Sunday, June 22, 2008

How Low Can You Go?....8/25

If true (and only those actually at the hospital can confirm) this little snippet is pretty damning for Essent's profitability:


Last week Nashoba Valley Medical Center set a new record for their inpatient census. There was a grand total of FOUR INPATIENTS. Yes, I said FOUR INPATIENTS.


Essent should start thinking about changing from a FOR PROFIT status to NON-PROFIT status. Staff continues to be sent home daily and there aren't many elderly still choosing NVMC for their healthcare needs. The next generation knows to stay clear of NVMC and travel another 20 minutes to the next facility.


While census is usually lower during the summer, the depth of this low sends an obvious signal: Not viable in its current configuration.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ayer is a growing community. Housing prices and taxes are the lowest in the area with new houses being built and bought. Beause of this one would think the hospital would be booming. Word is definitely out in the community that the care is substandard and actually dangerous in many cases. It's no wonder NVMC is having trouble getting patients and keeping them. Lucky for NVMC that 911 calls must be brought to them as they are the closest facility. My guess is they wouldn't even have 4 patients were it left up to the individual in need. You know a place is bad when the new cardiology group (Merrimack Valley Cardiology) won't send their patients to it even for testing. They go to their own office in Chelmsford, to Lowell General and on to Lahey Clinic if more extensive care is needed.

Anonymous said...

Between motorcycle accidents (save pennies per gallon to spend thousands in the ER), four-wheelers, horse-related (kicked, fallen off of, or them falling on you) incidents, jet skis, and car wrecks, we do stay fairly busy. Too bad a large percentage of those are without insurance.

There is another compelling reason for "Drill Here, Drill Now....", and that it puts driving cars back into the realm of possiblity--and additional metal between you and the other guy. Our ER thanks you.

Anonymous said...

Your ER maybe busy with the initial stabilization of accident victims but the med flight helicopter is there in a flash and the patient is whisked off to a real hospital. AND THAT IS A GOOD THING. Andrei Soran and Company told so many untruths to the public about building a new facility that there is litle to no confidence in EssentHealthcare. ESSENT ran off all the quality healthcare professionals who actually cared about the patients and lived in the community. The people who reside in the Nashoba Valley are not stupid and when employees who spent 20 plus years working at their community hospital resign they realize something is terribly wrong. A ghost town it is and will remain.

Anonymous said...

Breaking News from Ayer, MA
NVMC Inpatient Census is 7 this week. At least it is going up!!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to hear someone is having a low census......here where I work (which is NOT an Essent facility, thank the good Lord), we're busier than the proverbial one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest. And we have competition literally up the road from us- they're humping as well.

There is life outside of, and after, Essent- best thing that happened to me was to leave PRMC.

Anonymous said...

"Talked to a nurse that was from CT, and she indicated that Sharon was a joke..."

I wondered, but here's at least one confirmation....frank

Anonymous said...

NVMC IS A JOKE. Its a pit stop for people who are in between jobs.

Anonymous said...

Merrimack Valley has had low census for atleast 2 months. Also, lucky for MVH that 911 calls has brought the patients to the ER. Merrimack Valley Hospital is not the hospital of choice but the hospital that the patients have no other choice.
The place is a joke and will continue to lose money.

Anonymous said...

Yep, "Essent continues to be strong and is growing in all markets"...........only thing they're growing is more ill will and red ink.

Anonymous said...

Merrimack Valley Hospital is not the hospital of choice but the hospital that the patients have no other choice. The physician's feel the same way. Not only is the inpatient census low also the outpatient census has decreased to an all time low. Actually the census for outpatient services is about the same as when The Hale Hospital own it. You know it bad when the physician's in the attach Medical Building to MVH won't send their patients to MVH even for testing. Most of the physician scheduled elsewhere or send patients down the street for laboratory test. Unless they are harassed by the CEO to send the patients to MVH. Not to mention the Emergency Room the bench mark was set for triage within 5 minutes of arrival - brought back to a room within 10 minutes and then seen by a physician within 10 minutes. It looks well on paper but unfortuately the average wait is 45 minute to be called into triage and then 3+ hours to be called into the room never mind how long it takes for the physician to arrive for treatment and you are out of luck if you arrive between 11pm and 7 am when the average wait for minor treatment is 5+ hours regardless if anyone else is there for treatment and most likely there isn't. You usually receive treatment between physician naps or the staff on the internet. Word is definitely out in the community that the care is substandard and in many cases dangerous.

Anonymous said...

The article in the (Boston) Globe stated the following: A third financial executive, who the hospital would not name, was let go.

I have a feeling that the third financial executive was brought to MVH by Mr Collins and sits in the adjorning office.

Anonymous said...

NVMC is a joke. I think they do a great job initially stabilizing patients, but they do get sent out immediately - rightly so!!!!! I wouldn't want my child or family member admitted there. The ER is the best - they do their job well, but for that 3rd floor (or ACU they call it) - unbelievable. The CEO is completely clueless!!! Essent should treat their employees better, not let nurses walk out who have worked there for 20 years. But they don't care, cuz they can get a new nurse for a lot cheaper!!!

fac_p said...

Please notice that in most of the Essent hospitals, there has been an exodus of the 'more experienced' personnel. Replacement staff is young (boy is it young!) and young is good...they aren't as tired as we would be after chasing their tails all shift. Of course, experience has taught us how not to have to chase our tails...and be more efficient in our actions. What questions to ask, how and what to access...they'll get there...about the time that Essent (or whatever new owner) replaces them with a less experienced person.