Medical Management Co.'s for jails. Who do I look for, who do I avoid?

[ripley]

Hi all,

I'm a long-time hospital nurse who finally decided I couldn't take the frustration and pressure any more.I left every day feeling I hadn't done enough. Hospital nursing has become wayyyyy too stressful. It's not fun anymore. I decided yo go into corrections nursing and have been working at a county jail for several months. I love it. I'm hooked already. My motto has become," A bad day at the jail is better than a good day at most hospitals!"

My problem is that I was not told when I took the job that the medical management company at the jail had lost their contract and another company (who underbid the old co. by a half million $$) would be moving in the 1st of October.) We all have interviewed with the company and so far they have kept people but, many who had part-time or full-time jobs WITH benefits are now being forced to go "prn" with no benefits and they are already cutting back on staffing requirements for each shift.As you might expect, many people are angry and offended. The old co. was PHS, and the new co. is Naphcare. I am wondering what experiences other nurses have had similiar to this one and could recomend...or not....which companies to look for and which to avoid.This doesn't have to be a "bashing" session, just a "heads-up" to help with job-hunting since I have zero interest in going back to the hospital.:uhoh21:

Thanks. ripley

[RNonRun]

h no benefits and they are already cutting back on staffing requirements for each shift.As you might expect, many people are angry and offended. The old co. was PHS, and the new co. is Naphcare. I am wondering what experiences other nurses have had similiar to this one and could recomend...or not....which companies to look for and which to avoid.This doesn't have to be a "bashing" session, just a "heads-up" to help with job-hunting since I have zero interest in going back to the hospital.:uhoh21:

Thanks. ripley

Welll I don't know what to tell You.

I am in the same boat. Don't come to Louisville Metro jail where CMS is not running things it is a nightmare.

I am at CCC the work release and until the last 3 weeks it was a dream come true!

I hope they loose the contract in January, I don't see how they can hold on. This is not company bashing but the next up from our Director is said to be a back stabber. Have just seen good comments about CMS elsewhere. I just can't say for sure.

I am desperate for another corrections job I hate to admit. I love the workplace and the officers have been the best esp at CCC but Our medical management is severely poor.

I do believe the same company pays different in different areas depending on their individual contract.

HTH,

[ccpc]

Just read your post about your recent experience with Naphcare. Advice - RUN!

There are only 3 major players and maybe some minor league companies i'm not aware of....I worked for CMS for several years and although we had a particularly evil administrator, the company was strong and mature. Naphcare won the new bid at the correctional facility where I and several good nursing friends worked. Naphcare initially came in and gave their big "we don't want to replace anyone" speech, but low and behold, nearly every major nursing player there was replaced within several months and word is, they plan to continue replacing, after they've worked all these poor nurses to death, and OVERWORKING shifts, to help them get their feet wet with this new contract. At least 3 Naphcare managers have lost their jobs because of the chaos they caused and word has it that the department with whom Naphcare contracted is already fed up...lies have been told over and over and although I loved that place and the inmate population, I am glad my time there was nipped in the bud. The few that are left, including nurses, a PA, and a few others are currently racing the clock to find other employment before their pink slips come in. PHS is also another company around for awhile. I've never heard any complaints and several of the CMS nurses have worked for PHS as prn and said it was cool...sorry if your first experience in correctional nursing is rough....find the right company and you may LOVE it.

[ripley]

Thanks for the reply. I kind of got the feeling that they were a pretty shifty company.Lots of promises, but not a very respectful attitude. They started breaking promises they had made to nurses before they even took over. I haven't , so far, heard anything too bad about CMS and I plan to apply to them tomorrow. We had PHS prior to being taken over by Naphcare and I'm betting the staff is thinking Naphcare wasn't so bad after all.

(I did run!) Thanks again, Ripley

.QUOTE=ccpc]Just read your post about your recent experience with Naphcare. Advice - RUN!

There are only 3 major players and maybe some minor league companies i'm not aware of....I worked for CMS for several years and although we had a particularly evil administrator, the company was strong and mature. Naphcare won the new bid at the correctional facility where I and several good nursing friends worked. Naphcare initially came in and gave their big "we don't want to replace anyone" speech, but low and behold, nearly every major nursing player there was replaced within several months and word is, they plan to continue replacing, after they've worked all these poor nurses to death, and OVERWORKING shifts, to help them get their feet wet with this new contract. At least 3 Naphcare managers have lost their jobs because of the chaos they caused and word has it that the department with whom Naphcare contracted is already fed up...lies have been told over and over and although I loved that place and the inmate population, I am glad my time there was nipped in the bud. The few that are left, including nurses, a PA, and a few others are currently racing the clock to find other employment before their pink slips come in. PHS is also another company around for awhile. I've never heard any complaints and several of the CMS nurses have worked for PHS as prn and said it was cool...sorry if your first experience in correctional nursing is rough....find the right company and you may LOVE it.