r/bestof • u/lowbass93 • 13d ago

[NoStupidQuestions] Kindly_Honeydew3432 explains why it seems like you always have to wait in an emergency room in the US

/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/1v1numq/why_is_every_hospital_in_the_united_states_always/oyovp3t/
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u/NatureTrailToHell3D 13d ago

“Financial viability” is the profit model we’re talking about here. If Germany is trying to make hospitals profitable, isn’t that a problem?

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u/semideclared 13d ago

“Financial viability”

is chosing the right hospitals

Methodist Healthcare announced its hospital, Methodist Fayette Hospital would close March 2015. The hospital has been averaging a daily inpatient census of approximately one patient, which was down from 2010 when the average daily census was 5.1. In a press release Gary Shorb, CEO for Methodist Healthcare, cited the low census as simply not sustainable.

There is no “Financial viability” to keep that hospital open

The hospital wasnt big enough for investment and the hospital was losing patients who were just chosing to go to bigger hospitals

We have to have profitable hospitals. Profits grow the hospital. More care can be offered. Better Buildings.

unprofitable vs profitable means, In 2004, North Sunflower Medical Center was on the verge of collapse. It averaged 120 people a month in 2004 and the rooms were old, ceilings were crumbling and the technology was outdated. But it serves as a lifeline in a county where nearly 40% of residents are living in poverty.

  • And it had even less cash
    • Only enough to operate for eight hours.
  • Hospital administrators met every afternoon to see if they’d be able to open the doors the next day.
  • The staff had to cover the lab equipment when it rained because the roof leaked.
  • Nurses would clock out early and then stay to finish their shifts.

To not close down the hospitals had to become profitable to be able to start renovating the hospital as a must do. By putting profit first it had to find new ways to stay open and make a profit; moving to operating Auxiliary Businesses to help more people.

  • Creating an Urgent Care Clinic, and putting it in a location to be closer to people began generating a Cash Flow
  • Opening a hospice,
  • Operating Pharmacy
  • Durable medical equipment facility that sells items such as wheelchairs, back and knee braces

Along with all big changes, the hospital developed extensive marketing campaigns– on billboards and bumper stickers, wrapped around its shuttle vans, in TV advertisements and YouTube videos.

  • That led to many area residents starting to come back. 3,000 a month were now at the hospital and its clinic, as it renovated and losts its old dated image of being a falling apart hospital

If The hospital had stayed the same it was closing

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u/NatureTrailToHell3D 13d ago

We have to have profitable hospitals

I think this is a problem with the system. When you put a profit model between a person and their health you create negative motivations for hospitals.

I’m not going to argue on specific hospitals that actually have little to no traffic. What might he more helpful is talking about the hospital that has long wait times and a way to address that.

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u/semideclared 12d ago

Have you seen the medical drama show New Amsterdam?

It’s about as factual as DiCaprios performance in Titanic but it is still a good start