" Service excellence is probably a good tool if used wisely, but in the case of this institution it is used as a tool to threaten the employee just like the way everything else is done. Maybe freedom of speech is not something allowed in facilities. It is not allowed in this one in any shape or form unless you are kissing someones
rear side. Some of these employees who should be laid off instead are getting a new position made for them, I'm sure useless. Others who don't kiss the back side are just being tossed out with no options. Ouch. "

" Pro Union and Union Supporter,

Yeah, go ask Ford and GM how that Union thing worked out for them. lol "

" To Anti-Union:

You say Unions are not the answer. How would you suggest that the hard working, excellent Staff that we have enjoy any job security?

I am not talking wages. I want to know when I am labeled "low perfrormer" by Management, how do I defend myself?

Human Resources? No, they are there for Management. I have never heard of anyone here winning a Grievance regardless of how right they are. Always ends up in Arbritration with the Employee bearing the cost.

If fellow Staff sticks up for you, then they also are put on the "low performer" list.

If your own Manager / Supervisor stands up for you, they are repremended by upper Management, and you are still unable to plead your case.

So I say Union, Yes.

If not that, then have the Bond Holders assume control. I am sure that they would look at the performance of Management in addition to the Staff. "

" Unions are not the answer. Look at the UAW and what they've done. The National labor Relations Board works for employees. Unions work for Unions and their interest.

Unions are anti-American. The auto bailout is going to pay inflated operating costs the UAW caused. YOUR MONEY! Government money is our tax dollars. "

" It's nice that "Seriously" responses are showing how Management feels about their Employees.

Lets see, we are told that no queston is off limits in our manditory "Service Excellence" meeting. Then when a legitimate question is asked that they don't want to answer, the Person(s) are labeled "low performers" and are put on a list to be "let go". These People being let go, have excellent performance evaluations from their Manager(s) or Supervisors(s), but your years of excellent reviews mean nothing once Management gives you the label "low performer"

We evaluate our Managers / Supervisors every six months. The "low performers" in this group have been there for years, and upper Management rewards this group by "lowering the bar" for them.

As for "staffing ratio's being better than they used to be", just more propaganda from the Hospital, with no numbers to back thier statement.

I chance to see, if the staff at Sky Lakes was allowed to review the performance of upper Management, and it was reported honestly, most of them would make the "low performer list".

Shouldn't Management look at information that they already possess, and get rid of the "low performers" in their ranks?

Wouldn't this help to promote "Service Excellence" by "Leading by Example"?

Seriously, Staff is worried that the Bond Holders are going to take over. I for one, would welcome the change. Maybe they could at least tell the Staff the truth be it good or bad. "

" Serious enough to know that if I want the best care for myself that I need to gas up my vehicle and get SLMC in my rear view mirror. "

" It is a nice cover to suggest that certain people were let go for 'speaking their mind'. I am sure that is their story- when in reality, they are not the kind of employees we want. Let's see, you complain, complain, complain, and yet profess that you have the patients best interest at heart? You make your co-workers miserable with your constant negative attitude and you treat others poorly? "Service excellence" is about the way we treat everyone, not just the patients. We no longer tolerate low performers at SLMC- the bar has been raised and yes, those who don't measure up were let go. Don't you want the best taking care of you- and working along side you?
Somewhere along the way we forgot that we are getting paid to work, for our entire shift, not sit around a gripe about the managment- spending more time complaining about the workload instead of just wokring. The ratios are so much better than they used to be. With the ignorant comments that I have seen here from staff, what in the world makes you think that you could run this place without supervision..... Seriously..... "

" Maybe now is the time for the non-nursing positions to look into Union representation. At least then the Employee would have someone to represent / advise them in their lay-off.

The Employee now has no choice but to sign away their rights to receive compensation from the Hospital or get nothing.

Heres hoping for a better year for the Commuinty and the People who have lost their jobs. "

" I haven't read all of the comments and this is not directed to anyone in particular but I think one of the problems is people are not seeking as much medical attention because of insurance being so darn high. I know that is a major reason we don't go to the doctor unless there is no other option because it is so expensive and when you have to meet a $1500 deductible I cannot take out a loan to pay my medical expenses and that is what it takes now a days. The sad part is after you meet your extremely outrageous deductible then you have to pay at least 20% of whatever service you have had done. Honestly and practically I cannot afford to utilize the hospital and so if there are a lot like me then I see where part of the problem lies. "

" To "Another Staff Member"

define how many patients there should be for the current staff. I know CNA's that have ten patients on a regular basis. Now it is going to be even worse. Don't you suppose "Service Excellence" will suffer? I guess you can always reach into your "toolbox" and hand out some movie tickets to the families of the patients who aren't getting the proper care because their CNA's are swamped. By the way, I don't think you can call it slamming when the employees are telling the truth. It is hard to not bite the hand that feeds you when the other hand stabs you in the back. You are obviously a management mouthpiece, and not a floor employee. "

" To Robert:
If you would like specifics regarding the equipment, just ask one of the nurses or CNA's that work at the resort on the hill and have to fight with the equipment every day. I'm sure they'd share their stories of equipment not uploading data when docked, equipment for taking vitals being unwieldy and unmaneuverable on the carpet. Those are just a couple examples of equipment issues, but there are others. Like I said, just ask one of the folks that has to use the equipment. But not at the hospital working. A hospital employee can be terminated for telling the truth about any of the hospital's shortcomings while at work. It’s true—it has already happened. By the way, who's bright idea was it to install carpet in the hospital? There's several thousand dollars of waste on something that traps and holds germs. Just what we need when the incidents of MRSA in hospitals is rampant. Have you ever tried to mop up blood or vomit from a carpet? Have you ever seen the back-side of carpet that has been removed? No amount of cleaning really cleans carpet, let alone disinfects it. And was it really necessary to install a Vocera system? That was another overboard expenditure. As far as the coverage folks have and what it will pay, I hazard a guess that most medical benefits will have a hard time paying for a $3000-a-day room. And, in case you are unaware, there is a shortage of GP's in this town. Most doctors’ offices are not accepting new patients. Should the folks with no regular doctor just hope that they get well on their own as opposed to going to the ER? Your choices are pretty limited if you have no regular doctor--the ER or one of the roughly four local "doc in the boxes." "

" Karen has brought up some interesting points.

Five administrators, (VP"S) for 900 employees, (soon to be 800 ). Hou many Directors, Managers, Assistants, and other management non-patient care positions are there?

None of the VP's got their bonus the last two years. How about the CEO? I know none of the staff providing Patient care has ever gotten a "Bonus".

It was promised if the Press Ganey scores improved, then Management reneged on that promise when the scores improved.

"A Nurse" states that only the newest hired are being laid off, not true. Employees with many years of service are being laid off and people with less years are being kept.

I myself do like my Job, Staff, and Doctors that I work with.

The problem is any discussion on these issues in Hospital meetings brings repercussions to the Employee. "

" I think it should be noted that the hospital has been staffed to handle the huge volume of patients that we saw last year. This just hasn't flushed out. October was one of the lowest number in patient days that we have ever seen. Long story short, when patients are down, staff goes down too. And it's not the veterans that are cut. Last ones in are the first ones out. So yes, we are cutting back on support services and flexing out in nursing hours (to match the census). But do realize that none of this affects patient care. We are just not staffing for ghost patients... "

" Please note:

*senior management has already been decreased by one position
*there are 5 administrators for over 900 employees
*none of the vps got bonuses the last 2 years. last year the vps got a cost of living increase (as did the rest of the staff)
*already, less than 30 employees have been laid off even though there has been a decrease of over 200 fte's over the last year
*last year at this time, our census was about 100 patients. we need to maintain about 75 to keep everyone working. this year it is 50.
*most hospitals take out bonds to build, this is nothing unusual - and when you are borrowing millions, it is wise to take out insurance on those bonds as well.
*we have not defaulted on our bonds and have not missed any payments on anything. we simply have less "days of cash on hand" then what we agreed to maintain.
* our patient satisfaction has gone from 30% to 90% as measured by Press Ganey and we have been awarded the national hospital of choice award within the last 3 months
*the hospital has only been in the red two years - last year by 1% and this year so far. This corresponds with the worse turn in the economy since the depression of 1929.
*the amount of charity care has doubled to over $2 M (read: unpaid service)
*when hospitals build, the structure stays in use for long periods of time - the last nursing tower since 1967 - 40 years. It may seem excessive today, but it was built for long term usage
*decisions about remodeling, building and major (money making) equipment is by the Board

The long story short is that you are all entitled to your opinions about the hospital, our staff and our management. Unfortunately, there have been several "facts" that are being thrown around which are simply incorrect.

I love working at our community hospital. Sure, I don't agree with every decision and I am saddened to see friends having their hours reduced and layoffs occurring. In the end, however, every decision has been made with our community, our patients and our staff in mind. We want to continue helping those who need help. We want to make a difference.

The "taj mahal" wing was not built for "Paul Stewart and senior management" to hold court - it was built with our patients in mind - as a place to come and feel peace, confidence and healing - and as a building that has to compete with the expectations that our community now has based on what they have seen at other hospitals.

You can lash out at me for feeling pride in my hospital and community and you can call me a "sheep" a million times over. In the end, though, I feel grateful and priveledged to work in an institution that wants so badly to do right by its community. We are 900 individual people who all come from different backgrounds and schools of thought, but we are bonded in our common goal - to better serve you. Is that really so awful?

Guess what? Eventually the economy will rebound, community members will regain employment and insurance and will start opting for elective procedures again. Our census will go up, we will rehire staff and we will all move forward from this. But, in the meantime, despite what you say about us, and despite the challenges that we are up against currently, we will be here for ALL of you when you need us the most - at that very moment when you are not as superhuman as you make yourself out to be in this forum. And despite everything that you have said about me and my hospital, I will still consider it to be an honor to help take care of you, because that is why I got into healthcare. "

" To When Will They Catch a Clue:

You are absolutley correct. Doctors should treat everyone and not expect reimbursement for their time and expertise. Please submit your check to cover every physician's malpractice insurance; the overhead costs that come with running a practice; car payments; mortgage payments; student loan payments; food, gas; health insurance; life insurance; disability insurance; car insurance; home insurance continuing medical eduaction classes; medical license; DEA license; etc.

Your name is very fitting... when will YOU catch a clue? Being a physician is a business, and you can not run a business without bringing in money.

There are a lot of physicians in town who make sacrifices and concessions for those that truly do not have the money or insurance to cover life threatening conditions. They also sacrifice alot of time away from home and family to help others in need.

Please do not soil the physicians in your attempt to lash out at the hospital. Klamath Falls is very lucky to have those physicians that are here, and it is ignorant remarks like yours that make more not want to come to this area or stay in this area. "

" Visits are declining because the service is not to the standard that justifies the bloated price.
Defenders of SLMC will alway have some special intrest (dispite what they will say)
To mindless sheep following the heard such as ROBERT...keep right in step with the rest of the lost soles.
Sugar coat it and try to get other mindless people to swallow..
Not me Bub...I am a free thinker...and I am thinking that people are not visiting that place for good reason.
Look at the news paper, Klamathjobs.net or the SLMC web site and look at all of the JOB OPENINGS..who would put their life or the life of a loved on in the hands of facility that is so poorly staffed?
I will roll the dice and head out of town...5.00 a gallon gas..Icy roads..whatever..I am over the hill. "

" I think if the hospital wants to make a better name for itself it should start cutting at the top and working its way down. Your getting rid of the people who make money for the Hospital, and when it gets busy again they will not come back. What happen with changing the name to start fresh? In actuallity the name and administration should have changed to start fresh. "

" I'm a little confused as to why the spotlight is on the hospital, when cuts are being made city/nationwide. The hospital has to manage its finances just like every other business. Even though it is a non-profit hospital, it has to at least break even, and even make some money in order to invest in the technology that we, as community members, rely on.

I think we've forgotten that health care is not a "right". Sky Lakes will not turn away those needing medical care, even if they are using the ER in a different way than it was intented.

The bottom line is there are not enough patients to warrant the amount of staff that are at work each day. Until the amount of patients increase, the staff hours have to decrease.

For those employees that are writing in on this blog and slamming the hand the feeds you - shame on you. We should all be grateful that we have a job and that we can serve our community. Slamming administration is doing nothing but making Sky Lakes look bad in a time that our patients will come to need us the most. Our patients are increasingly without jobs and are stressed themselves. Let's give them a safe place to come and heal. Leave your complaints, whines and personal agendas at home.

Klamath Falls, I for one and honored to serve you and I am NOT in the minority of those "service exellence-minded" employees at your local hospital. "

" To Robert.
As a employee of this facility the difference between other industries and the Hospital is the Management of the Hospital put the employees in this position by thier poor decisions long before the economy turned south.
When the present CNO, Libby, arrived about five years ago, there was change in employee relations. Her philosity is you don't see it my way, you will be replaced with a Traveler employee at 2 - 3 times the cost of dealing with current employee. After 4 years of this, the Hospital ran out of money plain and simple.
This is nothing more than arrogance on the part of the CNO, although she is still being rewarded by her Superior for her fine work.
Many fine employees have relocated to other facilities to get away from this Management team. They still stay in contact and guess what, what is happening here is not the norm, it is the exception. "

" It was all employees take a voluntary wage cut all 800 or so not just top management put some of the employees didn't like the idea nor did management so it wasn't offered. but it should have been and would have been the right thing to do to save jobs. "

" This is directed to "When will they get a clue".

Blah, Blah ,Blah. I am not a physican nor an employee of SLMC as your rant suggests. Just like the first person I addressed "Concerned Citizen" all you do is throw out negative comments without backing them up. Then of course you include the " sick and dying kids" to spice it up. There will always be people who can't pay due to circumstances beyond their control, for the last time that is not who I am referring to so spare me the tiny violin. It's those who choose to use the ER like a DOCTOR'S OFFICE. Oh and your last comment or "insult" directed at local doctors dealing with people only "with cash in hand" was classic and childish. We are discussing the hospital having to make cuts and layoffs just as all major businesses in Kfalls have already done. What's different about the hospital that solicits all this negativity? I guess people just simply have love/hate relationship with healthcare and when it's convenient it's hate that rules out. So in regards to your comments, I couldn't have read a more STUPID reply. "

" To: Bob D
I am an employee and it was never suggested that I take a wage cut.
Paul, Libby, (Bob D), I challenge you to step up and offer a wage cut from Management to help out the employees and maintain Patient care. Lets see some of your "Service Excellence" "

" Listen Guys/Gals...For all those who are complaining about the hospital next time when you have chest pains or break a hip where are you going to go Rogue Valley...enough said!! "

" It was mentioned that all employees take a wage cut of a dollar and hour till this was over with but they didn't want to do it. It would have been close to 2 million a year do the math and no jobs lost. "

" To: ROBERT


Lets see...cutting back, weather its hours or full time positions, people are still not working.
I guess the joker that suggested that people who do not pay their bill should not seek treatment @ skylakes... so then the "falling patient visits" that are being refered to in the news article, I guess those are the people who do pay their bill. Seems to me that those are the people I would want to keep as customers. I wonder why good paying customers have stopped going to your facility? perhaps because it stinks! other than being somewhat nice to look at..it really has NOTHING to offer. Poorly staffed, more poorly RAN and WAY over priced.
Thats the reason your good paying customers drive else where.
OH, lets not forget about the people who dont pay their bills, I guess they should just die in their homes or not take their sick child to see a doctor because the DOCTOR wont get that almighty BUCK..Dont you have some sort of oath you take as a DR? and does that Oath say ONLY TREAT THOSE WITH CASH IN HAND?
I could not think of a more STUPID thing to have said ROBERT.
I bet your neck deep in the problems that the hospital is having. "

" Until an official investigation is launched by government officials into the business practices of this Management team, nothing is going to happen. With all the activities that Stewart is involved in, he doesn't have time to manage the Hospital.
Currently his second in command, Libby, thinks that the way to go is to add more Management positions. She had a Director resign 6 months ago, and refuses to accept his resignation. She is currently having a group of people from his department meet weekly, on the clock, to try and resolve the "resignation". How cost effective is this?
I urge readers to contact thier favorite Person(s) in goverment to voice your concerns.
That is what I am doing. "

" Wondering what the 'higher ups', Stewart, Libby etc. have to say about the annual bonus...what's up guys? I have a surgery scheduled at the end of the month & am wondering about going elsewhere. I hear Bend has a great hospital. I'd just as soon get rid of the schmutz at the top then the people that keep things running.

Makes sense to me, but then again, management is heavy on the common sense factor. "

" This whole situation is very sad and is happening other places. There were many mistkaes made and still are. I lost my job last May and was upset, not for me, for the people of KF that lost the service that we offered. It isn't fair to the community to have big fund raisers asking community memners for money and then eliminate the services offered to them. But, we must all move on and do whatever we can to take care of ourselves. Using the ER for emergencies only, being educated on procedures and medications, and living a healthy lifestyle will go along way to staying away from Skylakes. It would be nice if one big salary was cut instead of ten small ones, but that is out of our control. "

" Actually, the Bond holders advised Management to cut Management positions.
Managements interpretation of that reccomendation is to cut Staff/ Patient care positions so as to hold on to thier own jobs.
As the census is up this weekend, is management going to pitch in and help with Patient care?
Do they even know how to care for a Patient?
Is this thier "Service Excellence"?
As for the building, it had to be built or the old one had to be brought up to current earthquake standards. That is why only Staff is allowed to be located in the "unsafe building".
As long as I am bringing up "unsafe", is anyone concerned about the issue of only one transport elevator from the CCU/ICU floor. How do we move these Patients in an emergency? Shouldn't they be located on the Second floor where there are FIVE elevators capable of transporting Patients in beds?
Managments answer to that mistake is that we will use the two public elevators that are unable to accomendate a Patient bed.
As Patient Transport are some of the people being laid off, is Management going to come in and carry these Patients off the third floor in an emergency? "

" Concerned Citizen,

First of all many of the same people complaining did so before calling it "out of date" but you can never win with those folks. Second, what equpment are you talking about? That seems like a nice "throw it out there with no basis" argument. Third, it goes far beyond a few folks not paying. Their are many who use the ER as their "local doctor office" not for emergencies and of course not paying. The other huge problem is we have a high percentage of our population on Medicare and Medicaid neither of which even pay enough to cover the cost of treating you. Look around at other communities it's not just in Klamath Falls this is a major problem affecting many rural health care facilities throughout the U.S. Before you even start, I'm not blaming the whole situation on Medicare but it's definitely a factor. Yes by the way if your going to the E.R. for an earache or a sore throat I'd love it if they were able to turn those away like a private hospital, go to a walk in clinic. "

" Isn't it funny that his newspaper will go to extreme measures to protect the BOD and senior management of Sky Lakes Medical Center from bad publicity? Why is that?

I'm surprised that they printed the comments from "Someone in the know!" Since this is right on the money, no pun intented, and you'll never seen this group step up to take a voluntary cut in salary, bonus payments, or options.

I'm still trying to figure this business out is it private or public, profit or non-profit? Because when you look at it from certain aspects it's one way or another.

Regardless you'll still hear folks say that they rather brave the drive to Rogue Valley Hospital for care. Why is that?

Less than two years ago Sky Lakes CEO was hawking the quality of care and the new features. Since then outside facilities like the Diabetes clinic, the Cardiac rehab, et al have been closed and manpower is being reduced.

I just shake my head as I drive up to Rogue Valley and I'm met by a valet parking attendant. Who's business model is working? "

" Tom: I like you're way of thinking!

Seems like a lot of people have their heads in the right spot here.

Did you know that Sky Lakes had to take a bond out to keep its doors open?

Did you know that the insurance company for the Bond is now calling all the shots?

Why was the bond needed? Simple... uneducated bafoons are running Sky Lakes.

By the way, the Bond was taking out many months ago. Well before this economy took a dive. "

" The remodel did NOT have to be done in such a fashion ($40+ million dollars) and did NOT need to be all done at once. If it was done one section at a time, at a rate that Sky Lakes could afford, they wouldn't be in the mess their in.

All of the upper management should be canned, along with Kermit Houser, who happens to be on the board. This is the same guy who destroyed over 200+ LOCAL jobs in Klamath Falls, when he cashed out on Klamath First Federal. Lets hire him for our organization. GENIUS!

Now there will be even more patients receiving less care and at times... no care at all! "Can't breathe? don't worry the one nurse or CNA we have to cover the 20+ patients on this unit will be in, in no time!"

Yes, it would help if people would pay their bills. But that has been going on for YEARS, even back when it was Merle West Medical Center. Never did they have a problem like this. The economy doesn't help the situation, but upper management isn't getting paid 6 figures to forcast the weather. "

" Ummm, no...the remodel did not have to be done. Sure, there were upgrades needed. But we certainly didn't need an annex to the Running-Y built. And if management would stop buying high-end, gee-whiz equipment that doesn't work & needs to be replaced with what was tried and true before they built the Taj Mahal on the hill, they'd be able to cut some of their losses. Just because it's new, flashy, and networkable, doesn't mean it's going to work. And, apparently, some of it doesn't because it is alredy being replaced by "last year's model."
As far as their losses due to folks not paying their bills, there are some folks that need medical care, but have no jobs, hence no insurance and no ablility to pay. Would you prefer the hospital turn those folks away as a way to limit their losses? "

" Robert,

Your right, where was all the negativity when Jeldwen, Aqua Glass and Collins had to make cuts and lay people off? Surprise the economy affects everyone. "

" You know what would be great? If people would quit complaining and more people would pay for going to the hospital. They have to eat millions of unpaid bills every year. Hmmm that might help. Most communities this size don't have nearly the health care options at their disposal and for god sakes quit bringing up the remodel, it had to be done so let's move on already. "

" It's not so much the downturn in the economy, it's the cost overrun on the addition. They got taken to the cleaners by the contractor more than likely. "

" Public, non-profit Hospital. Shouldn't the salaries of the Management be accessable to the community? Then we could see were cuts should be made.
Shouldn't the Board of Directors be Elected by the People of the Community?
Is nobody accountable for the mess that the Hospital is in?
I do know that the current Management is unable / willing to solve the problems facing the Hospital because it would mean admitting that they made big mistakes, and as we have been told repeatedly, "Management does not make mistakes" "

" For an organization that preaches Patient Care and "Service Excellence"
(manditory for the employess, starting AGAIN next month at a cost of 30 to 50 thousand dollars, [1.5 hrs for each employee])
Why don't they stop wasting money to tell us what we already know. The money being wasted could be used to retain 2 - 3 of the emplyees being let go. That would show that they are interested in Patient care and not just their "mind control" style of management where it you have an opinion, you have better keep it to yourself, or you will be pushed out of the organization one way or an other. "

" I have been there for a long time and it has had it's ups and downs but over all a very good place to work. "

" Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is that my Mommy and Daddy don't lose thier jobs at the Hospital.

I am sorry Virginia, there is no Santa, signed Paul & Management. "

" To: Someone who knows.

You mean to tell us that the cuts are not really related to the economy, but so that the big wigs can get their bonuses?!?!

Yes Virginia, even if emergency vehicles will respond, no one will be at the hopsital to actually care for you. "

" To someone who knows!

Thank you, thank you! Your absolutely right lets see if these folks will take a pay cut, forego bonus pay, and any incentives to keep quality care.

But hey we got a nice entrance and such beautiful surroundings. I would love to kick a few butts that the BOD should be doing but doesn't have the guts to do.

Wake up! The best medical care is at Rogue Valley and even in these tight budget times they still have valet parking!
Maybe they know something about patient care! "

" With the new year comes the prospect of decreased patient care. 60 staff positions eliminated.
Tom doesn't know how much, lets do the math:
60 positions times a average of 20,000 year equals $1,200,000.
Chief Executive Officer (Paul), Chief Nursing Officer (Libby), Chief Financial Officer (To Be Named when hired), Other VP's, Directors, Manager's, year end bonus equals $1,200,000.
Keeping the wool pulled over the community's eyes, PRICELESS "

" This was coming, alot of us knew this. The jobs listed were just to show that the hospital was 'busy'! They didnt want the community knowing they are losing money after all those renovations! "

" Most businesses identify who, what and where cuts will be made based on the saving from the cuts first. This sounds backwards to me!!!!!! Are cuts just being made by the throw of a dart?
Strange business practice, if you ask me "

" I wonder why there are 11 job postings in today's paper for Sky Lakes? Get rid of all the middle management that will save a ton of money! "