NMMC doing something right

[Pontotocmom]

cpurdon said:

I had to take my wife to the ER in Pontotoc (owned by NMHS) this weekend and I was really shocked at how nasty the examination room was. I'm don't mean it was just tracked up with dirt (it was) - the counters and tables were covered with fuzz and dirt that can only accumulate over time. One thing in particular was a stainless steel tray (on wheels) that I assume is for placing instruments and supplies on. It was covered with filth.

Besides the filth, the service was extremely slow. "We'll be right back" meant at least an hour's wait more than once. Add to that a diagnosis of "I don't know. Go see your doctor Monday" and I'm wondering if it was worth the fortune they will charge.

As for the "glad NMMC saved their life" stories, well, providing quality medical care should not be a justification for robbery.

What is it with the "wait" when you are sick or dripping blood who wants the hours of waiting. My dad and uncle took a cousin (10 years old) for stitches a few weeks ago they had to wait 6 hours in Tupelo. I told them I would of went somewhere else. And King Rat, I would call the hospital and tell the director how dirty it was.

[granny2young]

I assure you (because it's a matter of public record) that NMMC charges no more than any other hospital in the region in their class. These things are regulated. if they did I am sure Joint Commission would have something to say.

[King Rat]

If NMMC has such great service at a fair price then why in the world do they oppose competition?

[TF Admin]

KR...what do you mean? NMMC does not oppose competition....no...no...they just keep building wings with extra beds ahead of time. That way when a "certificate of need" comes up they can say, "Hey, we got it covered." Thereby covering the "Need", and ELIMINATING ANY CHANCE competition can come in. They don't oppose competition, it's just not allowed.

We need reform at the State level. The "CON" process is seriously flawed, and many hospitals take advantage of it, I can't say I blame them, it's just the people that they serve suffer, their bottom line is intact.

TF

[granny2young]

if another hospital were to come into Tupelo the people would definitely suffer. You would get half health care. I don't see it could be a good thing myself to have two hospitals competing for the best workers. Our health care should not be about who can pay the best of the best.

[TF Admin]

G2Y, what is so wrong with capitalism? I mean, it works, and for one company to monopolize an entire industry in a region is just wrong. The community WANTS this. Our legislators WANT it. We'll never know now will we because of the monopoly.

TF

[King Rat]

What we have now is one hospital paying its workers as little as it can get away with - thus causing the "best of the best" to leave our area for Memphis or Birmingham. Almost every nurse I've talked to complains that they are underpaid and overworked and that so much of their time is comsumed by clerical work because NMMC works a skeleton crew. How is that good for the consumer?

[granny2young]

tell that to the electric company and the cable company.

I am not sure how many folks you know who work for NMMC, but they are not minimally paid. Even the lowest paying salary is better than almost anywhere else in Tupelo. Not everyone is keen to the idea of another hospital and understands the risks involved in it.

[King Rat]

But you can't compare their salary to "almost anywhere else in Tupelo", Granny, if you want to be fair about it. You have to compare it to others doing the same work. That's what lures them out of Tupelo. Apples to apples, as they say.

But I don't understand the drawbacks you are talking about. I see drawbacks for NMMC but not for the people of the area who need healthcare. Would you care to explain that part of it? Then maybe you can change my mind.

[Pontotocmom]

granny2young said:

tell that to the electric company and the cable company.

I am not sure how many folks you know who work for NMMC, but they are not minimally paid. Even the lowest paying salary is better than almost anywhere else in Tupelo. Not everyone is keen to the idea of another hospital and understands the risks involved in it.

I'm not in the medical field but I have two neighbors who both work at the hospital. They are looking at New Albany and Oxford because better pay and better benifits. I also have a niece, about 5 cousins, and a sibling who all have worked for the Tupelo Hospital and have left for better pay elsewhere. Memphis pays a register nurse 29.00 an hour. Batesville , Oxford and Grenada, both pay 26 to 30 an hour. So they are moving their jobs elsewhere. I do not know about the other jobs the hospital may have though. It may be good pay for the Tupelo area, but I've seen that even with high gas prices people go to where they can get either a higher wage or benifits that they need for their future. And you know I was always told a little healthy competition is good for everyone.

[TF Admin]

Tupelo's 2 biggest industries are Furniture and HealthCare. There are LOADS of furniture manufacturers, but only 1 hospital. It might not be so bad if they didn't practically FORCE Dr's to join them. You cannot have a successful private practice in Tupelo if you don't join the NMMC club. I personally know 2 Nurse Practitioners and one MD who tried over the years to operate outside the hospital, the MD gave up and opened a practice in Germantown, the 2 NP's have had to join the Monopoly Club or else! NMMC will take a patient with no health coverage, but deny certain services to area Dr's if they don't shake hands with them. I don't know the full details of how all that works so am taking it on their word, but it doesn't surprise me in the least.

TF

[King Rat]

I recall a few years ago a Tupelo doctor wanted to purchase a high-tech machine (I don't remember the specifics but it might have been for CAT scans - something along those lines) and offer those services to his patients. NMMC fought him every step of the way trying to prevent him from competing with them. It went to court and I'm not sure what the outcome was.

NMMC simply does not want competition. You can't convince me that it is because they are concerned it will lower the level of service to the area.

[missfairy]

I just wanted to note there is a local yahoo group for this and related subjects. I can't remember the *exact* name of the group but it was something like Northeast Mississippi Justice, I believe. The guy who runs it was fired from NMMC because he found out some rather unsavory things and started informing people about it...

I don't know if his or anyone elses' stories are accurate but I know there are too many negative stories about NMMC to ignore.

[granny2young]

That site is Kevin Curtis'. He is, well let's just say "out there" in body parts land, lol

[King Rat]

You mean he devoted a web site to that BIG BOY thingyamamy body parts story? Goodness.