Friday, April 07, 2006

Boutique Hospitals--the Whys...Easter

The "boutique" hospitals provide several benefits as indicated by the article that this was excerpted from:

Major motivators
Physicians seeking to build such a facility typically have two major motivators—control and economics, comments Ted Schwab, president of Sokolov, Schwtiqueab, Bennett, Los Angeles,a consulting firm that specializes in joint ventures and other arrangements with physicians.

Physicians want control over their work lives—where and how they perform their procedures and the staff and equipment they have available.

“If you talk to physicians who work in hospitals, one of their perceptions is that they are unlistened to,” he comments.

Boutique hospitals are profitable because they concentrate on “hearts, brains, and bones,” the most lucrative specialties....

Why should that matter here? Because not only is the mix poor, but the hospital treats physicians the same as the regular staff....ignoring or worse....

In some cases, boutiques provide resources that wouldn't be available in other circumstances. Lap-bands, plastic surgery, as well as the afore mentioned specialties. But, the patients are creating the market.
“The public wants and is demanding a friendlier, healthier, more comfortable environment.
We are basically bringing the concept of personalized care from the outpatient surgery center into the surgical specialty arena.”
And, with the current staffing problems, personal care is something that Paris has a lack of.... Next, the "Hows."
NOTE: More pulled from comments. They even included some of the references!

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm ready---lets do it.

Is there an emergency room?

Anonymous said...

It would seem after reading this article, that this is exactly what we need here. Lower nosocomial infections alone would be incentive enough!

Not to mention happier physicians,staff and patients. And the "good food".....well we ALL know what dietary expertise PRMC has........monkey chow would be more like it!

Anonymous said...

There are good and bad aspects of boutique hospitals but they are moot points in that there is a moratorium in Texas on the construction of these facilities thanks to the lobbying of HCA and other for profit corps. There are a couple of these in north Texas and one that I am familiar with is a short stay facility, primarily surgical, physician owned and operated. It is much less costly for patients and makes a lot of money for the share holders. The nurses all got a thousand dollar Christmas bonus. There is no ER and physicians get paid for taking call whether or not they are called out (which they rarely are). There is free food for employees and physicians (it's good too). The problem is that it creates a dual standard of care in the community and most physicians still see that as a problem. A physician owned surgery center would seem to be another option that is currently legal in this state. Just think, decreased surgical infections, clean facilities, happy employees, happy patients, efficiency, less cost to patients, money in your pocket instead of Hud's and Andrew's. It would certainly be the straw that broke Essent's back. I bet the hospital would be on the block before the foundation of the surgery center is completed.

Anonymous said...

One other thing. The hospital cost 20 million to build and was projected to take ten years to pay for, but even though they are not approved on all insurance plans they now project to have it payed for in less than five years. How's that for efficiency?

fac_p said...

The 2004 moratorium is on specific types of facilities. As an ex-Pres put it, "It depends on what the meaning of the words 'is' is." –Bill Clinton, during his 1998 grand jury testimony on the Monica Lewinsky affair.

I hate to say it, but that's what lawyers are for: showing what "is" is. And to make sure that your "is" isn't their "is".

Anonymous said...

The dr's that don't even have privileges @ PRMC sure seem to enjoy the free food

Anonymous said...

Doesn't the Fed moratorium expire in June?

Anonymous said...

I would certainly utilize a facility that was new, clean, close, and held to a higher standard because it was in the public eye.

And, I would rather have the money I spend stay here than go to Dallas.

Anonymous said...

As a med-surg nurse.... SIGN ME UP!! I can gather at least a whole shift together (probably day AND night shifts) just so we dont have to say NECROTIZING FACITIS again!!

Anonymous said...

Amen on the "SIGN ME UP"........would imagine that there wouldn't be any probs regarding well qualified Xray staff as well. Just so we wouldn't have to say BEVERLY MOCK again!

Anonymous said...

As a former PRMC with 20 years experience in my fields and the only registered person in several specialties the hospital had for 3 years, who has been replaced with three contract employees, only one of which is registered in all applicable services they provide. I too would be willing to jump on board. Just think I'd only require one employees pay.....What a bargain.

Anonymous said...

So, Connie, now that your husband has been fired from KC, do you have any idea how some of the past PRMC employees feel?

Anonymous said...

I don't wish anything bad on anybody, but some of these people need to taste the medicine they are giving out.

It's strange how the karma usually falls to your spouse, kids or parents though.

Anonymous said...

Hey 7:46, you are a bargain! Essent is just too stupid to see a great employee, who is committed enough to excel in your field.

I still can't for the life of me understand why so many great employees were fired or shunned by this company.

Anonymous said...

For 7:46 Follow the money. It's always about money.

Anonymous said...

We were shunned and eliminated because we were experienced,capable,and did not fall prey easily to the mindset and machinations of the current administration. Instead of being considered "assets", it wound up that we were "liabilities". Knowledge, experience, capable. What most companies desire, Essent declines to have in their employ, let alone their presence.

As previously mentioned......MONEY!

Anonymous said...

Comment: You know, if you guys spent about half as much time concentrating on patient care as you do belly aching and complaining we'd all be better off.

Actually, we do. If administration would think more about the patients and staff than they do the almighty buck, everyone would be better off. fac_p

Anonymous said...

To 6:44 belly aching:

Funny, you sound just like management, et al on the citizensforparistexas.blogspot.com blog (shameless plug). The employees point out problems, management calls them crybabies.

There has got to be some connection here.

Anonymous said...

"6:56

Excerpted from www.parisregional.com:

"W. Hudson Connery Jr., president and chief executive officer of Essent Healthcare, Inc., has announced the appointment of 10 persons to the Board of Trustees of Paris Regional Medical Center. Others, he added, may be named later.

Community members of the board include Bobby Walters, Gene Stallings, Ken Rogers and Jo Ann Parkman, while the medical staff is represented by Clarence Temple, M.D., William DeG. Hayden, M.D., and Terrence Babcock, M.D. Steven Graves, M.D., chief of staff, will also sit as an ex-officio member of the board. Representing Essent Healthcare is Joe Pinion, Essent's chief operating officer, and Bill Heburn, interim CEO of Paris Regional Medical Center."

I realize this list is two years old, but that's all I could find."

Same here, but one would guess that Andrew and Browder or Schonert from corporate would be the Essent replacements. With Babcock leaving and Clarence retiring, I have no idea who replaced them. The ones to concentrate on would be Bobby Walters, Gene Stallings, Ken Rogers and Jo Ann Parkman, our "community leaders" as well as the docs--on the basis of integrety...fac_p

Anonymous said...

6:44 post

I spend almost all my time thinking about patient care, a full time job, a prn job, and license, and certifications that require much continuing education.

The blog spot is for those who are concerened with patient care. I no longer work at the hospital here, and I'm not belly aching because I don't. I would like to be able to go there if my family or I needed to go to the hospital.

I hate to see what's going on there hurting my family and friends.

If I spent half as much time looking for ways to get money in my pocket, instead of patient care, I would either be management, or I would be on the board of directors for PRMC.

Anonymous said...

2 On the board have a huge growl, are not nice to nurses, or other staff, and can sometimes be downright ugly to nurses. I guess they have helped set the standard.

Anonymous said...

Gordon B. Strom MD is still currently chief of staff but will pass the gauntlet on to Khalid Shafiq MD soon. Incidentally, Dr Shafiq doesn't really want this "distinguished" honor but can't find anyone to take his place...

Who would want to take command of this sinking ship just before it hits rock bottom?

Nice job Burt et al!

Anonymous said...

Dr. Shafiq could do something with it. He is actually a person who is good to his staff, and good to the people that work with him.

He is a good doctor as well.

If he can improve things--I say way to go. If he can't stop this sinking ship, well he's not the one who made the hole in the first place.

At least he is one who has made a big practice, is good to, and cares about his patients, staff, and money. He does have something to offer.

Anonymous said...

Dr Shafik will certainly make a better chief of staff, but this is not a one man show. It will be almost impossible to digg out from under all the bulls&*t that will be heaped on him by the misadventures of Burt and his politico's.... Shafik will be the last one holding the bag!!!! I personally wish him the best of luck. I hope he can make a difference for the sake of the medical community, and foremost for Paris!