future of the hospital — and more are likely.
Phillips said the layoffs will not impact the level of patient care the hospital can provide.
Phillips said by the time all the layoffs are finished the hospital will have terminated approximately 95 employees.
The choice to layoff the workers was not a decision that was made quickly or easily, Phillips said.
Kirby said when she got the news on Friday she was not surprised.
“I thought it might happen,” she said.
Phillips said an extensive study was conducted to determine what departments would be losing employees.
Next, seniority was used to determine who would be laid off. Essentially, the newest employees were let go first.
And that’s what hurts about Kirby’s situation.
She had been working at NRMC for 27 years.
Kirby said she recently had to retire to take a lump sum of retirement benefits to pay a deceased family members mortgage, and only returned to work in mid-February.
Her return to work just months ago made her one of the newest in her department and one of the most qualified for the layoffs.
While Kirby said she understands the hospital’s economic problems and knows why her job was eliminated, she still needs to work.
“I’m the breadwinner of the household,” she said.
Kirby’s husband requires dialysis and cannot work.
While Phillips was not personally handling the layoffs, that was left to department managers, he said he was sympathetic to those affected.
“This is hard,” he said.
Phillips stressed that layoffs were seniority based, not merit based.
“It’s not about them, it’s happening to them,” he said. “And that’s difficult.”
According to those at the hospital on Friday, the news was difficult for most.
“It was very, very sad,” Kirby said. “It was depressing.”
Kirby said groups of employees crying and consoling each other in the halls were not uncommon throughout the day.
But Kirby, like Phillips said she recognized the need for layoffs.
Phillips said once all the layoffs have taken place the hospital will be saving $3 million per year.
But when the remaining layoffs will happen is unknown.
Phillips described a period of “redesigning,” to take place before the other layoffs could happen.
That redesigning, at its core, involves a study of the consolidation of departments and their staff.
For instance, Phillips said nurses will take over some duties once preformed by the respiratory therapy staff.
Rumors and speculation about layoffs began to circulate though the community months ago when it was learned the hospital was in the midst of great financial troubles.
Those rumors turned to reality Friday.
However, Phillips said he was confident the layoffs were a correct and necessary step in the effort to financially correct and ultimately save the hospital.
On June 1, Phillips said the 5-percent pay cut, put into place on April 1, will be restored for remaining workers.
But that won’t help Kirby who was contemplating her job on Friday evening.
“I think I’ll start at Community (hospital),” she said.
“But I’m staying in Natchez.”
Comments
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Phillips said the layoffs were done out of necessity to the hospital’s future."
YEA, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE SIX OR SO DOCTORS THAT ARE ON REGULAR PAYROLL? THEY NEED TO BE 'LAID OFF' FIRST SINCE THEY ALREADY HAVE PAY COMING FROM THEIR REGULAR PRACTICE. THE TRUE WORKERS ALWAYS GET THE SHAFT!!!! ALL OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEES AT REGIONAL NEED TO STRIKE UNTIL FAIRNESS IS RESTORED.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The things that I has been hearing are falling into place! My sources have been good!
Posted by reader (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The bottom line is that NRMC has been overstaffed compared to other hospitals. I hate it for the affected employees though I am sure there are many that have ample retirement years in the system.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone know what types of staff were laid off? If it was the orderlies or the cleaning and cafeteria staff? If they were a part of the nursing staff, they shouldn't have problems with finding work, especially if relocating is an option for them. In any paper in most cities with a substantial population, they are almost always looking for nurses and with great signing bonuses! I know it will not be easy, but my prayers are with those who lost their jobs.
Posted by SeekinNirvana (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 2:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To lay off the Doctors would scare me. As a resident of Natchez, should I or one of my children need medical attention, I would rather have QUALIFIED help. When a business is in trouble they have to cut costs. I feel for the workers who will be affected by this action, but they will be getting unemployment and possible retirement benefits. I also HOPE that Ntz Regional discussed this action with the staff and offered some form of package to those who could retire or were close enough to still get benefits and those were the ones who are out of work today.
Posted by justin (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Every nursing home within driving distance of Natchez is looking for nurses and aides, and probably most hospitals are too. The majority of these people will be able to find jobs within an hours drive of Natchez.
Posted by shagnasty (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was laid off this morning, it was really sad at the hospital, alot of crying and tears. What most people don't get is that as soon as Phillips finds a buyer for the hospital, he's leaving.He doesn't care about the employees,patients or doctors. I have never seen him and he has never replied to my emails. the bad part is he doesn't even have the guts to sit in on your firing, he makes the managers do it, people who are friends with everyone. I feel for the managers as well. The level of care is about to drop at Regionhell...the nurses will be overloaded and believe me we have been out of stock of simple items for months now(IV lines,Urinals,soapeven crackers at times).I wish all remaining employees the best along with the Doctors as well, it is stressfull to them too. Please pray for them and the patients, because in the long run they matter the most!
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, and I really hate it for ER patients or people who will need the ER! Thanks Shagnasty for giving us insight from the inside. Normally, the axe man is not the person you will see everyday, in these cases, unfortunately, and yes, management will have it hard. Also, the poor people left. I was a part of a company that did some major lay-offs for its size and when that happens, the people who are left can watch out. When this happened, those of us who were left at that time, we caught it! There was DOUBLE the work, terrible morale and you don't get anyone coming to tell you things will get better, you just chug along and pray to either be laid off or that some other job will come and rescue you. IT IS NOT A GOOD EXISISTENCE, either way.
Posted by NoWireHangers (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LSU Hospital in New Orleans is paying registered nurses
upwards of $51.00/hr plus benefits/LSU retirement.
I believe the MPERS will roll-over to the LASERS system(Louisiana Retirement System)
Yes, hospitals everywhere are looking for workers but New
Orleans is paying premium pay to recruit nurses. Look in the
Times-Picayune.....
Posted by doubled (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
MAY GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY WORKER WHO'S FIRED AND NOT FIRED MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILIES .
Posted by justoneopinion (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is very sad to see this happen. Phillips was not hired to befriend any one or to have any feelings or concerns for the employees. He was hired to come in and restructure, look at where the over staffing was and put the hospital back on track. Thats his job. The board of supervisors want the hospital sold, there are several who have always wanted that and thats why this management company was hired. People were laid off from all areas: nurses, aides, housekeeping, xray, lab and etc. It was done as fair as possible. From what I understand, the physicians have been cut and if not now its coming in the next 30 days. For the hospital to stay afloat, this had to happen. I feel for each and everyone laid off and their families who are suffering. There was no severence package, finances wouldn't allow it. Those who are still there will feel an increase in workload..the way it was 10-15 years ago. Those who remain will have to pull together, work hard ,and keep things going. I pray for all.
Posted by Jules (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 5:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When I first finished nursing school I went to work at Jeff Davis (1983 as an RN) was working as a student prior to that.
I was there when the initial changes in Medicare and Insurance allowed days for treatment took place, and we felt the beginnings of the staff sting way back then, and we saw the decline in what we felt to be proper patient care. Sadly things have gotten so much worse and so many nurses are going to work in other fields of nursing or leaving it all together. It is a business now and all about profits and making money. No concern for patient care let alone comfort. Nurses are the highest paid group in any hospital, but usually it's the auxillary staff that is cut first. Aids, orderlies, housekeeping, laundry, dietary, then you get into lab, radiology, and nursing...notice the last to go if they ever do is anyone from the business offices. When I started we had 3-4 times the patients and probably 1 tenth the office help and it all got done.so why do we need so many more office people now? My heart goes out to all those that went home without a job and to the ones left behind that will have to cover those spots as well as their own, but mainly to the patients and their families and the changes this will bring in quality of care and their safety.
Posted by shagnasty (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am an RN, sad part is people were laid off ranked by seniority, the hospital stated that your work record would not be taken into account. I understand seniority but there are a lot of nurses that have been there 2-5 years that were laid off with spotless records, who didn't ride the clock and showed up on time. It is sad but everything happens for a reason. I just hope everyone can make it through this time, Doctors,patients and all of the employees that were laid off and kept.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I AM SO FURIOUS I CAN'T TYPE RIGHT NOW, I'LL BE BACK!
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i hope they got rid of the hospital board too....this would not have happened if they were doing their job...i hope things turn out ok for the laid off employees
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Scary times we are in ! How many people are employed at Regional ?
Posted by ericstratton (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Good point Justoneopinion about Phillips being everyones friend, it is his job to come and restructure a broken business and hopefully with the remaining staff and support of the medical community he will succeed. Also(Shagnasty) its not his job to sit in on every layoff, thats why you have managers. One more point, everyone from Quorum to the doctors to the board have been blamed for the hospitals demise,anybody ever think about looking at the NRMC dept managers?
Posted by msrn2005 (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 8:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Southernbelle I can't begin to tell you how many people are employed at NRMC. I work inside the buiding and don't know. How sad!!!
Posted by justoneopinion (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
about 380-420 were employed
Posted by shagnasty (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i know Phillips is not everyones friend and ive also been a business manager before, I know what his job is. He clearly follows the rules but a little bit of humanity never hurt anyone. believe me he's making plenty of $$$$$$. Then again he is a hired gun. More articles will be coming out in the Democrat, some good some bad. Either way alot of good people got laid off today that will not come back. Luckily Natchez has 2 nursing schools here that can fill the market down the road. Scary thing is that it's gonna be a LONG SCARY ROAD. As a former employee I believe someone will buy the building and turn it into a profitable,working,smooth operating hospital. The thing is it will not be over night or even over the next year. I can only hope some of the employees that have been laid off or cut back will give regionahell a 2nd errr 3rd chance, without good Dr.'s, nurses, lab techs, and general employee's no health care facility will thrive.There ae too many good people in this community that need jobs and health care, these last few days have been great at regionhell,I cannot tell you how many time patients have thanked me for what I have done and thanked many other employees. People read the papers and know whats going on. we wil just have to wait and see.
Posted by justayappin (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You are right JUSTIN - Nursing homes are hiring - and turning over nurse like pancakes too. Have you ever worked at a nursing home? Well, I have and they don't hire 'surgery techs, mammo. techs, x-ray techs,' and many more that have lost their jobs. NRMC put themselves in a bind when they started buying up all of the local doctors offices. It is not all that easy to just relocate your family, it really shoots a childs self confidence to be re-planted in a odd place. My prayers are with all the employees who are/were employeed by NRMC, security is something that these people don't even know anymore. Yes, it scares me! Would anybody really want a doctor to perform surgery without an experienced staff? or worse an over worked staff? I would be scared to have a baby or need a major surgery right now.
Posted by caringrn (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have been in nursing since 1983 and there have been a lot of changes. Most of which have been for cost effectiveness. Back then we had less paper work, nurses aides and patient acuity wasn't as high. I started my nursing at Jeff Davis. It was a well run facility then. The CEO and the Director of Nursing made rounds several times a day and knew what was going on. Since I have been back at NRMC for the last 4 years I did not know who the CEO and the Director of Nursing was. Maybe that is part of the problem. Throughout this whole financial crisis there has been little if no communication with the employees. I hope for everyone's sake that this restructuring will save NRMC. I hope that the new management whoever it is will use good communication skills along with good financial skills. For everyone that was laid off and for everyone left my prayers and best wishes go out to you.
Posted by justin (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I currently am working at a nursing home. We had nurses start coming in for applications on Tuesday. I realize that we don't employ surgery techs, mammo. techs, x-ray techs,' and many more. I was just commenting that all the nurses wouldn't have to leave town in they didn't want to.
Posted by boo (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
it was a very sad day at NRMC!! Many tears and prayers. It is true that the hard working employees have been screwed since Quarm has been here. It is true that noone acknowledged nurses week last week! It is true that getting rid of the doctors and their high paychecks could save. (one doctor = 3 nurses) The damage is done though. I understand that they are next. So now they will be pissed and never refer their patients to NRMC. This will hurt also. What is sad, the patients do exactly what the doctor suggest. and this includes going to whatever hospital the doctor suggest. This is just the beginning!! I'm not sure what is worse... being laid off, or being the few left. Moral is down, staff is short and overworked, license on the line, not to mention the importance of patient safety!!
A VERY SAD DAY AT NRMC!!!!!
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 11:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What's going on at Community?
Posted by justayappin (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Justin ~ I hope you are a great person who can handle acute care patients, if not --- start looking for another job now!!! I also work in the same field, and acute care is taking over. Soon we will not have the 'nursing home' atmosphere, it is all starting to format into acuity care homes. Personally, I want the best nurse for my loved one and NRMC has many great nurses that I would love to see. I have researched alot of diagnoisis(DRG'S) that we treat in our area in the past and we need NRMC to stay open. NRMC needs to hire top management and let them run with it. We could have a #1 hospital b/c we do have some awesome doctors! Staff hold your head high, all of you are in my prayers!!!!
Posted by nursegal (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 12:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Caringrn...in the last week there were so many changes. Director of nurses, day supervisors, nurse managers gone, combining units. And then we knew the big layoff was coming not sure who or how they were picking. It is very stressful.
Posted by nursegal (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 1:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kirby is a great nurse...if natchez regional has several big corps.(heard it...they trade on the NASDAQ) that are interested in buying the hospital then why hasn't Philips sold it? Why close floors that will have to reopen and lose qualified staff that could run it? just sayin...do you cut a place to the core and expect someone to come in an take over? Wouldn't you want to have an excellent, qualified staff available to show instead of vacant departments and vacant nursing floors? I understand that there needed to be layoffs...secretaries with secretaries..i would like to know what staff was cut..how many nurses..aids...kitchen..lab...drs offices
Posted by truthseeker (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 1:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I pray for all that have lost their jobs.But if you are a loving,caring, and care about patients .Then you are really needed at the nursing homes.I know they are under staffed,the pay is not great and it is very hard work.But we are all going to get old some day . And we would want good caring taking care of us!! I don't live in natchez but i do have relitives that live there and a lot of good friends in St.Joe and Waterproof,and Vilida God bless you all.
Posted by 000117 (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 3:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Phillips said the layoffs will not impact the level of patient care the hospital can provide. This can be a true statment,because the level of patient care is at the bottom right now as it is.
Posted by dwhitley (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 5:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just remember, when one door closes another one opens up, even better. Good Luck in the future and don't give up because it is not the end, it's the beginning.
Posted by ntz143 (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 6 a.m. (Suggest removal)
does anyone know if any of the kitchen staff was laid off? I know of a program that is looking for a cook right away....person must be licensed (Serv Safe). If anybody knows of anyone, please email me and I will pass along....good salary and good benefits.
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well you better start hiring a cleaning service when you goto the hospital because for the last few years i,ve had to stay in a room there and they cleaned it about once each stay, the room cannot be sanitary no more than they are cleaned, it is not a pretty site or can it be germfree under those conditions. I stayed five days the last time and they didn,t have anyone to or just didn,t change the linen and never really cleaned the room. Just came by for a few minutes and spent about the same time, a few minutes.
Posted by shagnasty (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 7:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is a shame what happened to Kirby, she was one of the few people who liked working there and supported that hospital. You think the board would over look her situation for the fact she worked there for so long before. She couldn't help but leave for a few months. It was either that or loose her home. Real classy Phillips, maybe someday you'll be in the same situation and someone will screw you like you screwed these people. I know Dr.Stubbs reads this, he needs to step in and help some people out like Kirby.
Posted by texasranger (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Philips was the hatchet man,Just like Steve Olsen at IPCO. THey sent him there until the mill shutdown. He was at another IP mill just before it closed. When the mill closed in Natchez they also fired Steve Olsen, because he sat right niext to a friend of mine to collect a $2,000 dollar goverment check they were giving to laid off employess who attended a trade school.
Posted by lsumom (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh, yes the layoffs will not impact pt care. Unless you count two nurses taking care of a whole unit alone. Also, what would the Board of Nursing and Joint Commission think of nursing taking over resp therapy jobs in addition to all the extra work they have to do. Resp therapy has a new boss who happens to be a rn. she has not worked the floor in probably 20years but she is the one who suggested that nursing can do their job. It is always amazing when people who don't know what the real work is all about suggest things for the working people to do. Also, the CEO still fails to address why the hospital has 6-8 drs on payroll along with their office staff. Seems to me the drs in Natchez have always done well running their own clinics. Also Teach4Peace it was all the regular hardworking people laid off. Nurses, orderlies, housekeeping, cafeteria staff. I did not hear of one single management person losing their job. As to you SeekingNirvana, your comment about laying off the drs scaring you tells me you know very little about how things are run. Most drs in this town have their own offices and staff. NR has an office with about 5 family drs on staff. They are paying all their expenses including their PERS contribution. Also, the board of trustees needs to look into hiring an attorney and filing a civil suit against Quorum for mismanagement.
Posted by conservativeusa (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone should wake up and realize that lawsuits have forced the Doctors out of Regional and other facilities due to the cost of insurance. Some have gone to Louisiana and set up shop.
Why don't all of you concerned about your healthcare call your state rep. and congressman. Even though they are probably lawers they might try to help.
Posted by ericstratton (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Im not sure why some of you are blaming Phillips for trying to right the ship. It would seem layoffs are the obvious choice. The hospital was over staffed and not being run efficiently. Just because you lose staff doesnt mean quality of care goes down. It refocus's,responsibility,gives people and gives them a clearer direction. Don't be made at Phillips be mad at the people who hired all the staff.
Posted by topper (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 10:15 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by NoWireHangers (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Five people in dietary, five people in the lab, 2 in housekeeping,
that is all I know...not sure how many nurses.......
Posted by e34 (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The biggest reason why the hospital is struggling, is that the majority of everyone that goes in for care is on freaking medicare/medicade, cause Natchez are full of those people, and those who do have insurance, they charge the crap out of!! I hope they get bought by a group like St. Francis, or Shriners, cause that would be the only way to have a decent hospital in the area, that everyone wouldnt mind going to without fear of poor care or outrageous bills!
Posted by windjammer (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I worked at Regional for a long time. Worked side by side with Kirby for years. Along with her family, Natchez Regional was her life. She loved it more than anyone I know. Very dedicated, never missed work unless her husband was in the hospital out of town, took very good care of her patients, never complained of being overworked and underpaid. I only wish I could be half as strong as Kirby. She will find another job, and it will be a big gain for her new place of employment, Natchez Regional Medical Centers loss. For Kirby and the other staff laid off, I know you are having a lot of mixed emotions right now. I am praying for you and the staff that is left behind. Just as someone else posted they will be short, and I personally think working conditions will be bad. I know from past experience, it was already short staffed, whether management thinks so or not. They were not the ones working for 12 hours or more never getting a break. So for those of you who were laid off, find a new job working for someone who appreciates you and tells you now and then that you are doing a good job. Good Luck, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by grrbrts (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For those that have been laid off, please take advantage of COBRA (if available), Unemployment Insurance, and manage your 401(k) (if available).
Posted by Preacher (anonymous) on May 17, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have lifted up many prayers already for our hospital situation. Some for the ones who would lose their jobs. Some for the ones who would be required to take on additional responsibility and some prayers for those who had hard decisions to make. I hope all will find good jobs close to home very soon. In the long run I believe we will see that the restructuring of NRH will create a profitable hospital with loyal staff which will become an asset to our community. We need the hospital and they must, like any business, made a profit to stay in business. Restructuring will help create an attractive, profitable business for interested buyers. Hopefully those buyers will be a part of a national chain that know how to run an effecient and caring facility. Another insight to the restructuring is out-sourcing. Some of the high dollar equipiment used for scans and other expensive tests will be put in the hands of doctors and clinics to be shared with the rest of the community while still being avaliable at a lower cost to the hospital patients. This equipment is expensive to purchase and expensive to maintain. Salary as you can see has been the major financial liability of the hospital. You can easily compare the staff numbers of both of the local hospitals and see that Community is doing the same job with much less payroll. NRH must do the same if it is to stay in business. We will keep all of our hospital staff in our prayers and look forward to a better day for all.
Posted by Rhino (anonymous) on May 18, 2008 at 12:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've been at NRMC for 17 years and let me just say that Bad Management by Quorum is why the hospital is in the hole not overstaffing. Sure there were some departments that might have been overstaffed a bit and there are definitley to many Doctors on our payroll but Quorums terrible management is what has put us in the shape were in. I hope that we do sue Quorum since we paid them to manage us and in my opinion they did not do there jobs. But I also think that the Board of supervisors and the Board of trustees should have corrected this long ago. This didn't just happen overnight it's been years of mis management.
Good Luck to Kirby. She was the perfect RN in my book. Hardworking, Loved her Job, and always ready to help patients or fellow coworkers. She is the kind of nurse every hospital should have on their floor. Too bad NRMC doesn't have Kirby R.N. on it's floor anymore.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on May 18, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just asking...wasn't the hospital in trouble even before Quorum took over?...I'm sure Quorum probably just milked the situation, but...?
Posted by Rhino (anonymous) on May 18, 2008 at 10:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No Quorum took over around 1993. Before then, Bill Mitchel was the Administrator and there was no management company. The then Jeff Davis Hospital had 10 Million in the bank and Mr. Mitchel was making preperations to buy Natchez Community{ Hummana back then} but he didn't inform the board of trustees about his plans to buy them out until it was almost a done deal. One of the doctors on the board, can't remember now who it was, got mad and they voted Mr. Mitchel out. If they would have just let him buy them we wouldn't be in this mess now.
Posted by nursegal (anonymous) on May 18, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So many laid off and so many changes taking place in such a short time. I heard there is no longer an outpatient floor. The medical floor 4th shut down over the weekend moving patients to the outpatient floor. Outpatients will be mingled among the other units wherever there is a vacancy. Nurses and staff have not been callled to tell them where they are working after the weekend when the next shift comes in.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on May 18, 2008 at 10:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok...I remember now, about Bill Mitchell, he was a good man...but I do know one thing...six months ago I had to take my wife the the ER...we went there because her doctor practiced there...we sat for 4 hrs. without even triage, before we gave up and went to Community where we were admitted within an hour...was it just our stupidity for staying for that amount of time or was it just bad service on Regional's part?...probably both, but it doesn't speak well of what's gone before and if the staff is cut it will take even more time, in all likelyhood.
Posted by ntzslums (anonymous) on May 19, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One hospital town....on the way. Next year we'll be complaining about how expensive health care is in natchez.
Posted by xtechs (anonymous) on June 9, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone know if there is a Mammo Tech looking for work? We have a travel position in New Orleans
X-TECHS is a Louisiana staffing company that specializes in Radiology. X-TECHS has served the medical community since 1983. We can be reached at 1-800-998-3247.
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