A Hospital before its time

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.

I am looking back the first facility I worked in as an RN. This facility was owned and run by the physicians who created an HMO in my state. The facility was built to accomodate those patients in that HMO. The nurses worked very different hours, on for 7 days, off for 7. We worked 6 hour shifts Monday thru Friday, a 12 hour shift on Saturday and Sunday then had 7 days off. I could breeze thorough the 6 hour shifts without having to stop for more than a drink of water and a bathroom break. We always knew a year ahead of time when we would have time off for doctors appointments etc. The 6 hour weekday shifts were perfect for parents, you had energy when you got home from work for helping with homework, taking kids to school etc. We did have to put in one extra 6 hour shift every two weeks but we got fulltime benefits.

The docs treated us kindly, we attended numerous holiday parties/dinners compliments of the various doctor groups.

Everyone was a part of a team of health care workers, docs, pharmacist, nurses, nurse aids, radiology, phlebotomy, lab specialists. I remember one lab worker on nights who could do manual lab tests on a very small amount of blood.

Doctors answered your calls 24/7 and gave you orders you needed.

As health care reform took over in the USA, this facility was purchased by another one which then went out of business 8 or so years later.

A sad death of a really worker considerate facility. The patients seemed happier than I see now also.

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I would love to work in a place like that. It almost seems to good to be true.

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Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.

It felt that way at the time too.

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Specializes in geriatric, hospice, med/surg.

Please help me to understand this wonderful schedule you described. It adds up that you each worked two twelves plus the five six's....which in my math world adds to: 54 hours per week in a seven day week worked. Now correct me if I misread/misinterpreted, maybe you didn't always work w/e? or maybe not every monday thru friday? Thanks!

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Specializes in SICU.

Sounds great! Too bad it's not around today. :o

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Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.

The hospital schedule was 6 hours monday thru friday, 12 hours Saturday and Sunday then 7 Days off. We worked 7 days then had 7 off. You had to pick up one 6 hour shift every 4 weeks. This was on the med/surg units. The ER and ICU/CCU worked 8's 10's and 12's. We got paid for full time and got benefits. That facility showed a 40% profit the year prior to being purchased by another facility.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

So why is it not around?

I understand that it was sold. The question is, why?

And why did the buyer shut it down?

Was it a money loser? Did the manner of staffing contribute to that?

Was the original owner or the buyer for-profit corporations?

I'm just now trying to understand healthcare economics and such case studies fascinate me.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.
The hospital schedule was 6 hours monday thru friday, 12 hours Saturday and Sunday then 7 Days off. We worked 7 days then had 7 off. You had to pick up one 6 hour shift every 4 weeks. This was on the med/surg units. The ER and ICU/CCU worked 8's 10's and 12's. We got paid for full time and got benefits. That facility showed a 40% profit the year prior to being purchased by another facility.

So you worked only 54 hours in a typical 2-week pay period but were considered full-time employees with full-time benefits? That's pretty expensive staffing, and I wonder if that contributed to the closure of the facility.

It's great that you have fond memories of working there.

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Specializes in ICU, CCU, Trauma, neuro, Geriatrics.

We worked 60 hours in a 2 week period, we had to pick up another 6 hours somewhere. Full time benefits yes, less breaks and happier staff. Not a lot of management people, that is where they saved the bucks. A manager and an assistant manager for each unit who both helped as needed and troubleshooted on their own units. No high paid CEO, it was run by a board elected by the docs who owned the facility and some hired managers.

This facility made some money doing sex change operations but the purchaser didn't like that so that good cash flow stopped. The facility also had a contract with county prison and penitentiary for caring for prisoners. Purchaser also was not comfortable with that, down goes another money maker.

A top nationwide eye and ear surgery group had offices there and all their surgical patients were kept there after surgery, the purchaser had arguements with this group and they left. Another income gone.

An awesome cardiac surgery group also got ouseted and another income down the drain.

Both the eye and ear group and cardiac surgery group are still in the area, the eye and ear group bought their own building due to the rent out of control where they relocated to and the surgery group still has top ratings in the facilities they operate in.

Poor management and bad decisions were the decline of this facility which if still as it was would easily now receive magnet status without having to make changes.

How did they make money in the first place? The same way facilities are trying to make money now, happy staff, lots of happy patients and really awesome doctors.

Oh yeh the purchaser went out of business about 10 years after the purchase.

If you would like further information please e-mail me. [email protected]

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Sounds nice.

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