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Read comments (35)County Mayor Eugene Ray told the Times-Gazette this morning that Heritage CEO Dan Buckner is "looking at the possibility of closing it" because not enough babies are being born there.
"It is a private enterprise. I didn't urge him to close the department or remain open."
Buckner told the Times-Gazette this morning that the hospital is evaluating the obstetrics department, and all departments, to make sure there is enough volume to deliver competent services.
"I can't deny we're looking into it," he said, stating the hospital continuously looks at all departments to determine whether they're meeting the needs of the community.
In a prior e-mail, Buckner had said, "No determination has been made to close OB services. That said, it is our obligation to continuously assess our healthcare services to ensure that they are aligned with the needs of the community and hospital plans moving forward."
Ray said he would support whatever is best for the county, even if that means driving 18 miles to Tullahoma to get the best service there.
"We want the best service," Ray said, "If they can provide the best service, then residents should go there ... we might provide a specialty in something else."
Ray said that if the hospital does close the obstetrics department, it doesn't mean it's a permanent closure, and as the hospital grows, maybe it could be re-opened.
Dr. Lana Beavers, who's been practicing for 30-plus years, confirmed today that she gave notice in June that at the end of August she would stop delivering babies.
"I think that what is being rumored is a result of my announcement to stop delivering babies," said Beavers, who delivered 156 of 193 babies at Bedford County Medical Center last year. "There is a lot of fear and trepidation as to what will happen."
Beavers said her decision to stop delivering babies comes as a result of her age, and the location of the new hospital.
"I'm 60 years old," said Beavers, who lives on the south side of Shelbyville. She said when the hospital moved to the north side of the county, the longer drive made it too difficult for her to answer calls at the hospital at 3 a.m.
"I will continue to do pre-natal work," she said. "I am not retiring. I am going to step up in other areas, my medical practice, surgical practice and pediatric practice."
Beavers said she delivers 90 percent of the hospital's babies. When asked if there were plans to replace Beavers, Buckner said the hospital is working "to see what we can recruit" for OB and all departments.
Dr. Jan Crean and Dr. Dennis Wieck, the two OB/GYNs employed by the hospital, both confirmed this morning that their contracts with the hospital's OB department have been terminated.
"There's a lot going on," said Beavers. "I am working with Dan and he is working with me to make sure people are covered."
Beavers provides services to patients at the county's health department, which she's done for the last 12-15 years for minimal profit, she said.
According to hospital employees who spoke on condition of anonymity, if the OB department is closed, there will be many deliveries in the hospital's emergency room, which would tie up ER doctors and nurses. This ties up other patients' wait time. Also, not all ER employees are experienced in delivering babies, and are not prepared for OB emergencies, they say.
Heritage Medical Center replaced the old Bedford County Hospital, which was operated by the county. Community Health Systems, of Franklin, bought the old hospital from the county in 2005 and subsequently built Heritage.
Heritage Medical Center opened its doors July 12 on U.S. 231 North across from Shelbyville Municipal Airport.
According to the purchase agreement's continuation of services clause, the "Buyer shall continue to operate the Hospital as a general acute care facility and shall continue all essential services provided at the Hospital by Seller as of the Closing Date, subject to the availability of qualified physicians, such changes as may be necessary or appropriate based on community needs, and economic feasibility, all as determined by Buyer. This covenant shall be subject to changes in governmental policy."
The OB/GYN department has four single-occupancy rooms used for labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum, and two postpartum overflow rooms, according to a Times-Gazette interview with department director Liese Harris conducted in June.
It also features an open, centrally located nurse's station and a nursery.
The department was originally staffed with 12 RNs and two LPNs, in addition to doctors Beavers, Crean and Wieck.
The obstetric facility includes several state-of-the-art conventions, including a central monitoring system and a HALO infant protection system.
"I don't see any reason why you wouldn't want to have your baby here," Harris said prior to the hospital's opening. "When you think about driving to Murfreesboro, with all that traffic, or anywhere else, with the price of gas ... When you think about convenience, simplicity, a personal approach and good care, we have all of it here, and beautiful amenities."
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I feel theres not enough babies born to pay for the dept to run.
Tennessee is of the states with obese people. I feel a Lap Band dept. for for the obese would pay for itself.Not having to go out of town.
And it would help Bedford County back into Shape..
To hereyougo,
The COE =Mr.Buckner.The top dog in the hospital.
The new hospital is so under staffed and under paid.Just ask the employees.
And as far as loosing the OB dept. I feel sorry for the nurses who have worked that dept for years.
But the babies who are delivered and pay the bill with insurance. Are the ones footing the bill for all the ones who don't have insurance. And all the babies whos mommas are not here legal. To get free delivery is not fair. No wonder there are employees working at the hospital for a little over seven dollars an hour. By the time they take out insurance and taxes in a two week period of time. I ask you "What do they have left to support their families on?"Oh and they are supposed to be happy with a 2% raise. And then the first of the year have the insurance rates go up even higher.
It's a shame they wasted the time and space to build the OB dept and not to have it only a month after it was built.
But they can't run a hospital on free bees.
But changing the name was a Big Mistake. It will always they the Reputation it has no matter if it was county or private.Because it will always be History repeating its self.
I agree with hereyougo, are you using the resources already present in the county. My health insurance covers me 100% at a couple Nashville facilities, but with time, travel and gas I have factored in the use of the hospital verses travel time to Nashville and used Heritage. I have received just as good of service here as I would have in Nashville, with the same wait time (at tad bit too long as with it seems anything in healthcare).
If numbers are correct 1/3 of the OB's delivered 80% of the babies, the other 2 were only delivering 20% of the babies. What is wrong with this picture and folks are wondering why the hospital is evaluating the OB department? I may be mistaken, but the contract with the hospital was cancelled, but I if the other 2 wanted to set up private practice I think the hospital might be willing to continue allowing them to practice at the hospital, just at their own expense and not the expense of the hospital.
I fully agree that we need more options in this area for good paying jobs, shopping, etc, but why not utilize what we have now?? Some of the problems we have in this community stem from years of underutilization of the resources that we have here.
I want to ask those of you who are chastizing the hospital for trying to make money, do you work for free?? Do you use the hospital? If not, then maybe you should stop throwing stones from your glass house!!
That is what we get for selling out to a for-profit hospital system. The almighty dollar rules supreme over the needs of the residents of this county. Thank you Commissioners
"You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear."
BCMC or Heritage? Which one is the silk purse?
If we had it here, then we would spend money on it here. Give us the Better paying jobs w/benefits, a variety of entertainment and fun for adults and children, a variety of shopping facilities. The city and County officials need to sit down and figure out why the hospital, doctors offices are suffering, Why their are so many people dependent on welfare, food stamps, tenn-care here in Shelbyville. "It always comes back to a "SHORTAGE OF MONEY". Most jobs here pay about $7- $8 a hour here, and the family will be of 4 or more trying to survive off of this. We need jobs that pay $12- $13 or more a hour here w/benefits, in order for shelbyville to start prosperring. The jobs that are here that are paying that much are "FULL OF TEMP TO HIRE EMPLOYEES" that are making $7-$8 hr. w/no benefits; so of course their children are going to be on TennCare/Medicaid. Then you have immigrants and refugees that are going to have a hard time getting jobs because of citizen status, so they are going to be "TYSON EMPOLYEES" who will have alot of children that will be on TennCare/Medicaid and maybe other services as well.
Momof3 is right on, all anyone in this community wants to do is gripe about what others are doing! Instead of driving out of town to shop, eat, get medical care, spend your dollars here and support your friends and neighbors!! -- Posted by hereyougo on Fri, Aug 15, 2008, at 7:59 PM
hereyougo, I was NOT addressing the community as being the problem here. Go back and read again. Our City and County officials are the ones that have a say on what is and what ain't going to be of shelbyville. What we as a community are looking for and need, we can not find here in Shelbyville so we seek it elsewhere. I would not appreciate anyone telling me to settle for what is only in shelbyville and only do business and spend my money here, when what I need and want is not here. What our community can do is demand we have better quality, better hospitality, better services from our hospital. Better paying jobs w/benefits, better variety of shopping centers, better variety of entertainment for adults, children, and familys. Our community can not do this, our city and county officials are the ones that decide this.
Wheelbillie, what is this COE you keep referring to?
First of all, I have one question....how many of you have had your babies born at the hospital? It seems to me that if more people used the hospital rather than running it down every chance they get, they wouldn't even be thinking about closing it!!!
Momof3 is right on, all anyone in this community wants to do is gripe about what others are doing! Instead of driving out of town to shop, eat, get medical care, spend your dollars here and support your friends and neighbors!!
Now be honest...if you were having "the big one" or your child was deathly sick, would you honestly drive 35 to 40 minutes or farther down the road for treatment or would you go to the nearest Emergency room? If you have a brain and value your life or youre child's you would go to the nearest hospital and guess what, no matter how much you have not used the hospital or run it down, those people are well trained and they will be there to save your life!!
Now, put things in perspective...you know how the old saying goes...if you don't use it,then you lose it, well, that pretty much sums up the shutting down of the OB unit doesn't it! We have no one to blame but the community of Shelbyville. Would you all like to continue dumping money into something that you get no return from year after year after year...I think not! Just think about why the county sold the hospital, because it was not making money...think back...wasn't the loss of money on OB one of the big factors!!!!
Sounds like money was an issue from the begining, if it has only been 1 month and they are wanting to close that department already. Isn't that a violation of the purchase agreements continuation of service clause. All though Dr Beavers was resigning, there was still 2 more doctors Dr. Jan Crean and Dr. Dennis Weick, whose contracts were Terminated. Was this termination done by the Doctors themselves or did the Hospital terminate them? It does say something about economic feasability, and community needs, which is determined by the buyer, as well as availability of qualified physicians. Maybe they were not getting in enough births to keep this department opened, or too many births that are not paying the expenses like Juju35 said.
Shelbyville is Suffering ALL THE WAY AROUND; we go to hospitals outside of Shelbyville for our care, we shop for clothes and other products outside of shelbyville, we seek entertainment outside of shelbyville, Our industrial companys' move over sees, or seek workers outside of our country, and they in turn mail portions of the income they make outside of our country. The other jobs that are still here, and hire workers from here will only hire you through a temp service paying you $7.00 hr. with either no benefits or benefits too high that you can not afford with the low income you make. This is really sad, Our City and County officials need to really look at what is going on and start planning new strategies and plans for making Shelbyville more prosperous.
Or all the working people are going to have to seek work outside of shelbyville that has better paying jobs and benefits, and decide to move out of Shelbyville, then all they will have is the Elderly, foreigners, and low income families that can't or will not support any businesses or events that this city has AND THEN WHAT? It is time something is done/changed around here, our families and community DESERVES BETTER. I hate to be bringing this up on other stories and issues, but if you really look at it, It always comes back to the same CAUSE/AFFECT OF PROBLEMS.
I know Heritage Medical Center is a private business, but it seems to me to be of poor business judgement to spend the money they did to build a beautiful new OB dept. then decide after one month to close it. That is no way to run a business. As far as Shelbyville losing this service I feel it is a step backward for the community. We need to move forward not backward.
The COE of Heritage needs to take a good look at all his departments. And take a good long look at the rate of pay some of the employees are working for.I'm sure he gets enough to support his family.
What he has done to the OB doctors, was un called for.And for that reason, one day he won't have his job either.
Changing the name isn't going to make people forget the poor reputation that the hospital has.Pulling stunts like this will wind up the new hospital.We thought it was bad when the county had it, but I guess ya never know what ya got til its gone. Because look what we have now???????
We have to go out of town to eat,shop and now to have babies.Its a shame such a brand new hospital having this kind of trouble in such a short period of time since opening.
One message to the COE of Heritage... " We Reap What We Sow." It might be your job next.
I know that Heritage Medical Center is a private business, but it seems to me poor business judgement to spend all that money building a beautiful, state of the art OB dept. then decide one month later to close it. In fact that seems really stupid. I'm sure with a new facility that the births here would increase. The county losing this sevice is definely a step backward for Shelbyville
I agree sameoldstory.
Although I hated to see the hospital sold, the cost of medical care is just too expensive for a small county to handle. Even Metro General in Nashville has money problems.
It's all part of a community that has to provide care to those without insurance. Those of us who pay for insurance also pay for those who don't. I won't fault the new hospital for trying to make money. They aren't in in for charity work. It is for profit as is all business.
We need to wake up and realise that until we get higher paying jobs in Bedford Co that also provides good health care benefits, then everything will continue to suffer. Our schools, our courts and out law enforcement. The tax base is quickly eroding before our very eyes. No base..no money. No money...no services.
Think about this. For everyone baby born with insurance, there are 5 born with out. That is a loss and a write off for the hospital, doctors and staff. Bedford Co has more than it's share of babies being born with out insurance coverage. Most with insurance choose Tullahoma and Murfreesboro. Most born in Bedford Co with insurance, have Tncare. Sorry to hurt anyones feelings or pride but its the truth.
I totally agree with you, ILOVEBEDFORDCO!
It takes longer than a month to make a baby, and women that are seaking medical care out of town can not switch OB's past the 20 week mark (I think that's correct for my OB, might not be for others). When you see a doctor for your whole pregnancy, the last thing you want is a stranger, that knows nothing about your medical history, delivering your baby.
from article above:
"I don't see any reason why you wouldn't want to have your baby here," Harris said prior to the hospital's opening. "When you think about driving to Murfreesboro, with all that traffic, or anywhere else, with the price of gas ... When you think about convenience, simplicity, a personal approach and good care, we have all of it here, and beautiful amenities."
You didn't exactly give people enough time to make that decision. You have to overcome many years of poor service and it can't be done overnight. The last time I checked it took 9 months to have a baby. You can't expect women who already have a doctor somewhere else to jump ship in mid term, just to go to your hospital. You have to actually do a good job and give yourself a good name before you reap the benefits of referrals. My guess is closing the dept. was the plan along.
WELL,WELL
Looks likes to me we might lose this hospital if they do not make money.It looks like to me the County messed up in selling the old hospital just because ''THEY'' had to spend money on it.
That is just too bad.
is ther any way the gazette can help us make sure that the chs corporation heads see these examples of our community outrage? please help get these comments to them if you can and i don't mean this local Buckner guy!!! we know where he stands!!
We should also realize thta not only are we loosing the hospitals obstetrical service, but also the ONLY 2 BOARD CERTIFIED GYNECOLOGISTS in town. So who is going to treat you when you need a hysterectomy, or have cervical cancer? Who is going to take care of you when you have been bleeding for 3 months straight, or need hormones because you are gong through menopause? We are also going to have to go somewhere elso for this type of care.
The closing of the OB department would be such an injustice to the community. I personally have worked extremely hard to get this new unit open only to find out less than a month later that our department might be closed within 6 months. I pray this is not the result. I understand that OB departments lose money everywhere except for the few hospitals such as Murfreesboro that deliver 200+ babies a month sacrificing personal care as a result. They are just too busy to provide what we can. We may not have specialized areas such as a lactation department or a NICU, but our care is far superior due to less volume and more time to spend with the patients we deliver. As far as experience goes, we have that as well. Most of our nurses have worked at the larger OB departments such as Murfreesboro, but decided to work at here because of the lower volume and the ability to provide care in a more personal environment. Speaking for nurses, we went to school to take care of people who are sick or in need of medical care. Little did we know what nursing is really about, the all mighty DOLLAR! Please pray for us and yourselves because before too long you will have to drive very long distances to receive care for obstetrics or any other service that a hospital has a choice on whether to provide.
IS THE "IF I CAN'T HAVE IT,NOBODY ELSE CAN HAVE IT", SYNDROME AT THE CENTER OF THE OB CRISIS?WHY WOULD CEO BUCKNER SEVER CONTRACTS WITH DR'S WEICK AND CREAN KNOWING THAT DR BEAVERS WAS ENDING HER ON-CALL PRACTICE AT THE DELIVERY ROOM.?OR IS IT THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FEE IN THE DELIVERING,OR IS A COP-OUT TO CLOSE THE OB DEPARTMENT,AT THE EXPENSE OF DR BEAVERS HAVING THE BLAME FOR CLOSING?DON'T BLAME DR BEAVERS,AS SHE IS DEDICATED TO HER CALLING.LOOK AT THE PICTURE HERE.
I go to Murfreesboro for all of my prenatal care, and have delivered there twice. I also plan on driving to Murfreesboro to deliver this baby, even though the doctor pretty much said she will be suprised if I make it. My husband and I feel better about the expierenced staff at Murfreesboro, along with the NICU, in case something goes wrong. They also have a great lactation support system, and store.
Maybe Dr. Beavers and the other OB doctors can open up a birthing center? I would personally love a local birthing center, with NICU type services, that offered women choices in birthing methods, like water birth (which I would LOVE to do). I plan on having this baby natural and hate the quick medical interventions at the hospitals. It also sucks pretty bad to be strapped to a bed while laboring naturally in the hospital. The doctors could make it a "have it your way" type atmosphere. Of course this is for those of us that want as little medical interventions as possible.
Of course they would have to accept all types of insurance, TennCare being the main one.
The Birthing Center could be centrally located in town, and easy to get too.
Well, I'll finish with saying I will never deliver my baby in an ER with unexperienced staff and nurses. When I go into labor, and I feel like making it to Murfreesboro is impossible, I would only stop at Heritage South if the OB unit was still open. If it were to close down, I'll risk having him in the car. At least my husband is experienced! =)
What is happening to our town ??????
i hope that chs is aware of the community's feelings on this o.b. closing. we waited a long time to get a new modern hospital in "our" town and now a big part of it may be snuffed out without any concern for us. and why would our "elected" mayor be for us driving out of town for the "best" service when i hear they are very advanced in o.b. there now. shouldn't he be on our side not some corporation. there are good doctors who would probably like to come here with the new improvements. how will we ever know if they even try to get them here???
Well Well Well.
Some years ago I was stopped by a county commissionener. While pumping gas. The question was, what did I think about the Hospital sale? I responded with this. The first Vote was let's keep the hospital. Then after the county began to talk about wheel tax and other means of funding our hospital the PEOPLE OF BEDFORD COUNTY said. "NO NO WE DONT WANT TO PAY FOR MEDICALCARE, BUT WE STILL WANT IT"
I relayed this story to the commissioner.
Our milk cow died when I was a child, after that we went to get milk and there was none. No milk and butter since the cow was gone. The people of Bedford County will be lining up at the ER door with their milk buckets and guess what. There ant no milk and butter since the cows been gone. The PEOPLE OF BEDFORD COUNTY VOTED themselves into this mess. Alright everybody look in the mirror, point at yourself, and say it's your fault. The county officials ask you what you wanted and you got it.
CHS, who owns Heritage, will cut every department to the bone to make money. If it doesn't make money it will not stay. If it doesn't make money CHS will sale the Hospital and move on. When this happens everyone will have another opportunity to look in the mirror and point. If your not happy with the medical care drive to Murfreesboro.
Sounds like Heritage Medical Center doesn't want to deliver free babies for all the Mexicans who won't pay. Smart business move.
In other words, He has no control over the hospitals decision to keep the OB department open or close, because it is a PRIVATE ENTERPRISE, and he saids he wants whatever is best for the county, he saids if they can provide the best service then residents should go there.
"Ray said he would support whatever is best for the county, even if that means driving 18 miles to Tullahoma to get the best service there.
"We want the best service," Ray said, "If they can provide the best service, then residents should go there ... we might provide a specialty in something else." "
If I am understanding this correctly, is our own county mayor suggesting that we drive 18+ miles to another town to obtain the 'best service' when we need it? Shouldn't our own town strive to provide us the best service needed? I am totally shocked at this comment.
how can they call it a hospital if they don't deliver babies there.
Are you guys talking about the new vet clinic they opened near Murfressboro? They should have built it a few more miles down the road that way my tax dollars could have gone to more important things like.............well you fill in the blank!
I smell a private hospital hinting to the Mayor "We will keep it, but we are going to need some financial incentive to do so"
So let's put mother's and babies at risk. Let's put family and friends at risk as they drive to Murfreesboro or Tullahoma to deliver. Let's put those with emergancy needs at risk as we deliver babies in the ER that can't wait until we drive elsewhere.
As an an outsider looking in, Sounds to me like the Hospital only opened the OB/GYN unit as a requirement to get a blessing from the state of Tennessee to build the new hospital. Without it, the permit for the need for a new hospital would have been denied. Now that they have the new hospital it opens the door to eliminate others. Wonder what unit will be next? The ER unit? As far as the best services comment made by the Mayor, you had the best services! Now you have none.
I THINK THIS IS TOTAL BULL! IF THEY WERE PLANNING ON RECRUITING NEW OBGYN'S, WHY TERMINATE THE CONTRATS OF THE 2 GREAT OBGYN'S THEY ALREADY HAD EMPLOYEED? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HERITAGE HAS ANY INTENTIONS OF CONTINUING THEIR OB DEPARTMENT. AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ALL ABOUT SERVICING THE COMMUNITY!