Is this reputation true

[bell83]

I really want to ask this on the general discussion thread because so many people have worked at different states. Is it true that Memorial Hermann Southeast in Houston is a run down hospital with the clients being mostly Medicare and low income patients?

[leslie :-D]

I really want to ask this on the general discussion thread because so many people have worked at different states. Is it true that Memorial Hermann Southeast in Houston is a run down hospital with the clients being mostly Medicare and low income patients?

you may fare better if you post this in the texas forum.

and just curious, would it bother you if a hospital dealt w/mostly medicare, medicaid, low income?

leslie

[RN1989]

The majority of hospitals in the entire country get their revenue from Medicare and/or Medicaid and treat lots of uninsured.

[Dolce, RN]

Just a thought...I really try to make a point of not looking at the insurance section of a patient's chart. Their insurance, or lack thereof, really shouldn't have any bearing on our view of them or our patient care.

[VegRN]

Just a thought...I really try to make a point of not looking at the insurance section of a patient's chart. Their insurance, or lack thereof, really shouldn't have any bearing on our view of them or our patient care.

who has time to even look up that information??

Just a thought though, the OP may have mentioned a concern that most of the patients were medicare/goverment payers because the hospitals that have a larger proportion of private insurance have more of a profit margin. This may or may not mean that the conditions of the hospital, the pay and benefits are better. In my town, the private hospitals do pay more than the public hospitals. The only magnet hospital is also a private hospital.

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

error, see below

[Dixielee, BSN, RN]

Just a thought...I really try to make a point of not looking at the insurance section of a patient's chart. Their insurance, or lack thereof, really shouldn't have any bearing on our view of them or our patient care.

Payor source is not even listed on our charts. I am sure someone can see it, but the nursing staff can't.

FWIW, just because someone is on Medicare, it doesn't mean they are low income. It just means they have paid into the system long enough to obtain insurance at age 65. Many people on disability are also on Medicare. My dad is on Medicare at age 72, still works full time and has additional insurance. Sorry if you might not want to care for him based on insurance status.

[bell83]

Hmmm I think my question may need clarification. I want to first state that I have absolutely nothing against patients on medicare or low income or taking care of these patients (I have cared for them before and enjoyed them regardless) so I hope that clears things up for those who may have been taken aback. In the specialty in which I would like to work in, it is the unfortunate reality that there are certain issues that affect this client base when it deals to this specialty that I am interested in. I want to work in maternity but I have had my fair share of dealing with crack babies and drug addicted mothers and the like and it was difficult for me. I believe part of being a good professional I need to know and respect my limits. That is the truth and I apologize if yet still it may offend. So back to my original question if anyone knows this info about Memorial Hermann Southeast I would really appreciate it. Thanks all!

[MikeyJ, RN]

So... insured pregnant women don't drink alcohol or do illegal drugs? And every hospital that I know of legally needs to provide care to women in labor, thus these hospitals that only take insured patients that you are referring to will not push those "drug addicted mothers" away.

[Miss Mab]

c'mon....cut her a break.

She wasn't being racially/culturally insensitive. Thankfully, she's a nurse who knows her limits and her current potential for burnout factor.

Good for her....

I worked in an inner city ER for quite a while most recently. Guess what? We seemed to have an exceptional number of pts. w/ some remarkably similar disease processes. Really doesn't matter to differentiate what they happened to be. Cared for and treated every one of them. Routinely. Compassionately. For what amounted to about 1/3 of a total average night.

I moved to the wine country. Another ER. Occasionally, I see a pt. who happens to share some very similar problems and disease state. As always, I provide them competent care.

Something was bugging me(for whatever reason) and it went from 1/3 of every worknight to 1/3 of every workweek? This is a good thing.

Sometimes we need to back off...

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Southeast primarily serves a suburban, middle-class, private pay patient base.

[mianders, RN]

The Memorial Hermann Hospital System is one of the finest in the nation. They have spent millions of dollars renevating the Southest Campus. It has a New ER, ICU, Level 3 Nursery, Cancer Center, Outpatient services and many other improvements. It is a beautiful facility. It does have it's share of low income patients but all hospitals do. I am not sure where your information comes from but is incorrect.