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    Misc

    Archives for: March 2009

    Hospitals and the recession

    March 6th, 2009

    by Tony Chen

    Here's a few things I've been hearing from other hospitals on the impact of this recession.

    "Bad debt is going through the roof."

    "Even administrative employees are being asked to take unpaid time off, go on furloughs."

    "Merit increases are frozen. So are open positions."

    "Surprisingly, volumes are up 5 to 8 percent from last year. It's just that we're not getting paid for the services we provided."

    "We are actually having one of the strongest years in the hospital's history."

    "We're actually doing okay, though we are reconsidering a major capital project."

    One thing to recognize is that while we like to look at national numbers, our hospital systems all operate in local environments. Yes, all of our investment incomes were smashed, but each market (some folks say it's probably 250 to 300 local markets around the country) will have unique dynamics to deal with.

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    Safety Tip

    Hospital facilities built today do not include asbestos, but many older buildings still have asbestos components in them. Steam pipes, boilers and furnace ducts were often insulated with an asbestos blanket or asbestos paper tape because of their fireproof and insulating properties. Resilient floor tiles were made from vinyl asbestos. Asbestos cement was employed in roofing, shingles and siding materials. The hazard of this carcinogen increases when the fibers become airborne, and untrained contractors can inadvertently increase risks by cutting, tearing, sawing, scraping, or sanding asbestos materials. Elevated asbestos levels can occur in hospitals where old materials are damaged or disturbed. It is best to leave undamaged asbestos material alone if it is not likely to be disturbed. Inhaling asbestos fibers is known to cause mesothelioma and other diseases. Be sure to use an experienced asbestos removal contractor when you need to get rid of old materials that might contain asbestos.