HMA hospitals

[fightthestigma]

Does anyone work in a hospital owned by HMA (Health Management Associates, Inc.)? If so, are they "employee-friendly"? What kind of staff to pt ratios do you have in your area? Are there things that you particularly like or dislike? The hospital I work for will be taken over by HMA in December, and we are all wondering what kind of changes may occur.

Thanks!!

[obrnangie]

Hi, I am responding to all the comments about HMA. I am a L&D nurse, and have worked for the organization 11 years of my 25+ year carrier. I work in a small community hospital that services my town. I am also a foster mom- turned adopted mother.

I want you to see that working for a large corperation of any kind can be frustrating. People are not perfict, but the outcome is worth it. Take the DSS. You talk about BS and red tape, but I worked with the program and I am thankfull everytime I look in my son's face that I did. He was born in a HMA hospital that I work in. He was dropped off and alone when I came from L&D and picked him up. The hospital kept him for 3 days to treat and infection and drug with drawl, then let me take off to take him home and get to know my little man.

There are people on the other side of this issue that deserve our undevided attention. There ae management changes, new policies and a whole host of other issues. Be so busy being the best person you can be that you don't have time to focus on politics or other's agenda.

[LMPFC]

Stay away, profit and good care don't mix well with this organization.

[FreeLance_Nurse]

In response to the HMA question, no this is not the type of organization you want to provide quality care for. I can only speak to the hospital in Florida where I had worked for 10 years before HMA moved in, but almost immediately the hospital declined. We were promised "no changes" in the first year; no one would lose their job, etc. In less than a month, HMA had fired everyone in our transcription department and replaced them with a subcontractor. Likewise, within 8 months, the same had happened to our housekeeping, food service, and biomedical engineering departments. The staffing ratio on our floor (medical/surgical/telemetry/stepdown) had gone from 5-1 to 9-1. Older nurses were harassed, giving us no choice but to resign, and newer cheaper nurses were hired. Money was spent hand over fist to "redecorate" our lobby which had just been redecorated 3 years ago, while patient care equipment continued to break and not be replaced. Basically, their philosophy is the same as many airlines- it's cheaper to pay out a lawsuit than to pay for staff, equipment, and safety. I'm glad I'm out, I found a much better job with a company that actually cares about their clients and employees, and I wish I had done that from day 1.

[divxx]

NEVER EVER EVER work for HMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[avaloncar, BSN, RN]

Was this for a hospital in MS?

[avaloncar, BSN, RN]

Okay, now I am freaked out. I just got a job at a HMA hospital in MS. Is it really that bad? Does anyone else work in a HMA hospital in MS?