Nursing Management: Can You Make A Merger Pay Off? Essay, Research Paper

Altimier, L.B., Sanders, J.M., (2000, April). Can you make a merger pay off? Nursing Management, 31(4)8.

This article discusses the merger of three hospitals and prenatal departments with

the results of this complex transition. This huge project comprised of five nurse led areas

proved to be cost-effective. By maintaining a single administrative structure, they

eliminated bureaucracy and cut costs with staffing changes.

No doubt time will test the success of this story. There are many given numbers

for a grand total cost savings given as the merger’s big reward. However, there are no

numbers revealing patient satisfaction or quality indicators to measure possible outcome

changes on care delivery. Hospitals have a challenging task ahead in balancing supply and

demand. Creativity will be illustrated many ways in the future as a constant pulse is

monitored on the bottom line.

Espo, D., (2000, May 15). Progress toward HMO legislation fitful. Dayton Daily

News,, p. 4A.

This article deals with the ongoing discussion and negotiation of politicians

addressing HMO legislation that extends new rights to all Americans with insurance.

Compromise on the legislation has been termed as fitful. This is due partly to the election

year gulf between Democrats and Republicans and partly to the internal differences among

lawmakers of the same party. Several weeks ago they were close to an accord on an

appeals process for patients who believe they are wrongly denied care, but there is no deal

as of yet.

At the heart of this matter is the American health care consumer. These citizens at

risk are paying taxes with the expectations that these men and women are therewith their

best interests at heart. These pending bills impact lives. Lives that are on-hold pending

care. Have they forgotten how much time can impact lives? Healthy differences can

sometimes create the best outcome. As time continues, this does not.

Pilot study to monitor quality of cancer care. (2000, May 17). Dayton Daily

News, p. 6A.

This article addresses a foundation grant of one million dollars for a project, which

will involve six hundred patients. Doctors at the annual scientific meeting of the American

Society for Clinical Oncology are examining the possibility of setting up a nationwide

system to monitor the quality of cancer care. The goal is to assure that cancer patients get

the best of care. This comes in response to a report last year from the Institute of

Medicine.

Thank you! Hope like a flower is watered to grow for good of all. One can only

be encouraged when groups of health care workers unite with a common interest to

improve the quality of life for these needy patients and families.

Perez, F.J., (2000, May 16). Balanced Budget Act hurting hospitals, patients.

Dayton Daily News, p. 4A.

This article is written by the president and chief executive officer of an Ohio

hospital. He addresses the financial challenges of hospitals to survive and to continue to

provide the care that patients deserve. A major culprit he names is the Balanced Budget

Act passed in 1997. Ohio hospitals have been projected to lose $4.4 billion in Medicare

payments through 2004. Often Medicare may comprise 50 percent or more of a given

hospital’s patient mix.

This act greatly influences the resources available for hospitals to utilize in their

attempts to deliver high quality care with the resources available. Transfers of patients

moving across the continuum in a smooth, timely manner in attempts for the right place at

the right time have been greatly complicated by this act. Hospitals and long term care

facilities struggle to find the right answer to this act that places many patients in the wrong

place for wrong reasons.

Vigan, S., Hofer, T.P., ET. ol. (2000). Cost-utility analysis of screening intervals

for diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. JAMA, 283 (7), 889.

This article discusses the conclusions of the National Health and Nutrition

Examination Survey. Michigan researchers challenge eye screening guidelines and claim

that annual eye exams are not necessary for everyone with type 2 diabetes. Instead, the

frequency of eye exams should be tailored to individual circumstances.

This would be just one example of a cost-savings act that makes sense and does

not negatively impact the patient. Hopefully, after the review and application of so many

clinical pathways, care maps, and other standards have been exhausted, the pendulum will

swing back appropriately to care