Friday, November 16, 2018

Letter from Springfield Hospital - Page 2

Re: Feature story in the Eagle-Times, "Springfield Hospital board of directors hears complaints from community members"





www.eagletimes.com


To the editor,

Tim Ford was hired in 2013. After 5 years as CEO we are having a financial crisis. Not one person who spoke had anything positive to say about the current administration. Those who spoke included doctors, nurses, PA,s, citizens, our legislator and we had an excellent summary from one of our selectman.

There was no discussion after everyone spoke, so we remain in the dark re the board’s impressions, nor have we heard how the board intends to keep the public informed. Some specific remedies from the board would be reassuring.

From an letter in the Eagle Times on Nov 15 and signed by George Lamb and Tim Ford we found this statement regarding the change in ER providers: “This change allows us to offer 24/7 board-certified physician coverage,” but it doesn’t say what they are board certified in vs. the current staff of PAs that have extensive ER training, and Dr. Marasa is a board certified ER physician.

This “24/7 coverage” is in conflict with a recent hospital memo: “MD/DO Onsite Presence Disclosure Notice” effective Nov. 5, 2018. “Pursuant to the Center of Medicare and Medicaid’s Condition of Participation (42 CFR 489.20 (w) Springfield Hospital, Inc. is required to make the following disclosure to patients at the beginning of a planned or unplanned inpatient stay. While you are a patient at Springfield Hospital and/or the Windham Center for Psychiatric Care, there may be times during your stay when there is not a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) physically present. Springfield Hospital is staffed by associate providers such as Nurse Practitioners and/or Physician Assistants during certain time period. Both locations will always have a Doctor of Medicine or a Doctor of Osteopathy on-call. These providers will always be available to report to each site if/when needed.”

Regarding nursing shortages — the attrition rate is unprecedented. It’s usually better and more cost effective to work with the people you’ve already hired than to recruit someone to fill a position. It seems to be a concept that has eluded the current administration both in the hospital and in the doctors offices.

It is true that we are in difficult times for hospitals but not all Vermont hospitals are doing badly

In addition, we have heard that the hospital is moving forward with a new electronic medical record, which is VERY expensive and requires that the hospital have significant cash reserves at the start up. How is that even possible?

In our 42 years in Springfield there has never been so much concern expressed by so many people about the hospital’s survivability.

“A hospital can do well with a strong CEO and a weak board, but will not fare well with a weak CEO and a strong board.” It’s been five years and the last two, as well as the current year , look like we’re losing ground. It’s time for a change.


John and Corky Bond

Springfield, Vt.

5 comments :

  1. Rumor has it that jim ford fires employees that disagree with him,nice guy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is something that you won't see in the news for sure.

      Delete
  2. I have never been impressed by the quality and quantity of healthcare in Springfield. I find the reliance on nurse practitioners for nearly everything especially disturbing. If you have to pay doctors more money to practice here, then do it. We're not all junkies and welfare cases here; some of us have good insurance, and can afford better than this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I asked if the fee for being treated by a Nurse Practitioner or Physician's Assistant was less than that for being treated by an actual doctor, and reluctant though the profession is to say anything about fees, they admitted that it was NOT less - you pay the same as for a real doctor.

      Delete


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