The CMS (Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services) has released its 2021 Hospital Star Ratings list. Perry County Memorial Hospital has a CMS rating of 1. One being the lowest on a scale of 1 to 5.
The continuing decline of PCMH, when neighboring hospitals seem to be prospering, does not make sense. This rating raises more questions and contradicts all logic when the hospital tells us “We have to look forward and not backward.” At a recent hospital board meeting, the question was asked of a board member why the PCMH CMS rating was a 1. I was shocked when that board member responded, “I don’t know.” At that meeting, other board members (public and private), all hospital officers, their lawyers, and the illustrious New Point consultants did not offer an explanation or did not know the answer, it soon became clear that the only purpose for the meeting was to listen to a simplified presentation by New Point to justify an already convinced hospital “swamp board” to adopt and sign a letter of intent to affiliate with Mercy Health Systems. My definition of a “Swamp Board” is a group of people with the authority to make binding decisions while not knowing, caring, or trying to inform about public opinion. I use the word swamp because it was previously used by a board member.
PLEASE VOTE FOR A CHANGE APRIL 5TH
There needs to be discussion and complete information given to the residents of Perry County as to what happened at the hospital. Why is employee morale low? A successful hospital must have content and secure employees.
Did the hospital spend too much money? Was the hospital irresponsible in making contracts? Where has the money gone? Are any administrative personal paid excessively?
Are any employees underpaid? Have there been excessive demands by independent doctors. Why have 20-year resident doctors left? Are managers managing properly? Are these managers properly educated? Do they have the credentials necessary for their jobs? When did they get the credentials? Were any of these managers given promotions because of potential influence? Do any of the managers prefer one type of doctor: independent or dependent? Who is in charge of patient satisfaction? Were there behind-the-scenes deals disadvantageous to the hospital? Were purchases made that were not necessary: example the infamous CERNER program for $6 million. What did the hospital do with $12 million of Cares Act money and why did the administration refuse $1.5 million from the County Commissioner’s. Why did PCM give as much as $900,000 in executive bonuses in the year 2020? Why would PCMH consider paying New Point up to $600,000 to make this merger with Mercy. Why, with $10 million in cash and a value of $60 million and other valuable assets, why would PCMH say we need the Mercy merger done quickly. Why is the community letting the private board that got them into this situation through poor oversight, make the decision to get them out of this situation? Shouldn’t the decision rest with the community, who has supported them for the past 70 years? I can go on and on with questions. I think, if the hospital board does not answer these questions and open the books, no lease should be signed. I need not even mention the “What if?” questions.
I fear there is a rush to make a deal with Mercy. It is an ill-advised merger with a conglomerate from out of state that has terminated 800 employees in the state of Missouri and closed hospitals before. I fear that financial records and other records will be lost forever. I also feel that if this merger takes place, those records should be made public and the agreement with
Mercy should be completely disclosed and not covered under privileged communication.
I have not seen any efforts to correct the CMS rating, The big question is: How is Mercy Health going to fix all of these problems? Mercy itself has six hospitals on an “at risk of closing list.” The answer that, we have to wait and see if PCMH is going to close is not acceptable.
We are told there is no secret board and there are not secrets; yet no one knows anything, particularly Perry County Tax payers.
Concerned,
Joe Hutchinson, D.D.S.
Perryville
