Thread: Dallas: Hospital Shutting Down

I saw this on the news today but can't find an online post anywhere. Apparently the hospital, I think they called it 'Terrel', is shutting down due to the massive increase in patients who are "unable to pay" and because local and state governments do not reimburse them at all for these patients.

Terrell, Texas, is located 35 Miles Southeast of Dallas.
I can believe this is happening as its happened 100 times if not more in southern california and a few in southern Arizona also closing of filing bankruptcy protection

The hospitals need to put up a sign that reads: We serve only legal American Citizens. No Exceptions!

unfortunately hospitals are not allowed to turn away anyone.

Then the illegal's will continue to abuse them until we have no hospitals left.

I'll bet the Mexican hospitals wouldn't treat an illegal American...

Looks like they take pretty good care of their own reimbursements.
Moving this to Other Topics

http://cbs11tv.com/local/local_story_332132621.html

Nov 28, 2006 12:07 pm US/Central

Tenet Healthcare Operating Officer To Retire
Company Will Promote From Within
(AP) DALLAS Tenet Healthcare Corp., the nation's second-largest hospital operator, said Tuesday it would promote the leader of its California operations to replace retiring Chief Operating Officer Reynold J. Jennings on Jan. 1.

Stephen L. Newman, 56, joined the company in 1999 and has managed Tenet's California hospitals since 2003. He practiced medicine as a pediatric gastroenterologist for 12 years before becoming a corporate executive in 1990.

Jennings, 60, will take on the title of vice chairman and will serve during a transition period until he retires in mid-2007. He has served as COO since early 2004, a time in which the company faced government investigations, lawsuits and questions about the quality of care at some hospitals.

In June, Tenet agreed to pay $725 million to end federal investigations into allegations of overbilling Medicare and making illegal kickbacks to doctors to refer Medicare patients to its hospitals. Tenet didn't admit breaking the law.

In a statement, Jennings said he is leaving to spend more time with his family.

Sheryl Skolnick, an analyst with CRT Capital Group LLC, said some investors would worry that Jennings' departure after weak third-quarter results is a sign of trouble at the company. But she accepted Tenet's explanation that Jennings is ready to retire, saying the company would have been blunt if Newman's promotion indicated a need for change.

Skolnick praised Newman for improving Tenet's California profits and said he is not afraid to make tough choices such as closing hospital units and eliminating money-losing services.

In an interview, Newman said Tenet can broadly apply lessons he learned in running the company's California hospitals.

Newman said Tenet in California determined the profitability of each service it offered and studied local population trends to shape its offerings.

For example, he said, the company closed a shrinking obstetrics unit at Placentia-Linda Hospital in Orange County, Calif., and expanded cardiology and gastroenterology services, which are expected to be in increasing demand.

Tenet has lost money three straight years as admission rates have fallen. Newman declined to predict when the Dallas-based company might post a profit.

Shares of Tenet fell 3 cents, to $7.06, in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)