I don't know.. but it don't sound good to me

Dec. 1, 2011

TO: Medical Center Faculty, Staff and Students

FROM: Dr. James E. Keeton, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

I wanted to make you aware of an important matter before it appears in the press later today.

We are announcing today that the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Health Management Associates, Inc., which owns 10 hospitals in Mississippi, are exploring a possible affiliation. The overarching purpose of such an agreement would be to expand health professions education in the state, enhance the delivery and quality of medical services, and prepare both organizations for a changing national health-care landscape in the years ahead.

I would emphasize that these are just talks at this point, but we are hopeful that they will lead to some kind of agreement in the new year to work more closely together. But I view this as exceptionally good news for UMMC and those we serve.

Our strong belief is that this potential affiliation will pave the way for broad cooperation that will create more opportunities for community-based training of resident physicians and other trainees, offer a menu of health services in settings ranging from rural community clinics to our urban academic medical center, and open additional venues for population-based health research to improve care and improve the health status of Mississippi residents.

In this new era of health care we are entering, all the experts agree that none of us can stand alone anymore. We have to collaborate to survive and thrive. So affiliation of this sort is not only in our interest but, more importantly, the interest of our patients and students.

First and foremost, this collaboration will ultimately help us boost the number of physicians that are trained in Mississippi, in response to a shortage that will only grow worse over time. Doing that will ensure better and more accessible care for all our citizens.

The affiliation between a public academic health science center and an investor-owned company is not unusual. Health Management, which owns 66 hospitals and 461 clinics in 15 states, has relationships with other academic centers both public and private.

Most of you are familiar with the Health Management facilities in the metro area, including River Oaks Hospital and Woman’s Hospital at River Oaks, both in Flowood, Crossgates River Oaks Hospital in Brandon, Madison River Oaks Hospital in Canton and Central Mississippi Medical Center. The company also owns hospitals in Amory, Batesville, Biloxi, Clarksdale and Natchez.

As you know, sweeping changes in financing and government regulation of health care, aimed at improving patient outcomes while restraining costs, are causing all providers to look for innovative ways to operate more efficiently and effectively. We consider ourselves leaders in those efforts. We expect this proposed affiliation will open additional avenues to enhance the value of the services we provide patients.

Both parties believe the venture will expand access to health care and lead to marked improvements in statewide services for childhood illnesses, cancer, stroke, chest pain and cardiovascular disease.

I want to stress that this affiliation is only one of several relationships UMMC has with health-care providers in the state. This will not affect those relationships, whether they be for education, patient care or both.

We’ve always been willing to work with anyone and that will continue to be true no matter what happens.

What does this mean for you? At this point, it should not have a significant impact on your day-to-day responsibilities. Over the long term, depending on your role, you will increasingly feel like you are part of a larger team that extends beyond the boundaries of UMMC.

Ultimately, we believe this affiliation will help promote our future growth, sustainability and excellence. That will be good for UMMC, and those we serve.

Thank you.

What will this mean to us as patients?

NRA_guy wrote:What will this mean to us as patients?

Come out with the money or get out the door. Know a lot a people who are disabled and such that go there.

I work at an HMA facility and we were told nothing about this. I will tell you UMC was in litigation with us about the gamma knife and now they are trying to buy us. The goal is to establish centers of excellence and shut down extra services. So if you have a heart problem you go to x hospital, if its gastrointestinal you go to y hospital. Nerve to z and ortho to another. Its gonna get real bad for those who don't live in big cities. Most believe they will shut down all the heart programs in the state and have 3 centers of excellence in the state. I can tell you last week the day before thanksgiving UMC doctors were at our hospital working already.

sid I don't think thats it because only about 40% pay as it is.

BigDaddyQ wrote:sid I don't think thats it because only about 40% pay as it is.

Is the 40% for people unable to pay or even those of us insured? They did save my FIL with heart surgery that could not be performed at the VA and I am greatful for that. With so many changes coming about, my Blue Cross insurance wants the Dr. to send prescriptions to them and they will mail them to us. That's a joke, I don't get half my mail anyway and some of the meds my wife is on are extremely expensive (i.e., someone stealing them out of your mailbox).

@ BigDaddy... interesting that you perceive UMC buying HMA. I did not get that image from the email. Given the statment about HMA doing the same in other states... I assumed that UMC would be absorbed by them.

I do see a decided conflict, and I see this causing tremendous pressure and potential degradation of the current academic system. During my last 15 years here I have seen UMMC retreat more and more from its role in academics. This move will not reverse or stem that action. I guess like other "service" industries... we can just import doctors from India.

"This is Bob, can I feel you today morning?"

I think it is illegal for a state hospital to compete with a private hospital like Baptist and St. Dominic.

But isn't Obamacare going to take over all medical care?

The thing about UMC buying CMMC is not from that letter its from the rumor mill at the hospital. Its been going around for quite sometime. At one point we were trying to buy River Region, but they are doing real well right now. The partnership they have now is for acedemic reasons. The more patients their residents can see the more experience they will have. As far as the benefit to HMA its free docs in house. Only the select few admins know whats really going on, but there are a lot of out of work nurses and hospital employes that have been laid off due to medicare cutbacks and fewer patients coming to be seen because they can't afford it.