Hospital vs Hotel

[General E. Speaking, RN]

Check out the intro add for this hospital in the medical center in Houston. And we wonder why patient's expect "hotel-type" service... gimme a break! I hope those nurses only have 2 patients so they have time to pass out slippers and fluff pillows.

http://www.universitygeneralhospital.com/

[all4schwa]

Well, I just happen to be in Houston all this week. And yes, I'm going over there and checking it out. I'll be back to you on this one.

yes, we want a full report!! and who works there, anyone here? i would love to hear from any nurse working there!!

of course, they probably do have all the necessary supplies, families that aren't screaming and acting redneck taking too much time out of my day because they've never been educated or socialized, probably no multi-traumas that are time consuming and make for 'dirty work'...ect....

*sigh*

[hollyvk, BSN]

I wonder what happens when the indigent patient walks through the ER doors? I wonder if the menu changes and he gets a plain old patient gown instead of the white spa robe.

I very much doubt that this facility has an Emergency Dept. The number one reason to have an ED these days is to funnel new patients into the facility, and obviously the physician owners of this facility plan on just funnelling in their own non-emergent well-insured or independently-wealthy surgical pts.

I wonder if they plan to have hair stylists and nail care technicians available to the patients? (Cuz we all know you gotta have that big hair in TX).:roll

HollyVK

[hollyvk, BSN]

this facility is not a one-time situation:

partnership building 10 doctor-owned hospitals

december 4, 2006 - in: [color=#003399]healthcare companies

houston-based university general hospital systems has committed to a $1 billion agreement with alliance development group of charlotte, nc, under which the two will build 10 physician-owned acute care hospitals. alliance is a construction management company which specializes in delivering turnkey facilities, with seemingly no high-profile healthcare experience to date. university, for its part, already operates a 72-bed hospital near texas medical center in houston. the next round of hospitals will average about 80 beds, and physicians will own about a 65 percent interest in each hospital. under the terms of the deal, university will begin building in houston, and begin building another facility every three months. targeted markets include dallas, denver and phoenix, with others yet to be announced. no word yet on how the deals are being financed--clearly, physician money has something to do with it, but it would be interesting to find out who is kicking in what. all in all, a rather hush-hush arrangement for a deal with a $1 billion price tag on it.

http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/partnership-building-10-doctor-owned-hospitals/2006-12-04

this is the biggest example i've seen of the growing problem facing general acute care facilities where the physicians are setting up their own facilities to draw off the high-paying patients.

[loricatus]

I'd only consider working there if I can work for tips (just like a 5-star hotel). For each fluff service I'd hand the pt an envelope preprinted with my expected tip (whiners pay double) . For butt wipes & peri care, the tip must be up front and no less than $100.00. Also, I'd expect a bonus for each time I would have to say "Y'all come back now, ya here"

[SaderNurse05, BSN, RN]

Thanks. I needed a laugh today. I want to hear from someone in Houston- are they for real??

[General E. Speaking, RN, RN]

.....

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I'm all for pt. comfort, but this is just too much.

[jannrn]

Wow, some of your comments surprise me! I love seeing to my pt needs, even getting them some hot tea, showing them the menu for room service, bringing them the morning paper and hot coffee..... and starting thier IV's, administering meds, pt teaching, foleys, emptying thier jp drains and teaching them how to if they have to take them home, taking out lady partsl packing.... I LOVE a nice-looking place to work, and quiet carpeted halls, and hearing the pt say how nice it is to be in this hospital instead of the noisy - busy one. How can you all think that is bad?

Of course no one likes a rude and demanding pt but the majority of the pt I meet are quite appreciative of the care they get, no matter if the environment is more hotel-like!

I don't work at the TX hosp. but in a CA one.

[all4schwa]

and also, i wonder what it does for the nurse/physcian relationship with the practicing docs also own the place.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

How can you all think that is bad?

Because 'healthcare' does not seem #1 in this situation.

[CritterLover, BSN, RN]

i very much doubt that this facility has an emergency dept. the number one reason to have an ed these days is to funnel new patients into the facility, and obviously the physician owners of this facility plan on just funnelling in their own non-emergent well-insured or independently-wealthy surgical pts.hollyvk

i agree.

by not having an emergency room, they effectivly circumvent emtala and all that goes with it.

no homeless people walking in off the street into the er. no uninsured calling 911 to go to nice, new hospital. if you don't have a prior appointment, you arn't going to be there.

they can (almost) choose their patients.

i thought there was some sort of regulation that required hospitals to serve the indigent population. one hospital near me circumvented that for years by having a prison contract. the inmates were considered to be "indigent" even though the bill was paid in full. i wonder how this hospital is planning on getting around it.

[pshs_2000]

i don't know if you all noticed. but i didn't hear the word "nurses" at all in that ad...