Blowing smoke and sunshine

Has anyone heard a lot of good things said by patients in this hospital? Certainly not as to response to call buttons, IV bag changes, bed changes, and the like. (All pointing to short-staffing.) So much for the Essent COO's statement:

"...We are committed first and foremost to providing high quality health care services for everyone in Paris and the surrounding communities."

But, remember the days prior to and heralding the purchase. Everything was roses. The Paris News was happy--their advertising income was probably going to stay the same, so they ran their typical hard-hitting fluff piece.

Right after the purchase, Jenks Healthcare Business Report said:

Although additional hospitals are in the pipeline, it is unlikely the company will close on any for at least the next six months while it digests St. Joseph’s and returns it to profitability. But as operations improve, and profits rise, Essent will continue its growth and may do one more venture capital round before it entertains an IPO.

Well, the reason for Essent's existence comes out: IPO. The magic drug to satisfy the craving of any management type. No wonder Hud came out of retirement.

It's also interesting how most of the Essent acquisitions have been in areas with no alternatives for care. Essentially, a monopoly. So, they can set the wage, they can evict Red River, and they can play the tune that everyone dances to in healthcare.

Someone mentioned that the doctors were being sued. Yep, all those that were in partnership for the MRI (Essentially the entire medical staff.) So was the hospital (a partner, 20%, I believe.)

Why are they hitting so hard on their imaging competition? Certain aspects of a hospital make money, enough to offset the losses sustained by other areas, and then some. Imaging is one of them. The hospital charges significantly more than RRVR does for exams. If they effectively took RRVR out of play, they not only absorb their business, but they can employ a radiologist to interpret and bill for the professional services as well.

So back to the initial quote, which might read:

"...We are committed first and foremost to providing the only health care services for everyone in Paris and the surrounding communities."