tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post1555491184850083088..comments2024-03-18T06:27:51.599-04:00Comments on Not Running a Hospital: Final budget decisionsPaul Levyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17065446378970179507noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-14996657536130552222009-03-28T13:47:00.000-04:002009-03-28T13:47:00.000-04:00Thank you, thank you, thank you for acknowleding t...Thank you, thank you, thank you for acknowleding that residents should NOT take a pay cut. I looked at the salaries for Boston residencies and had NO IDEA how I would afford to a) live in Boston, b) own a car (necessary for my particular program) and c) eat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-44700886165998483782009-03-26T13:23:00.000-04:002009-03-26T13:23:00.000-04:00Thanks, Ed, although I wonder why is was confident...Thanks, Ed, although I wonder why is was confidential, since everything is posted here anyway! I pleased, though, that we were able to be helpful in your place, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-29417506937738120202009-03-26T13:09:00.000-04:002009-03-26T13:09:00.000-04:00I have a wife who works at the BIDMC and has confi...I have a wife who works at the BIDMC and has confidentially shared the process and communications with me regarding cost reductions. I've used it as a model and as a personal guide for engaging with our company during our tough economic ride. Instead of dictating change we also reached out to our employees for their ideas and it also surfaced alternatives we hadn't considered. I wanted to pass my thanks and appreciation and especially to tell you that there are others going through the similar gut wrenching process.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-55924418033059357162009-03-25T21:17:00.000-04:002009-03-25T21:17:00.000-04:00BIDMC needs a good PR team STAT. First of all, rep...BIDMC needs a good PR team STAT. First of all, reporting the intricacies of the budget crisis to everyone has created the illusion that BI is suffering more than MGH, BMC, BW and other local hospitals - even though, for instance, MGH already conducted layoffs a long time ago, as did other hospitals. It just wasn't publicized. Who looks bad in this? BI, of course. <BR/><BR/>Add in the article today about the plastic surgeon who fell asleep at the wheel during some lipo procedure. Also, remember the one about the botched surgery, having been operated on the wrong side of the body? Not to mention the former anesthesia attending who was found OD'ed in the hospital, despite not having credentials to enter the areas in which he was found. <BR/><BR/>Now let's not forget the smear campaign run by the union last year. <BR/><BR/>Another joke - the fact that the hospital pays the Red Sox for the pleasure of being the "official hospital" then people hear of actual Red Sox players going to MGH for their MRIs. <BR/><BR/>This hospital needs a better PR team before it sinks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-12606705700195410222009-03-25T18:01:00.000-04:002009-03-25T18:01:00.000-04:00Paul, I think the decisions you have made so far a...Paul, I think the decisions you have made so far are in the best interest of the hospital and the employees. I just want to express some of my frustrations being a nurse who has worked here since 1982. I know there are many of us in this category that have stuck it out through good times and bad all these years and really have nothing to look forward to.<BR/><BR/>I know this isn't the time to ask for perks but I strongly feel that being a dedicated employee for so may years should come with some kind of reward.<BR/><BR/>I was so looking forward to being here for 20 years so I could earn an extra week of ET and then that was taking away around the time of the merger. Now we have a freeze on ET and don't get raises, we don't make a whole lot more than new nurses right out of school.<BR/><BR/>Our pensions and 401k's may be at risk the closer we get to retirement..... here's my thought, I feel that senior nurses shouldn't have to work weekends and holidays anymore after putting in 20-25 years here. This requires no money out of the budget, in fact will save money by not paying time and a half to the highest paid nurses and would make us feel valued and that we get some kind of perk for our dedication. There has to be some incentive to stay here and to ease the burden of "the aging nurse".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-45862128894645310692009-03-25T14:19:00.000-04:002009-03-25T14:19:00.000-04:00Paul, Another idea! How about asking the board me...Paul, <BR/>Another idea! How about asking the board members to give up their parking cards? That would probably save at least 5 or 10 jobs at BI.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-51177916678632361922009-03-24T18:32:00.000-04:002009-03-24T18:32:00.000-04:00Paul, your incredible leadership during a challeng...Paul, your incredible leadership during a challenging time was the focus of a class I taught today in the Nursing Scholars Program at UMass Boston. You are an excellent example of a truly resonant leader in healthcare. Thank you for leading with hope, compassion, mindfulness and a whole lot of talent!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-9128474240552147302009-03-24T15:32:00.000-04:002009-03-24T15:32:00.000-04:00I have nothing to do with the BIDMC community and ...I have nothing to do with the BIDMC community and happened upon this post via exectweets. I am incredibly impressed with the compassion, caring, and sound judgments made by the leadership and the willingness to be so incredibly open. Wow. I wish more companies would be so inclusive and forthcoming during these tough times.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-18157274586982408252009-03-24T13:00:00.000-04:002009-03-24T13:00:00.000-04:00Thanks for making the process and logic used to ma...Thanks for making the process and logic used to make these tough decisions so transparent. I live in the southeast, and my family is subject to many of the same problems you've shared. I think we're all struggling to reconcile economic realities with a host of competing, yet worthy, needs.<BR/><BR/>Last year, I was the Safe Medication Management Fellow at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, which afforded me an opportunity to study the value of a variety of performance improvement strategies. I remember chatting with a professional from the pharmaceutical industry about transparency. I saw it as a good thing, while he had more reservations, reflecting that an execution might not be made easier by a running narrative (first, we're going to shave your chest, then we're going to lead you down a dark hallway, and strap you in, and so on). <BR/><BR/>But I stand by my assessment that transparency IS good. It reflects a belief that people are capable of understanding tough issues and moves us another welcome step away from paternalism. <BR/><BR/>I'm not thrilled with all that has changed in my family, at least from an economic standpoint. But clear communication and transparent processes may be among the few available "spoonfuls of sugar" to help this bitter medicine go down.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again!Barbara Olson, MS, RN, FISMPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17580039684980409341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-37163537774651227162009-03-24T11:02:00.000-04:002009-03-24T11:02:00.000-04:00This is a difficult time for many, many people, bu...This is a difficult time for many, many people, but what I believe truly defines our characters is how we handle the tough times, both personally and as a community. As a member of the BIDMC community, my heart does go out to those who will be hit hardest by these changes, accepting that even I may have hard times to come. But I do not believe that a reasonable person can accuse the decision-making process regarding these changes as being reckless or heavy-handed. There has been great care shown in how the institution will need to respond to challenging economic times, which is a testimony to its intelligent, moral and compassionate leadership.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-69712361709574739462009-03-24T09:40:00.000-04:002009-03-24T09:40:00.000-04:00When I read this I immediately thought of what wou...When I read this I immediately thought of what would have happened had BIDMC been a union hospital. It seems to me that it is unlikely a union would make any of these concessions and massive layoffs would have been inevitable. The union would have also demanded that layoffs would be based on seniority rather than productivity. This is all the evidence I will ever need that unionizing BIDMC would be a horrible mistake. Just ask the Boston Teachers who will be losing more than 150 full time positions because the teacher's union is unwilling to forgo pay raises for one year.Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00384607904876881525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-91136026430220021582009-03-24T08:34:00.000-04:002009-03-24T08:34:00.000-04:00As you have already taken a very large pay cut, it...As you have already taken a very large pay cut, it is very generous of you and Mrs. Levy to offer to match gifts made to the BIDMC fund. It has inspired me to donate. Thank you for your leadership and inspiration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com