Where does all the money go?

[everydaynurse]

I was a patient recently, and I now realize how expensive a prodcedure can be. I also realize as a nurse how much we get paid. It really seems complicated when you look at all the costs in running a hospital. Are there really deficets? I know health insurance is a slow death to a lot of industries. So are hospitals like some other corporations, big salarys on top and to home office?

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I was a patient recently, and I now realize how expensive a prodcedure can be. I also realize as a nurse how much we get paid. It really seems complicated when you look at all the costs in running a hospital. Are there really deficets? I know health insurance is a slow death to a lot of industries. So are hospitals like some other corporations, big salarys on top and to home office?

Hospital CEOs are multimillionaires.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Hospital CEOs are multimillionaires.

True!

The CEO of my system is paid over a million dollars a year, and the CEO of each hospital in the system is paid about half a million a year. The lowly hospital CEOs have to wait two years to be millionaires. Boo hoo.

ETA: The VPs of each hospital are also paid in the hundreds of thousands. And then there are the VPs of the system making close to a million a year. Layer upon layer of money.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Don't forget the LAWYERS!!

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Take a gander and find your CEO

Health Care Renewal: What Goes Up - Non-Profit Hospital CEO Compensation Continues to Defy Gravity

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

I was wondering that too! I think they said our post-op patients pay about $3000 a day on our unit (disclaimer: I might be TOTALLY wrong about that) and I wondered myself.

[Asystole RN]

BioPatches cost around $10 per patch.

A box of nitril gloves cost around $15-$20 a box, depending on the type.

Primaxin IV is around $75 per dose

Zosyn is around $50 per dose

Zyvox is around $150 per dose

Vanco is around $20 per dose (but you must figure in the labs that go with it)

Enteral feeding typically costs $150-$300 per day (greatly depending upon the type)

PPN/TPN can cost around $500-$1000 per day

IV catheters are usually about $2-$4 per catheter

Depending upon the size of the hospital is typically costs $5,000-$80,000 per day for gas

The various liability insurances costs many many millions per year

This is not saying that money can be wasted on hospital leadership but do not kid yourself that the basic supplies and medications you administer do not cost a substantial amount.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Don't know if those prices are the large bulk purchase prices or individual purchase prices. The gloves? I've ordered those for much less in a small private practice just on our quantity. Hospitals, like all business who have large quantity purchases do negotiate and purchase sometimes abroad as Walmart does in order to get a lower price. They place a hefty markup when they re-bill, as they do for any and all services.

[Asystole RN]

Don't know if those prices are the large bulk purchase prices or individual purchase prices. The gloves? I've ordered those for much less in a small private practice just on our quantity. Hospitals, like all business who have large quantity purchases do negotiate and purchase sometimes abroad as Walmart does in order to get a lower price. They place a hefty markup when they re-bill, as they do for any and all services.

Very true, prices do vary but not a lot per unit. BioPatches for example will range from $9 per patch to $11 per patch. Makes a huge difference when you are buying thousands but you get the point.

Gloves will vary significantly depending upon the brand and style. There is a significant difference in price between vinyl, latex, and nitril gloves.

The drugs and supplies were priced through previous experience with Omnicare and Medline from a 150 bed facility.

[tablefor9, RN]

Money go? At our facility, it's not a black hole in the CEO's office as much as it's an entitlement mentality and an abuse of the ER, EMS, and the healthcare system in general.

Quote from this week:

"I want x, y, and z...because it's free, well, at least I'm not paying for it"

[umcRN, BSN, RN]

I was wondering that too! I think they said our post-op patients pay about $3000 a day on our unit (disclaimer: I might be TOTALLY wrong about that) and I wondered myself.

Currently dealing with insurance/hospital bills for a recent stay. My two nights in the ICU were $4480 each, my days on the floor were $2480/day. Add in a $37,000 surgery (which doesn't include my surgeons presence) and all the other bells and whistles (and $35 ted socks etc) it's outrageous! And I have never been more thankful for having decent insurance, I only wish I hadn't been dumb enough to think that at 24 years old I didn't need short term disability because now I'm without vacation for a looong time (not that I could afford one!)

[mrmedical, ASN, BSN]

I read in an old report on how money flows in the hospital and in particular for ER's, by their nature, actually cost most hospitals money rather than earn anything.