Here’s a weird one

"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti) 04/16/2020 at 13:30 • Filed to: None

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My sister, who is a nurse and doctoral (DNP) student, is afraid she might lose her job because her hospital is so empty. They keep cutting her shifts. She’s already been working in their covid unit directly with patients. She was originally very concerned as her hospital has been over capacity and under staffed since October. But now they’re apparently over staffed? For reference, she works for a major healthcare company in one of the largest metro areas in the US.

Our politicians certainly have a lot to answer for, but at the heart of a lot of our issues are our profit over everything healthcare providers.

Tortoise for your time.

3point8isgreat > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 13:36

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Have they cut almost all other medical services?  I’ve got a surgical tech friend here that said they were all on very reduced hours since 80% of surgeries were cancelled/postponed.  

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 13:38

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It’s happening here too.

https://nbcmontana.com/news/coronavirus/kalispell-regional-healthcare-furloughs-600-employees

“The compounding effect of the loss of patient volumes, cancellation of elective surgeries, and the closure of entire service lines has had a tremendous financial impact on KRH,” said KRH President and CEO Craig Lambrecht, M.D. “Cost cutting efforts have been underway but unfortunately those efforts alone cannot remedy the significance of these losses a time when we must safeguard a clinical stabilization program.”

Cash Rewards > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 13:39

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Sorry to hear that. The reality is that anything elective, or that can be pushed off, is getting postponed. Need that new knee surgery? Screw it, I can limp around for another couple months, I’m in quarantine lockdown anyway. Anything truly optional for sure isn’t happening. So yeah, the for profit nature of our healthcare system is taking a hit, as it is both overwhelmed and losing money at the same time.

But  boo socialized healthcare, we're not communists here

Future next gen S2000 owner > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 13:40

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I have more than a few extended family members in the healthcare industry. Turns out all those elective surgeries keep a lot of people employed and make a ton of money for hospitals. Putting those off has cut revenue like crazy.

Just Jeepin' > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 13:40

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I understand (a little bit) the argument that health care is a really poor mix of regulated and capitalistic, and with less regulation it could be more competitive and thus reduce rates.

I am, however, very skeptical.

Growing up it never dawned on me that hospitals were for-profit institutions. I saw them as part of our infrastructure.

Anyway, I’m just grateful that my flu ER visit l ast month , which cost $5300(!!) , was mostly covered by my insurance. One hour of fluids, x-rays, and a friendly doctor.

Also grateful it happened before C OVID became a big thing locally.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 13:42

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are they refusing people?

coz...it seems pretty off for a hospital to not be full around now?

wait.... are people just not going to the hospital coz its so expensive? (that sounds more likely now i remembered american healthcare...)

that said.... over here we are having a similar problem... doctors are telling people to please come to the hospital for stuff that isnt rona... cancer patients and what not are staying home for fear of catching it at the hospital.... ronas gonna kill a w hole bunch of people without even infecting them at this rate

jminer > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 13:43

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It’s tough as hospitals major revenue sources (such as surgery) is mostly gone due to the fact that hospitals are now major breeding grounds of the most infectious disease we’ve seen in a century.  So any non-essential procedure is not happening.

My wife is in the health care policy side and small hospitals in particular are hit very hard by this shift . We also have a friend that’s a Nurse who got laid off as she’s a GI nurse and her practice closed for now. They offered to shift her into the ER/ICU but she’s got a 6 month at home so that was a no-go.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Just Jeepin' 04/16/2020 at 13:47

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I used to think they were “non profit” charities, too.

In my fair PNW city for years? There were two competing systems, both doing over $ 2 BILLION a year in revenues and both putting at least $400 million a year on the bottom line.

It’s a big business.  And a big business that’s tax exempt.  Go figger.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > jminer 04/16/2020 at 13:48

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Yeah, it’s counter-intuitive... so basically anything even remotely elective is being put off? So there are layoffs?

That’s just messed up.

VincentMalamute-Kim > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 13:48

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Like 3point says, her state’s lockdown orders cancelled all elective procedures. The ones that make huge profits for the hospital. You saw immoral minority’s $30K pacemaker charge? Which takes a half hour at the most? Step 3: Profit!

Social distancing and mitigation procedures flattened the curve and now her hospital isn’t overwhelmed with COVID patients.

Not enough patients, too much staff, not enough money. I’ll bet the CEO and admins are keeping their millions though. As a healthcare provider (ret’d), I agree our system is broken.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 04/16/2020 at 13:52

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Other than a very few specific geographic areas the level of RONA is very low in the US. 

VincentMalamute-Kim > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 04/16/2020 at 13:54

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Usually it’s state ordered lockdown procedures, not that the hospitals are refusing people.

And yeah, even before COVID, hospitals are not a great place to hang out. You can find the nastiest bugs there.

BigBlock440 > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 04/16/2020 at 13:56

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Elective stuff, like fixing a knee or outpaitent stuff. Also, ER visits are reduced because people are just sitting home and not engaged in dangerous activities. Not everywhere is packed like NYC, the US is a big place . Like wondering why Finland’s hospitals aren’t packed full because of what’s happening in Italy .

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 04/16/2020 at 13:59

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over here its pretty low too...tho..tiny country....i cant get a doctors appointment to save me life tho.. (well.. to safe me life i could...thats what the emergency line is for...but just getting a check up...yeah good luck with that)

VincentMalamute-Kim > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 14:00

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Here’s the Colorado Executive Order reminder from the Dept of Regulatory Agencies gutting hospital incomes. Wisconsin sent me a similar order.

Dear Licensee:

This communication serves as a reminder that Executive Order D 2020 027 , issued April 6, has extended the temporary cessation of all elective and non-essential surgeries and procedures, whether medical, dental or veterinary, through at least April 26, 2020 .

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > BigBlock440 04/16/2020 at 14:01

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i live in a country the size of a postage stamp....i occasionally forget just how big the us of a is..

VincentMalamute-Kim > jminer 04/16/2020 at 14:04

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H ospitals have always been a breeding ground for the nastiest bugs. Not just now. Don’t hang out in hospitals unless you have to.

Kiltedpadre > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 14:13

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My wife is employed by a small hospital in a non-medical position. Last week they only had two patients in the hospital.

What’s killing them is that the state had banned any medical procedures that aren’t emergencies in an effort to save hospital PPE. Their bread and butter is physical therapy and joint replacement surgeries neither of which are currently happening.

So far the hospital administration has guaranteed all employees they won’t have hours or pay cuts through the end of the month.

My wife is concerned about layoffs after that time though. The hospital had two options for emergency funding, and they chose to only pursue one of the two. The one they chose not to pursue would have required them to guarantee there wouldn’t be any layoffs until at least September or they would’ve had to repay a portion of the money.

InFierority Complex > 3point8isgreat 04/16/2020 at 14:24

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Sounds about right. We’re doing less surgeries in an en tire week than we used to do in a day.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 14:25

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My sister is a traveling nurse and moved to LA two weeks ago but they aren’t nearly as busy as they expected with a lot of the normal staff being put on leave. She’s not sure they’ll even keep her for the whole contract, they may terminate it early. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 04/16/2020 at 14:37

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That’s whey we drive freedom, there is enough room.

DipodomysDeserti > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 04/16/2020 at 14:46

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No idea. Just found out another acquaintance , an MD at a fairly prestigious national hospital, was sent home.

DipodomysDeserti > VincentMalamute-Kim 04/16/2020 at 14:49

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My sister’s hospital’s over flow units have been full since October and they’ve been understaffed since then. Somehow she still has only been given one N95 mask. Not sure how a change like that happens so quickly. I think they’re running on the ragged edge in order to continue to maximize returns.

DipodomysDeserti > BigBlock440 04/16/2020 at 14:51

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My sis is a cardiovascular nurse, where nothing is really elective and has the deadliest diseases in the US. I think they’re cutting the people they need to make up for the lack of revenues from the elective stuff.

DipodomysDeserti > jminer 04/16/2020 at 14:54

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My sister is a cardiovascular nurse. Seems like it’d be better to take a financial hit and keep those people around in case you need them. Her hospital has been short staffed with their overflow units full since October. She’s also at one of the biggest healthcare providers in our state. I have an acquaintance who’s an MD at the largest healthcare provider, and he was sent home.

DipodomysDeserti > VincentMalamute-Kim 04/16/2020 at 14:55

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Yeah, unfortunately lots of people lack primary care, and thus the ER becomes primary care. I still find it nuts people have babies in hospitals, but I’m married to a hippie.

VincentMalamute-Kim > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 14:55

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I think they’re running on the ragged edge in order to continue to maximize returns.

I wouldn’t be surprised. Money is amazingly important.

DipodomysDeserti > Just Jeepin' 04/16/2020 at 14:59

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You have a mix of for profit, non profit and state/county/federal infrastructure. And don’t think just because something is non profit doesn’t mean they aren’t trying to maximize how much they make. It’s just accounted for differently afterwards. I used to do a lot of work for non profits, and they were just as cutthroat than the for profit businesses, sometimes more-so .

Just found out an acquaintance who’s an MD at a different hospital was sent home.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Just Jeepin' 04/16/2020 at 15:06

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health care is a really poor mix of regulated and capitalistic

They’re regulated? Other than a few minimal requirements for cleanliness, HIPAA, safety, I’m not aware of them being regulated for profit making schemes.

A few states like Michigan used to have “Certificate of Need” so hospitals didn’t go around buying unneeded MRI’s and other capital equipment that is used mainly to boost profit .

WilliamsSW > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 15:08

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^^^ so much this on non profits.

These days in medicine, either you’re treating COVID patients or you’re doing nothing.  Hardly anything in between.  And if you’re doing nothing they’ll send you home without pay at some point if they haven’t already.  

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 15:09

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rona is having the strangest side effects....

DipodomysDeserti > 3point8isgreat 04/16/2020 at 15:14

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Yeah, their cutting even the people they need to make up for it.

Just Jeepin' > VincentMalamute-Kim 04/16/2020 at 15:15

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The healthcare  system as a whole is heavily regulated. I nsurance companies, drug manufacturers, etc.

I can’t speak much to hospitals (most of my experience with this is in the pharmaceutical industry) , but they certainly have state and federal requirements they have to meet, like HIPAA, and they’re impacted by the cost of drugs (which are influenced by the need to comply with the aforementioned regulations, as well as being protected by federal patent laws which allows pharmaceutical companies to drive up the prices) and I’m sure the insurance industry impacts them in all sorts of helpful and unhelpful ways.

jminer > VincentMalamute-Kim 04/16/2020 at 15:18

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Without a doubt!

VincentMalamute-Kim > Just Jeepin' 04/16/2020 at 15:19

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I am in the hospital / clinical side. My point is that I don’t see any regulation as far as us making as much money as we can.

Yes, we have a lot of other regulation.

DipodomysDeserti > VincentMalamute-Kim 04/16/2020 at 15:23

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Yep. I don’t think people really grasp how deep the knock on effects of this are going to be. I’m getting a sneak peak of how it is interr upting the university system in regards to scientific research, and it’s bad. My mail carrier said his boss told him they’re probably going to shut mail service down, which is absolutely insane.

DipodomysDeserti > VincentMalamute-Kim 04/16/2020 at 15:25

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If the rest of us are forced to take a hit, then I think hospital CEOs should be asked to do the same. But I think we all know that’s a ridiculous thing to ask.

DipodomysDeserti > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 04/16/2020 at 15:36

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My state is 7x larger than all of Netherlands. Alaska is about 340, 000 Km2 larger than western Europe. We have an insane amount of area over here.

VincentMalamute-Kim > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 15:53

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His USPS boss said they’re probably going to shut down USPS?!

TheRealBicycleBuck > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 16:44

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This is par for the course in the engineering world. Engineers are just whores being passed around to whichever pimp has the contract. Five companies compete, one wins, engineers from the losing companies get jobs with the winner.

I understand it’s harder in health care since there isn’t as much competition or turnover and the jobs are essentially in fixed locations. That also makes it easier for the management companies to get away with temporary layoffs.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > DipodomysDeserti 04/16/2020 at 19:21

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Can’t help you there as the majority of our health system is publically funded.

There are also many privately run for profit hospitals. However, even these have been temporarily brought into the public system with the demise of most elective surgery.

Given our current infection rate is less than 0.8, hospitalisation rates remain low and deaths still number less than 100 despite thousands being infected... I’m thinking that the issue is less about healthcare and how it is delivered, more about the underlying health and welfare of the impacted population.

DipodomysDeserti > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 04/16/2020 at 19:52

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I think you’re spot on.

We have publicly funded hospitals as well. I volunteered at the VA as a high schooler. Saw a lot of bad shit happening, so I’m not sure that would help that much over here. In my experience it breeds apathy.

Svend > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 04/17/2020 at 01:26

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Our hospitals while very busy are assuring people at home who maybe hurt to still use A&E.

The other month I phoned my doctor about a leg infection, I was asked to go straight up, five minutes in a taxi, and I was at the doctors being seen. After an exam I was given a prescription of anti biotics, post anti biotics, I had a concern out of hours about my foot, went to A&E, was seen after ten minutes, exammed. Told it was post med oedema and to rest my foot up and take some anti inflamatories.