One of the fundamental tenets, indeed perhaps the doctrinal apotheosis, of modern conservatism is the seamless interaction of the co-principles of laissez faire and free markets. Committed Misesians (such as yours truly) would rather gnaw off one of our own gristly appendages than forsake our constitutional devotion to the teachings of old Ludwig and his star pupil Freddie Hayek. Almost before we were eating solid food, we learned that “trickle-down” meant something more significant than a damp diaper, and that a penny saved made less sense than a penny invested. So it is … umm … interesting that, right here in my own pastoral purview, we have been presented with a classic opportunity to measure the strength and substance of our sacred dogma within the laboratory of real honest-to-Bastiat human experience. And with a generous slice of current controversy (“health care” … argh!) in the bargain.
What am I talking about?
Very recently a group of local physicians announced plans to build a brand new $20,000,000 for-profit hospital right here in Kearney. They are waaaay beyond the “intentions” stage; architects have been hired, investors have committed, land has been contracted – this effort appears, as Grandpa used to say, to be a goin’ Jesse.
The group (according to news reports made up of “from 20 to 70″ docs) is upset with the management of the local hospital (Good Samaritan Health Systems), alleging that GSHS has been unresponsive to the medical staff needs in several technical and administrative areas. You can read about some of their specific concerns in the link above.
Good Sam has long been known out here on the prairie as a center of medical excellence; not many towns of some 30,000 folks boast a physician population of nearly 150, and medical facilities that include open-heart surgery, MRI, radiation oncology, and a Level II trauma center. It must be noted, however, that its reputation has suffered somewhat over the last several years – especially since they were taken over by a large multi-state corporation called Catholic Health Initiatives, whose area hospitals include St. Francis in Grand Island, and St. Elizabeth’s in Lincoln. Whisperings of degraded services, cavalier patient care, and widespread employee disgruntlement have surfaced repeatedly over the last several years.
Even though I spent nearly four decades working at GSHS, I take no position on the merits of the dissatisfied group’s concerns because I have no information other than that available through the usual news sources. Having said that, it is interesting that, within days of the docs’ announcement, CHI held a presser and announced that they were committing $65,000,000 to a long term program of improving and enlarging their current GSHS facilities. Less charitable observers than myself might view this as little more than a cynical counter-tactic.
Motivations and local cat-fights aside, what this provides is a facet of medical care long missing in these environs – competition. If we free-market samurai are correct, and if the protagonists in this medical econo-drama are even passably competent, Kearney and the surrounding area should quickly be the beneficiary of better and more cost-effective care. Will it happen? I dunno … but you can be sure there are a lot of interested bystanders out here in Navel City.
Be well.
Unc…
What tree are the local Docs and CHI going to pluck the nearly $100 million from? Are they going to hold a raffle…have a pancake feed or pass the can through the office?
Did I hear 28 beds in the new hospital? That might almost handle traffic accidents along the Interstate between Elm Creek and Shelton. I too am a believer in competition…but two hospitals…ok one and a quarter…is about a quarter more than Kearney needs.
OOITT:
I understand that the physicians already have their financial ducks in a row … all private investment money, some from the docs themselves, some from “outside” investors – whatever that means. What source CHI intends to tap is of course a mystery since they are privately held. One thing is for sure, the patients at Good Sam (and lots of other CHI hospitals) will shoulder much of the burden. Need money? No problem whatsoever, mon … just raise rates. “Non-profit”?? Yeah, right ….
I still recall (back when I wore a white coat to work) how we were constantly reminded by the suits on the third floor that we were NEVER to call it “profit” … it was always to be referred to as “operating margin”.
I don’t mean to be too hard on GSH – I think there’s more than enough hypocrisy on all sides to go around.
I haven’t heard the 28 bed thang, though I will admit that seems a little …uhh … “under-resourced”.
It’ll be fun to watch no matter how it comes out.
The Pip grew up at 30Th and A by GS in Kearney. Now you go by that area, and it looks like a convention center. In fact, our old tenement is now a parking lot. I would guess Bein’s grocery is gone, too. For a business and profession that is going to hell in a hand basket, the medical profession would appear to be quite healthy.
In the Bermuda Triangle of health care, Kearney, Hastings, and GI, it appears that all of these hospitals are doing quite well. I’ve never been to the house that Gloor built, but I understand it is quite impressive. They are state of the art, but you can’t get your tubes tied, or a vasectomy at any of them.
It would appear to be the same old cycle. Doctors don’t want to run their own clinics. They would rather be an employee and just practice medicine. Then they find out what the hospital is making off them, and all of the doctors want to open surgery centers, and get greedy again. The cycle appears to repeat itself ever 10-15 yrs.
Glad to see you back, Unk. I was afraid you’d ran out of opinions.
The Rabbit running out of opinions??!? Not fweakin’ likely. I got opinions I haven’t even unboxed yet.
BTW, I know the 30th & A area well … and yes, Beins’ Groceries is long gone … usedta stop in there for bologna and crackers after a hard night at the Palm Garden. And I have a used wife (now living in Iowa) who lived just down the alley from Beins’ – I should have stayed with just the bologna and crackers.
Dunno what’ll happen with the Doc/GSH fracas … but at least it gives us old Buffalo county reprobates something to stew about.
TFRAC
My convenience stops were at 25th and G…Jone’s Market. The only place I have ever found smoked herring. 25 cents a fish and a RC Cola for another quarter. It was a hopping store…comic books…2 for a penny cinnamon bears…a “yout’s” delight. I might have shopped Bein’s once or twice. And of course Reddy’s store over by the old Jr. High…he had to have made millions off of off-campus dining.
St Francis is a Taj Mahal…very tastefully decorated. They are rolling in bucks…donated a cool million for the Events Center when it went up. So much for investing our health dollars wisely…either health dollars or they are performing vasectomies in the alley out back. Gloor is now behind a new Vet’s Home in GI…maybe SF can pony up a donation for it.
Speaking of Buffalo Co, reprobates…what’s the deal with Joe Woodward not releasing property tax assessment stats to the GI Independent?
The local rag quoted him as saying he would not release the information. You guys not paying property tax over there and you don’t want the word to get out? I realize that Kearney pays lower taxes…but not that much lower.
Beatsahellouttame … Ol’ Joe gots his own ideas about how the County Assessor’s office is suppose to be run I guess. He sure isn’t shy about sharing stats with the Hub … see http://kearneyhub.com/news/local/article_661bad84-932e-11de-8a9c-001cc4c03286.html
Mebbe the Independent stepped on his pet snake or something ….