Hospials, all about money?

Jules A, MSN · Mar 3, 2009

Hopefully a balance of the two but many facilites are in the business of making money. Its sort of like asking if you are nursing for the money. I sure am, not to say I don't care about my patients and love nursing but I surely wouldn't be doing it for free or even much less than I get paid now. :)

Katnip, RN · Mar 3, 2009

Keep in mind, too that all hospitals must make profit in order to keep functioning. In not-for-profits the difference is the profit all goes back into the hospital, while for-profits go into the hospital and its investors. Therefore, they all need to be making money.

Like Jules said, hopefully the admins will keep a balance of the two.

RNperdiem, RN · Mar 3, 2009

If a hospital can't pay its bills, there will be no patient care.

Hospitals have more of a "corporate" mentality these days.

The mom-and-pop style of running a hospital/business is almost gone; hospitals have become too big and complex to be run that way.

A more corporate style will have more money spent on things like "marketing" and bonuses.

Patient care or at least the impression of good patient care can get lost unless the nursing leadership is strong.

countrylifeRN · Mar 3, 2009

The answer is YES - it's about the money. Do more with less. It's what I hear day after day, year after year. Once I realized this was the case, I was able to understand much more why things are done in ways that made absolutely no sense to me. I get it now. It's MONEY.

Pierrette · Mar 3, 2009

At the basis of hospital politics, does it come down to money or patient care?

Why does it have to be either one or the other?

Jules nailed it. If you ask yourself the same question - are you in it for patient care or for the money - you will find a combination of both. There is nothing wrong with providing a good service while at the same time making money.

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2009

As with many things, "respect" and "trust" go a long way.

Your hospital might have the latest "reception facility" and "flat screen TVs" and it might initially attract patients - but if it makes up for the "jazz and pizzazz" by giving up the "quality patient care" ... believe it or not, patients will recognise the difference.

Slowly, your patient volumes will drop. Discerning patients will scrimp on the wireless TV but go where they get good nursing care (and thus good outcomes).

You'll start hearing stories from your own patients as to WHY they chose any particular hospital: "My uncle, he had surgery at that hospital and they durned near killed him! They're incmopetent over there!" or "I've been coming here for 30 years. I've always been treated right here and I'll be damned if I'm going elsewhere!" or "Yeah, my mother-in-law told me horror stories about that other place. I ain't goin' there!"

Don't get me wrong - there is nothing wrong in offering "jazz" along with the "quality care". But as other posters have mentioned, it's all about the art of striking the balance. You'll find that the institutions that manage to strike this balance (and keep it) are more often than not the ones left standing for a long time...

Yes, it IS all about the money - but show me any business that isn't? If you don't have income to cover your expenses, you're going to go broke. Simple as that.

cheers,

Iam46yearsold · Mar 3, 2009

Well if you do not get good to excellent patient care then there is no money coming in. Thats is why I love HCA. They demand good patient care, They make good money and this is shared with the staff. I love patient care the HCA Way.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 3, 2009

well let me ask you - would you care for patients without expecting a paycheck?

Iam46yearsold · Mar 3, 2009

HCA pays well, and takes care of nurses well.