Looking Back....1/1

It's traditional to look back at this time of year. Did you realize that Hud has been gone over a year? And Knizley almost two? Both are still bringing in a significant number of hits from the search engines.

If you look back at the blog posts from November 2007, you'll see several things that are pertinant to today: Sub-prime loans (GE Capital), Dux's B.P.M., Essent's vision, receptiveness to suggestions, and contemplation about the move to the North--in April(--of '08). In December, the lawsuit was still open, and the possiblity of selling Essent was being bandied about.

The new year brought the touting of new radiologists--one leaving before he really started and the other out-going.

The RHCs imploding. From what I've heard, the non-affiliated RHCs in Bogata and Honey Grove are doing well. PRMC is still looking to fill the Cooper Clinic spot. (No longer, Cooper closed this week.)

Speculation about downsizing...

A listing of red ink for Essent. (A side note, the other hospitals are reporting for the fourth quarter of 2007, while PRMC is only listing the third. Wonder what changes will be displayed when they finally update?) (A director pay cut of 10%...)

And another article hit the media, this time from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. An excerpt from Guarding the unnamed writers of the Internet

"The blogger, using the pseudonym “Frank Pasquale,” was sued in 2007 for defamation when he posted critical remarks about a local hospital on his blog, The Paris-Site. The blog focuses on issues related to Paris Regional Medical Center, ranging from the hospital’s budget concerns to a broader debate over universal health care.

Essent Healthcare, Inc., the owner of the hospital, didn’t like what was being said on the site, so it sued Pasquale and nine other anonymous bloggers for defamation and breach of contract, among other claims.

The corporation sent a subpoena to the owner of the blog, SuddenLink Communications, seeking Pasquale’s true identity.

Pasquale fears that revealing his identity will cost him his job in the health care industry and he has been fighting to quash the subpoena ever since. The case is pending.

“In a small town, and dealing with what once was the largest employer, one has to be careful,” Pasquale said."

They did neglect to mention that the appellate court rejected the decision.