Warning Signs a hospital is about to change hands

[RunningWithScissors]

Anyone go through a buy-out? What were the "warning signs" ahead that you now recognize?

My hospital has a hiring freeze and the census has been half normal (3/4 of beds full) for many months now, not just the summer lag. Some administation resignations too.

Are these signs of impending doom?

[dawngloves, BSN, RN]

Supplies are short.Admissions are down.Docs jumping ship.

[Quickbeam, BSN, RN]

Went through this a few times. Management staff seem to know before others so I'd see position shifting...lots of admin movement either up or out. Dramatic changes in census. Policy changes that make no sense.

One hospital where I worked as internal pool moved all the patients to one floor. census plunged. A month later they were sold and went from a psych hospital to long term vent dependent care.

[bargainhound, RN]

It is sad but true some places are not honest with their employees

about upcoming ownership/management changes.

I have experienced both.

Unfortunately, even when you know a change is coming, you do

not necessarily know any other details. So, it can still be unknown

what the future holds for everyone.

You basically have to look out for yourself and do what you need

to do for your own family.

[caliotter3]

When the facility I was working for changed hands we were told about it when we were given a letter with an application for employment attached to it. We had to apply for our jobs. Most people just thought it was a paperwork formality. The new company started instituting their way of doing things, including outsourcing housekeeping and dietary. Ninety days after they had taken over, licensed nurses were laid off with only ten days notice at the same time that general layoffs were announced. The mgmt announced layoffs with threats to employees concerning work behavior. The exodus started. Being one of the peons on the bottom, I had no warning. There were no warning signs. But when the new company took over, mgmt types starting finding new homes. Apprarently, experience taught them to look out for self and get gone while the getting was good.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

Ha Ha, I clicked on this topic because my hospital is going through this. We got an email from the CEO saying we were having "severe financial difficulties". I work in the OR and we are only running 9 rooms out of 12 on any given day...not a good sign I would say. I gave notice last week and have an interview lined up for next week. I'm worried about some of our older nurses-some of them have never worked anywhere else and haven't even thought about tweaking their resume...I learned early on that you HAVE to look out for yourself. These hospitals will not do it for you.