Dear Hockeyfan-
Has already been clarified.
Thanks.

Just want to clarify an earlier comment. Mercy Hospice has not been closed. Haven House is the hospice residence that is closing. Mercy Hospice will continue to provide hospice services in Rock and Walworth counties.

ihavealife-
The car accident victims that were diverted to other area hospitals were stable. Their lives were NOT in jeopardy. Patients that came through the door were still seen. Would you rather be diverted to another hospital, or risk the patient to staff ratio being extremely unsafe? Many hospitals will divert patients if they are stable and the hospital ER is at capacity. Mercy Hospital has continued to look out for the best interests of the patients by providing safe quality care. A few years ago My family and I were in a car accident near Whitewater. Because of an emergency at Fort Atkinson Memorial Hospital, we were diverted to Mercy Hospital. I was not upset at FAMHS. My family was stable and I was worried about the other patients that were NOT stable. The staff at Mercy ensured my children and my unborn son were safe and comfortable. They went out of their way to make sure my kids had snacks and let them stay with me until my tests were complete. Another time my daughter had chest pains because of her heart/lung disease. We came by ambulance and Mercy completed tests and talked to her cardiologist in Milwaukee and she went for a corrective open heart surgery soon after. This same daughter had to come in by ambulance because of an unknown latex allergy to a balloon at Chuck e cheese's. Staff was excellent at all times. The nurses were wonderful and Dr. Durkes ensured my daughter was a priority.
Thank you Mercy ER for the services you provide to our community! I AM PROUD TO BE JOINING THE MERCY TEAM AS AN RN. Thank you!

ihavealife..I'm not sure what you were talking about with the accident vicitms..We have sent in the past to other facilities...but were not the only hospital to do that..I can't speak for the clinics etc...I do agree that it is time that the administration starts waking up.

I happen to be a MERCY ER RN and can say that the care we provide is good quality care considering what we have been through in the last year....The nursing staff is the best I've seen in years. I think if the ANTI MERCY could sit through a shift and see what we go through on a daily basis then they would not be so ANTI. People need to realize that the Emergency room is for EMERGENCIES and not for something minor that you've had for 6 months and suddenly today is the day you decide to have it looked at. Think how you would feel as a caregiver working a trauma patient and having to tell that family they didn't make it. Then in the same hour going into another room for lets say a toothache and only hearing how bad the wait has been and how terrible the care is. People wake up if it isn't an emergency it won't be treated as such. If it was your family we were trying to save you would want us to do everything we could. Do we have areas we could improve on OH YES..I think we need to stop remodeling and keep the money where we need it in PATIENT CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!

toasty2k - re: your comment "George Bush rocks." You are so right! I recently spent some time in both Germany and Norway, and conditions there were just appalling! I mean, the Euro is doing so..umm...badly...against the dollar. Those unfortunate left-wing socialists! How dare anyone ever challenge unregulated American corporate capitalism? I'm sure glad our economy is working so well in the US, with people getting 2 weeks vacation per year and taking extra jobs to make ends meet. I say, no more debate! Socialism is not an option. Just look at the Great Depress...wait, umm, yeah...

unless you are one that was just told you are no longer going to be doing the SPECIAL SERVICE that you LOVED to do---you have NO idea --these were not "JUST POSITONS"--these were services PERFORMED FROM THE HEART,the type of CARE employees looked forward to going in to do everyday,that is rare, and it is going to be hard to find anything to compare for a replacement position, and to find ,services comparable for the clients and families who needed them to improve/maintain their quality of life.
Heartbreaking

http://gazetteextra.com/mercy_pay041707....
Thanks to whomever mentioned Googling this article. How very enlightening!

When asking a member of the Human Resources Dept. at MHS very recently if they "have to" find jobs for all, her reply was "Legally we're not obligated to, MORALLY we are."
Pretty upstanding lady in my book.

The problem with treating employees better is one that can never be solved, problem being is people always want more. I worked for a company where as a bonus someone got an expense paid trip to Ireland as appreciation of what they do. You would think that the person would be happy about that but no, they asked that the travel dates be changed around their spouses biological cycle so it would be more fun..... Point being when is enough enough you will always want more. I cant think of a person in the world who would turn down more money or more time off if offered it rather than turning it down and saying "no thanks you do enough for me". The working conditions are not bad, coworkers are ok (never gonna love everyone no matter where ya go) and the pay is comparable to other area hospitals. Im sure its not ideal for everyone but no employer will ever make every employee happy. And regardless of what people say there are jobs out there, if people are THAT unhappy with Mercy i see "now hiring signs all the time at home depot and other places, take one of those until you find another job if its SO bad....

If you want to compare how local hospitals compare in quality, check the Joint Commission site. Mercy meets or exceeds Joint Commission standards as do most other hospitals in the area. Joint Commission is a not-for-profit organization that accredits more than 90% of the hospitals in America. http://www.qualitycheck.org/Consumer/Sea...

Jenna249, it’s one thing to not like your job but it’s another thing to dog your department and company on the web. I don’t always like my job either but I feel it’s all in “your” attitude that makes or breaks a job or anything in life. Only you can make you happy. If you are carrying this attitude with you to your job interviews maybe that’s why you’re not being hired elsewhere. Could your attitude also be the reason people are perceiving the service to be poor???? If I called and was “lucky” enough to get you and your attitude on the phone I might be upset too. I hope if I ever do have to call that I get someone like luvmydog that takes pride in what they do and will actually want to help.

As far as how Mercy treats their employees…. How many employees in the area wish their companies would find employment for them within the company when “needed” cuts have to be made. Oh how GM/Lear/Stoughton Trailers employees wish they would be re-tooled and retrained so they could stay with their companies. Again, Thank You Mercy for not having layoffs during this down economical time and being proactive and protecting the jobs of the people you now employ. Jena, good luck finding what you’re looking for.

some of you argue that mediocre to poor quality care exists in every hospital all over the country. Denial is not a river in Egypt. My family and many people I have spoken with are hoping and praying for options other than Mercy. Besides Madison and Milwaukee are not that far thank God.

i am also an employee of mercy. i cannot stand it there, but like MANY MANY others i'm having a very difficult time finding another job because of the economy. so, i'm stuck where i'm at for now. i work in billing, and there are many problems within the whole department.. as i'm sure there are throughout the entire company. they do not treat their employees as good as they tell people they do.

to those of you telling the mercy employees who dont like their job to leave and find another one, would you like to help us find one? because i've been searching for months and havent come across anything worth taking yet. so back off.

I am an employee of Mercy Health System and proud of it. There is no perfect health system, but we strive everyday to improve patient care first, our attitudes (sounds like a few could work on that some) but to simply be the best we can be. Are there flaws? Of course there are, but I think everyone has to admit that to actually be awarded the Malcolm Baldridge Award we are pretty damn good.Don't tell me it's because of money exchanging hands either; like I said earlier, I do work there, I work hard to be the best I can be in my job and I've also been a patient and had to do my share of waiting. All I can really say to that is if it comes between someone being there for a headache, flu, rash or heart problem, I would certainly hope the heart patient would get treated first. Anyone who feels as bad about where they work as some of these people writing should really find another job and let appeciative and caring people have the jobs.

I do think it's sad that they are discontinuing services that are so desperately needed. It sounds like management is top heavy at the sacrifice of people who desperately need these services.

miltonalum you point was well taken. However I was not referring to stubbed toes. And if an organization this large can't even have competent people doing the billing what does that say? I never said a baby died. But research the cases of necrotizing faciitis that occurred in a very short period of time, one being a very, very young child.

outsidelookingin: I've also visited someone recently and found surprisingly unclean conditions. And perhaps Mercy should scrutinize their doctors. I sat through a heartbreaking wrongful death case a few years ago that proved in the end this young man should not have died. However, it was the doctor that was sued and also Mercy. I believe outsidelookingin was trying to make a point that having options in a community our size is a good thing.

Also id like to add that Mercys billing system is lackikng in my opinion they are overly dependant on software and I myself have had some issues with the billing department so i will agree with you on that, it does not, however, affect the care i received. Additionally the fact that Mercy has pending lawsuits means nothing in todays society. I could stub my toe, go to the ER then file a lawsuit that they mistreated me. It doesnt mean they did, it just means i filed a lawsuit so it will show up on ccap. In todays get-rich-quick society too many people are trigger happy on suing anyone or any corporation who gives them so much as a dirty look. Im a few are legit and people deserve settlements, but, again compare it to hospitals everywhere....

Outsidelookinin: you truly are on the outside lookin in, Mercy's OB section is brand new off a 3 million dollar renovation completed 2 years ago, perhaps your one case was an exception but in general mercys OB is top notch. Mercy has Never lost a baby to malpractice or employee/doctor mistake and thats a fact. Also yes, lets look at the wrongful death suits that Mercy has "LOST" id like to see some facts behind your statements, and if in deed there is some backing behind what you say how does that compare to the nationwide average because id wager that every major hospital in this country deal with lawsuits probably weekly.

I had that same thing happen in the ER too. 2 hours in the little room and they say ooops we forgot you. Hire some help and hire some that are on the ball, not ones that just say ooops we forget!

Wake up Janesville! A second hospital will offer you options so that you can make an educated choice. I used to live in the area and I've seen the quality of service go rapidly downhill. Look at the number of wrongful death suits Mercy has LOST! Why? Because of wrongful deaths! I went to visit a young lady who had her baby at Mercy about a year ago. The rooms were filthy! The garbage cans were spilling over onto the floor. Too many people have received less than quality care. So stop calling the ones who are simply asking for choices "whiners". They are intelligent people expressing concern for the wellbeing of themselves and loved ones.

George Bush rocks! I would vote for him again just to stop you left wing socialist from selling out our country ans endangering our freedom.

I find it very funny the Dizz is looking into my personal life. Let's get back to the real story here. I hae been turned into collect 4 times from Mercy 1st time for a $35 copay that I myself paid on my flex card. 2nd time for my husbands back for $1100 for a surgean to take 4 ex-rays....?Still fighting this one 2 years later. 3rd for not paying off my balance in a timley manner BALANCE OF THE BILL WAS 76 CENTS!!! 4th time was for my step daughter who is not on my insurance but they are charging me for the bill because she was staying at my house for the weekend....?

Classic "mountain out of a molehill" thing here. The article says 20 jobs. Mercy employs thousands. They have been smart enough to diversify out of Janesville so that the cuts needed here are able to be absorbed by other clinics and hospitals. They are planning to find work for the cut positions in other Mercy facilities.

The elimination of some of the services as mentioned in previous comments is unfortunate, but an economic necessity. Mercy had just signed a huge new contract with GM to provide health care for workers - now with GM going, so is that contract.

This is probably also a reaction to anticipated changes coming in our health care system. With Obama poised to be our next President, the writing is on the wall: National Health Care System. Hospitals like Mercy will not fare well under most of the plans put forward so far. They will be overwhelmed and underpaid. This looks to me like a repositioning in anticipation of that move.

Sign in an Emergency Room waiting area:
Fast service
Quality Care
Cheap Rates
CHOOSE TWO

mymaro--just visited your suggested yahoo article--the article itself was useless, I've never seen this action in any local hospital--however, I did read alot of the comments to the article--OMG--the problem of ER services abuse is SO widespread!! I can't help but think that the fine people of Janesville read our comments about misuse of the ER for non-emergent, non-life threatening, NON-SENSE complaints take a look at themselves and say "not at Mercy, we don't misuse the ER." Wake up people--YES YOU DO!! Keep in mind people, if you go to the ER for non-emergency care and say "I dont have any insurance"--you WILL be evaluated and treated, THEN you will be BILLED!!!

If Mercy isn't struggling, why did they suddenly stop sponsoring community events like charity golf outings? A Mercy employee told me they are no longer allowed to sponsor or golf in them.

Blaze: I don't follow you on your comment regarding Beloit. What does it have to do with Beloit having jobs? TheJoker is correct by the way: Beloit has job openings!

Thank you dean and mercy for providing great care to me and my family!

Dizz and you are?

LMAO..how true.

"Eliminate the one's working in the billing department" says the person who hasn't paid a penny on their Mercy balance or water & light bill in over a year. We want to save jobs in the area.

Miltongirl, I admire your advocation for the patients of Mercy Hospital.

How often are these programs used on a daily basis? I need statistics so I can make an educated opinion..

Wow all this negativity about a company that’s being proactive and keeping its employees employed and not laying anyone off. This is a tough crowd.

Javon & Mercy are doing the right thing. They are being pro-active for what is happening in Janesville/Rock County (it’s more then just GM) and what is happening now and in the near future. Unlike the major car company in town, Mercy is protecting the people that now work for Mercy rather then keeping employment levels that will only have to be cut job in a year or so when the new hospital is in town and the GM/Lear/Gilman/Stoughton Trailer jobs are gone.

Miltongirl, maybe you should take a step back and look at the big picture and not with your hand in front of your face so you can see the whole thing. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is not what a smart person does. However, looking for ways to change a process and get better results is. Look at the big picture and not just your little corner.

I'm not a VP or even a manager where I work but I do know that being proactive and having a game plan is better then being reactive without a plan when it's too late. (What people don’t want big trucks any longer?? We’ll have to close in 2 years, oops maybe 2009, oops this year) Which way is better for Janesville/Rock County???

Thank you Mercy for not having layoffs during this down economical time and being proactive and protecting the jobs of the people you now employ.

They might as well eliminate the one's working in the billing department. They have no clue what in the world they are doing anyways!!

and I really dont understand why people are having a problem with my points in what I am saying.....I am all for the best in patient care. I am for keeping all the programs that benefit you the patients...I am trying to be a voice to help you and to get people to open up their eyes and see where there money that they pay to Mercy is going......right to the VP's pockets.....Why in the world would you cut out the Mercy in Motion program....by the way they already did this week....Do you know how many elderly people depended on that service to get to their Dr appts...and how many handicap people used that service and if you know of anyone who has a loved one who is terminally ill than you would wonder why did they get rid of the Mercy Hospice Resident program....and also this week Javon decided to close the doors on the Adult Day Care program so if you or anyone you know struggles with care for elderly parents that needed this type of treatment you will totally understand what I have been trying to say to you all...open your eyes people...it is so wrong....what next.....lets get rid of the dialysis center or how about the cancer center.....Why does Javon decide for all the people what he eliminates and what he doesnt. He doesnt care about Jane Doe down the street who is in a wheelchair and needs the Mercy in Motion van to pick her up and take her to her Neurology appt.....he doesnt care that Sally Smith up the street is dying of cancer and is surrounded by her children and can no longer use the Mercy Hospice residence program. Javon deosnt care about John Black who is suffering from alzheimers and his famliy depended on the Day Care treatment program where he could go during the day, a place where he was safe and cared for while his family has to work their jobs

mymaro.....um nevermind you wouldnt get it...

smerk Well said...like I said in an earlier post that it must be the VP's posting on here.....or like you said "people working for Javon" because some of them were getting quite defensive for just being gazette readers.....and you hit the nail on the head...like I have been saying all along....Javon and the VPs DO NOT care about Patient Care!!!!!

It seems after reading here that people have the misconception that MERCY HOSPICE Home Nursing is going to be discontinued. It is NOT. MERCY HOSPICE Home Health & ALL Mercy Home Hlth. will continue growing as it always has been with excellent, caring and well-educated nursing staff/caregivers.
However, it is sad to say that Mercy Hospice RESIDENCE aka HAVEN HOUSE a place for the terminally ill to live out their days is being terminated.
A large loss for the community.

For those of you that think that going to the Dean Hospital is going to be your health care savior, I am sorry to say that you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Wait times in the ER are everywhere; they are not just a Mercy problem. I have had poor experiences at Mercy, but nothing tops the horrible experience I had at a Madison emergency room. I think overall Mercy is a great health system. Mercy is like every other business; it has strong and weak points.
For those of you that honestly believe using CCAP to identify doctors that have committed malpractice, you are just demonstrating ignorance. Most malpractice cases never make it to court. They are settled quickly outside of a courtroom. Your personal doctor could have committed malpractice and paid out dozens of malpractice claims, and you would never know about it. That information is secured from the public in a national data bank.
Mr. Bea’s total compensation is based on how well the health system does. Most businesses and organizations pay their CEO on how well the company performs. This is nothing new. As for the number of VPs at Mercy, who really cares as long as the organization is stable? And from what I understand Mercy is still financially sound, they are trying to be proactive and keep it that way. Would you rather they wait until they are operating in the red and have to shut the doors or cut half the positions?

It was only a matter of time.....wonder if any of these MERCY workers that are losing their jobs were GM HATERS?? Sure hope not, or there will be a HUGE DOSE OF HUMBLING coming through.

Nurse4u - just wait a little while till they suddenly tell you that they aren't going to pay you what they promised and hope you'll stick around anyway. I work at Mercy and have seen it done before. If Mercy is so great to work at then why are they unable to hire MDs and staff where they are desparately needed (ER, OR and Primary Care). Many people are leaving as soon as they can. Not what one would expect from a "Baldridge Award" winner. Mercy has put money and expansion as their only priority and forgotten what is the only thing that should matter - patient care. Everything should be focused on that and that only; it hasn't been like that since Javon showed up. People who work for Javon are told to monitor and respond to these blogs, so take some of them for what they are - the Party Line according to Javon.

Joker, im sorry you are wrong about mercys financial status, I do work in the mercy system and i have 1st hand access to alot...

I am a new employee at Mercy Hospital and I LOVE the wage they offered me and my benefits.
In my experience, the employees at Mercy are very understanding and work as a team to get the job done.

My point is that if it's THAT bad, do something to make it better for yourself. Complaining here won't help. I don't have a problem with most services or care at Mercy, nor do I think it's my business what their executives are paid. Healthcare is a business. If you don't like the services/product at a business, take your business elsewhere.

JVLRDR-are you kidding? People are losing jobs left and right. Most people can't just "change" jobs. And why should they have to. Why can't Mercy treat their patients and employees better?

I still don't get it. If people don't like Mercy, stop going there. You do have a choice--if your employer only carries MercyCare, work somewhere else. That seems extreme, but if you feel that strongly that Mercy's care is bad and your life is in jeopardy with their services, take action. I can't see a better reason than that.
And if you work there and have nothing good to say about Administration, policies and services, find a different job. If Mr. Bea makes too much $$ for your liking, work for a smaller organization. No one is keeping you there except yourself.
If you aren't willing to do that, stop complaining!

Hannah: If there was enough demand for urgent care to be open at 7:00am I’m sure it would be. If it can’t wait until they open at 10:00, then it probably does need an ER visit. If someone is having a major allergic reaction they should go to the ER, because people can die from that. Can people die from the flu? Sure, but not the mostly normally healthy teenage-50+ year olds I’ve seen in the ER. Very young children, people with existing conditions, and elderly are more prone to severe systems and possibly death from the flu. You don’t have to be a doctor or god to know that, it can be read on a regular basis in multiple weekly and monthly magazines. I assumed people would understand my point, but I forgot the rule not to assume anything. I guess my comment about the chest pain ending up being heartburn could be misconstrued as saying people shouldn’t go to the ER with chest pain, which isn’t true. If you have abnormal chest pains, then obviously a trip to the ER is unavoidable. However, my point is that the ER is backed up with situations that don’t end up being emergencies. The staff on hand will know how much of a priority to make each case. As a result, some people have to wait, because their situations aren’t as serious as they may think they are. Does that make Mercy’s care bad? I don’t think it does. People can’t expect the hospital to pay millions of extra dollars to get people with non emergency situations in and out the door in an hour without appointments. I still stand by my point that people are doctor and pill happy. That is not to say there aren’t great and helpful drugs available or that certain cases don’t require them (I want to make that clear so I don’t get bashed by people who actually need a drug). However, it is widely read, most doctor related visits can’t be eliminated and many potential risks can be avoided by weight loss (if I recall correctly the number is around 85%). That, doesn’t mean I’m skinny, because I’m not. However, after finding out I had type 2 diabetes I lost fifty pounds and began to exercise daily, rather than take the drugs. My blood sugar levels are now normal. However, that doesn’t mean I’m normal. People get touchy when you talk about their ER visits or drugs, yikes. Maybe some Prozac is in order here (just kidding).

Mercy Hospital is in the process of developing a Level 2 Trauma Center as well as expanding other areas of speciality.

I am proud to be a new employee there!

Mercy Er has had a medical director since last fall. But they continue to depend heavily on "rented" doctors. Also, Rockford has 2 Level 1 and 1 Level 2 trauma centers.

JN0503...if you read my comments you would see what I was concerned about. I love my job...never did I say I didnt!! I am concerned with them cutting out programs that are needed and helpful for patients!!!! I am concerned that some people that work for Mercy are going to lose their jobs when I think the Administration is over staffed and over paid....

Hannah- I am sorry that you feel that you had a negative experience at the ER at Mercy. I am hearing that you feel frustrated with the service that you were provided.
As a nurse, we try to provide the best quality of care that we can, with skills, compassion, and respect for our patients.

momof5: Mercy has had a medical director for the past year and Meriter is a Level II trauma center. The only level I trauma centers in Wisconsin are at UW Hospital in Madison and in Milwaukee. Rockford has two level II trauma centers.

First of all, Mercy probably shouldn't be a 60+ facility organization. This is not enitrely Javon Bea's fault, but let's regroup and look at what brought "you" here in the first place. IMO, "he" was blinded by the shine of the prize and in the interim forgot what the prize even was.
.
Meriter may have 9 on their board, but that is apples to oranges. Meriter has a level 1 trauma; Mercy hires temp docs to keep their ER staffed (and hasn't had an ER director since atleast last summer). Meriter has both a PICU and a NICU; Mercy has a 6 bed peds unit--with many of the peds nurses not dedicating their shifts (or training) to only peds. Meriter is a "Magnet Hospital"; Mercy, yeah, not so much. Meriter is atleast 2x the size (both physically and services wise). Just because the big dogs have 9 on their board doesn't mean the little puppy Mercy needs just as many.

Boy it really concerns me that an employee would have such a negative attitude toward the company they work for. I know I like where I work and I am very proud of my employer. Why would someone work at a place where they are so negative, angry or dissatisfied? Life is too short for such negativity. Focus on the positive or move on!

I am thinking some of these people that are getting so defensive for Mercy are VP's!!!

There are 9 VPs, not 12. This is not an unusual number for the size of the organization. Meriter has 9 on their executive team. Even little Fort Atkinson has 10 people on their Administrative Team.

As for the services that are being discontinued, there are STILL services for those patients in the community. If volumes were high enough, Mercy would have been able to keep the current ones going. Making strategic moves such as these are essential to make sure that the system can keep other services (not available in the community) viable and operational.

Well put Mom....
my problem with the whole picture is that Javon Bea and his 12 VPs are making an ungodly amount of money and they are cutting out good programs that the patients need and in alot of instances the elderly and less fortunate patients need they rely on services such as Mercy in Motion to get to their Dr appts because they are unable to drive like maybe are handicapped and such. Also cutting the Adult Day Care program and Hospice.....I have a problem with that ....when they could eliminate a few VP positions. But your comment is good....the question is ...Why does Javon need 12 VP's??????????????????????

momof5, I disagree. How would one president and one or two VPs be able to run a 60+ facility organization?

one could argue that if ANY President needs more than 1 or 2 VP's then they are not very effective at their presidency and platform. And, if a president needed 12 VP's then they really must not be able to function at a high enough capacity to be considered beneficial to the group in which they lead. Anyone who needs that much reinforcement to come up with good ideas to make themselves look good isn't worth 13 million pennies let alone dollars!!

And Mercy has Javon and 12 VPs....and they are making near $200,000 a year. Why not eliminate a few of them and keep Mercy in Motion and Mercy Adult Day Care and Mercy Hospice for the patients...They dont need that many VP's

Hey, Stacymarie and Rosewood----My first message is wayyyyy down the list...but I had to respond to those two.....

ahh...you two are out for blood, hey?? My "emergency"..which, by the way, Im not going to explain to you...was NOT a life and death situation. (Nobody knew that when I arrived there) And when I said " I couldve died in that little room" I meant that sarcastically---I was not "near death"...but THEY didnt know that. I meant it as I sat in there without anyone so much as peeking in at me for nearly 2 hours. They could have, ( if they had remembered I was there) stuck their head in the room and said hey, we are swamped we will get to you as quick as we can... I dont care what you say about "real emergencies" ( how do YOU know mine was not?!) THEY FORGOT ME AND ADMITTED TO ME THAT THEY DID.I wouldve been the first one to say "I can wait" if they had told me they had other more serious issues. Obviously, though, as fast as they took ME back, that they categorized my visit as one of some importance.
The fact that they forgot me; that is just plain not professional, and nothing you can say to me will sway me from being irritated at my experience up there. I havent gone to Mercy ER in YEARS...and hopefully I wont have to again.
Back off and find someone else to "attack".

BLAZE
We can access our email from home!!!! I work second shift and I recieved the memo via email from home!!!

They already made their cuts to the ER staff back in March. Those people weren't offered any other positions in the system because of a "hiring freeze". I didn't hear anything about that in the Gazette.

All businesses need to do what they need to do to stay IN BUSINESS. Nobody likes change, whether it is the local grocery store raising prices or the hospital changing services, the only thing constant is CHANGE itself. What did people do before Mercy started driving patients around? The patients should be thankful to have the services while they did. I do feel bad for those who have come to rely on the drivers, I know of someone myself and I called her up and offered to take her to her doctor visits. Maybe those who are complaining should get off their computers and go help someone instead.
Hey beachsexton, maybe you should be first in line to help someone, by the looks of your postings, you could use some positive interactions with people.

Malpractice lawsuits and doctors are synonymous with each other unfortunately. That is the current state of the health care industry and another part of why health care is so expensive. Some cases are legitimate, but vast majorities aren’t. This holds true for doctors at any clinic or hospital from any health care organization regardless of affiliation. This is all public record material. Moreover, many of the doctors who work for Dean once worked at Mercy and vice versa. This also includes staff. If the new Dean hospital opens there will be a short love affair with them simply because they are new. Eventually the same people who complained about Mercy will be complaining about Dean. Again to error is human. Moreover, some people aren’t happy regardless of the quality of care. The question for me is do we need another hospital in a city of 60,000 people that is shrinking do to company transfers and retirees leaving to save on taxes in other states? Are the new jobs created at Dean going to come at the expense of jobs at Mercy? Is the quality of care going to be affected at both companies if neither is properly staffed due to our current economic situation? Are we going to have enough qualified staff in the area to fill the jobs that open at Dean? There are multiyear backlogs at Gateway and Blackhawk for medical related jobs and a shortage of RN’s statewide. Are enough people going to get through these programs in time to staff Dean? These are all questions that need to be answered before another hospital should open.

Milt, please wake up and smell the coffee. Let me guess, you work for Mercy. My source is solid.
Also, check CCAP. There are many doctors who have malpractice suits against them. I do not know the validity of any of them but they are out there. For example, look at their list of surgeons and then check CCAP. Please don't tell me my business. I know what I am talking about. And that is no joke.

Also, if you had a loved one die as a result of malpractice or clinical error, deborah, why havent we seen or heard about your lawsuit because if it really did happen as a result of employee/physician error Id sure be on the phone to my lawyer, IT amazes me the amount of people who come up with 1st hand experiences of loved ones being hurt or killed by MErcy malpractice, yet they havent had a malpractice lawsuit in how long...?

TheJoker: your joking right? Mercy has recorded record earnings in nearly every quarter for the last 8 years, Mercy also has not "borrowed" money from a bank in that time for any of their construction/updating projects. Aurora has no intention of buying anything mercy and there are no talks going on. There are no cash flow problems for Mercy, in fact its quite the opposite, they are needing to keep updating to reinvest the money in new clinics and updates so they dont show a profit in the "not for profit" organization.

Mercy is worried about the effect that a second hospital will have YET is going ahead for plans for an addition? *L* Makes sense to me.

I can't wait for a second hospital to be up and running. Mercy has been a monopoly for far too long now. I can tell you that I will be using the new option as soon as it is up and running. I can list many reasons for that and all have to do with services and care received through Mercy and their staff. Trying dealing with countless errors being made when you've had a loved one hospitalized there for many many months only to have that loved one die as a result.

I think they need to concentrate on services they now provide and making much needed improvements there. Just what does happen with complaints that are filed? *L* the person taking the time to file them sure doesn't seem to hear anything back about them.

Proudmercy, of course you are satisfied with Mercy and Javon Bea. Since you are health partner, you too are getting rich at the expense of hardworking people in this community.

By the end of 2009, Aurora will have bought all of Mercy's clinics and then buy the hospital property in 2010. You heard it here first. My source tells me the discussions are already taking place. Bea has overextended the network and has serious cash flow problems. Too much overhead and not enough banks willing to lend more credit. These cuts are only the beginning.

Fact of the matter is, Mercy Hospital is the second largest employer here in Janesvile, and after GM leaves, it will be #1.
I have done clinical rotations there, and was impressed with the way patients were treated. My daughter had serious complications that needed emergency care, and Mercy Hospital provided the necessary treatment. The employees took time to answer questions that I had and to go over instructions with me.
I am proud to now be a part of the Mercy Hospital team!

Also, blaming the cuts on Dean's planned hospital? Unless you're really struggling, you don't start folding up your tent when you know competition is coming. That would be like Woodman's cutting products and services when they found out the Wal-Mart Supercenter was coming.

Big Mike: Love him or hate him, no one can deny that Javon Bea took a struggling hospital and made it into a health care empire. But...14 million dollars??? He deserves to be compensated but that's an obscene amount to take out of a non-profit. Think of the jobs or updated equipment that could have been had for that.

what we need in Janesville is ONE good Hospital,which we do not have. I sure hope Dean is coming. Lives will be saved.
mercy is understaffed in every department as it is. hmmmmmmmmmm They dont even have the amount of Maint, they are soppose to have let alone DR. and Nurses.

Big Mike. You are sooo wrong. I have Dean Care insurance and I have to go to Dean Care Riverview. I don't have a choice either. If this award was so prestigious, then how come Mercy was not listed in the recent top 100 hospitals in the country. One in Oshkosh was. I love how everyone feels Dean should not build a hospital in Janesville. Javon built clinics in every county in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. He even built that great looking one right in front of the Beloit Hospital. No one from Mercy complained about that. I have had great care from Dean. I had a pain in my chest and they immediately took an EKG and then the stress test to see where my problem was. I was sent to St. Mary's in Madison and had absolutely the best care I have ever had. It all comes down to everyone's own opinion. That is what this blog site is for.

That was in 2002 and I think because of what he has done for Janesville and Mercy, he deserves it. Probably is comparable to other hospital CEO's get paid.
Either way, I stand corrected but still stand behind Mercy and what they have done for the community.

In addition, it would be interesting to know what the "Executives" from GM get paid...you know, the individuals that are leaving this community because....? Sorry, I haven't checked my facts.

Trust me when I say I understand the "workhorses" comment....but I do believe Mr. Bea has provided excellent vision, leadership and the tools needed to be successful in this community. He has my full support (and if asked), I am sure the support of the majority of our Health System Partners.

I would not want Bea's job but i can assure you Javon Bea is not the workhorse for this organization

Sounds like too many people think the grass is greener elsewhere! I suggest you go there and then send us your report! In addition to being a proud Mercy Partner I am also a patient who truly cherishes the Oncology Care I have received from this organization, in this community. For those of you who feel they can take Mr. Bea's place? Let me know when the Board gives you a call!

Momo, I agree. 50 people to accept an award? Did they also make acceptance speeches too? What a joke. Someone should tell Mr. Bea to take down all of the billboards of him shaking hands with President Bush. They are everywhere in the county. What arrogance!! This could save tons of money and also save some peoples jobs.

Dont get me wrong Javon deserves to get paid, Mercy is a great thing in this community and its a great hospital, id bet that half of the negative commentors about the place have never even set foot in it. So yeah pay the man he does do good, pay him 6 figures heck, pay him a mil, CEO's deserve a slice of the pie, just not a 13 or 15 million dollar slice, Id like to hear it from Javon himself how he justifies a bonus like that, yet cut 20 jobs.

Blaze, yes I have been in Beloit. Not sure what the heck you are talking about. Their hospital is top notch and they deliver service with smile. The Merrill Center is a great place to help those who need assistance in Beloit. Their downtown is booming and now they are developing by the interstate. I suggest that you get off your racist and elitist high horse and give Beloit credit for at least doing something. We all could learn a lot from them.

at least 13 million dollars in flowers would go towards improved working conditions, anything is better than padding Javons Investment accounts?

miltonalum: how about they invest that 13 million in Wall Flowers from Bath & Body Works to remove the stench on the med/surg floor at Mercy? They could pour that money into so many areas of that hospital, and ancillary sites that we could list them on here for days and days and eventually crash the Gazette's server.

but then again they need to spend that 13 million each year to keep the not for profit status. better let javon dine on caviar and wine while he rides his private jet back home to minnesota than keep 20 jobs.

I would look more at mr beas 2 million dollar salary and his semi anual 13 million dollar bonuses more than i would cut an ICU in a remote town, 13 million could fund that ICU for a few years.

blaze: She could work a 0500-1330 shift--or even part-time with any variation of hours. There are numerous shift patterns within the Mercy system, ya know. You do know what happens when you assume, don't you?

not to nitpick but her exact words were "just got a memo today at work" yeah she posted it at 235 but did you punch her out at work today? there are multiple shifts at mercy so dont use someone as an example unless you were standing behind her at work watching her type it.

How about cutting the "hospital" in Harvard? It has a 3 bed ICU floor and an 11 bed med/surg floor. By the time you staff the ICU alone with 2 RN's, let alone the med/surg floor, there is no possible way that hospital can be turning any sort of "profit." Same with Walworth. Consolidating ancillary services would be much better for longevity and in remaining competitive.
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I think Bea and his 10 VP's and Board need to look in the mirror and reevaluate what brought them to Mercy in the first place. There is the age-old saying that less is more. How true.

Yes Mercy is open 24 hours, but miltongirl posted 'just got a memo at 235 pm'. I believe that is during office hours

To the Joker, hmm, moving to Beloit, there are jobs there? Have you been to Beloit, have you seen the medicaid rate, have you been to the merrill community center, the high demand for services at the Beloit Area Community Center, the volumes in Beloit Memorial ERs, the Beloit Fire department responding to 80 calls over the 4th of July for many non-urgent needs, do I need to go on. Spend more time reading and getting your facts.

mercy is open 24 hours not everyone works 9-5

Huh. While Mercy had to do something quickly because of the GM situation and impending take over by the Dean Machine, maybe they should have thought of this in in the spring.
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Is it wise for any company, and healthcare provider nonetheless, who is facing budgetary cuts to send FIFTY plus employees out to D.C. to accept an award? Come on. The 75k Mercy paid for INDIVIDUAL hotel rooms is not the way the current Board should be showing fiscal responsibility.
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Is Mercy still paying for Javon to take "his" jet back to Minnesota on weekends??

For those Mercy employees such as Milton girl who have time to read her email, read the gazette website and post a blog at the website at 2:35 pm is a perfect example of why services & costs are being evaluated. If there is ample of time, especially on company time, to do non-patient care by posting blogs, there is room to consolidate staff, services and some of their responsibilities.
Kudos to all those reminding others of the non-urgent visits in the ER

Yes, Mercy is a business but I believe it is a "non-profit". I can't believe they are cutting services that will harm our most vunerable citizens. The "Mercy in Motion" program provided a way for people who could not drive or did not have a car to get to their doctor appointments. This was not a "free" service. People who used it, paid for it. If the program was not covering the costs, why didn't they raise the fees? People using this service certainly would have accepted a fee increase rather than seeing the service be discontinued. This certainly shows Mercy as being "Mercy-Less". Transportation in our county is at crisis level already.

I would vote for a pay cut for Mr. Bea and others at the top. Those funds could be used to help the "Mercy in Motion" program.

I know people will respond, "Oh, they can take the bus". My reply: Have you ever taken the bus, at age 80, with a walker, been unsteady on your feet, in the snow or rain, not feeling well or had severe hearing or vision loss. Some of these problems make it difficult to take the bus. Plus, what if they live where the bus does not go, say, Footville, Orfordville, Clinton, Edgerton?

It's a sad day, when our award-winning hospital announces cuts to programs that will impact our most vunerable citizens and with such a flimsy excuse as to it's reasoning.

Mercy job cuts are just another example that this city is going down the tubes. The take no prisoners attitude has finally caught up with Mercy. They, like GM, overexpanded and overpaid everyone. Now they have to pay the piper. I think the unemployment rate has to be near 10% for Janesville.

I am moving to Beloit. I know there are jobs there.

14.4 million in 2002 but they need to cut 20 jobs.....

You are right bigmike it is 13million is rumor. It really was a 15million dollar pay day refer to 2002. http://nonprofit-compensation.com/index....

Here you go BigMike, do a little research before you call BS, my bad it was actually 14 million....

http://rocknetroots.blogspot.com/2007/04...

I think what people in Janesville don't know is when the nuns had the hospital all of the equipment was outdated and they didn't know if they could make next payroll. We didn't have the top notch doctors that we have today and people went to madison for care. Then Mr. Bea came and turned the business around (yes people Mercy is a business), we got better equipment, higher wages, it started to look better and the staff was much happier. Don't be to quick to judge until you know all the facts.

1) The average healthcare advertising budget is ONLY 1% of total revenue.
2) Between GM and Dean, Mercy had to react. It sucks that what was cut were senior citizen programs, but the fact that they're not money makers is thanks to our government - not Mercy.
3) Don't forget about all the other things Mercy has and will continue to be doing for this community like the Wigs program, Meals on Wheels, Lifeline, House of Mercy, Castaways - not to mention 900 volunteers...900!!!!

HERE! HERE! BIG MIKE - WELL PUT! YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

I love how people tell each other to shut up or keep quiet...LOL. So much for freedom of speech when we have Blogger Monitors.

I would like to see proof of said 13 million dollar bonus. I call BS on that. Strictly rumor and hearsay.

Funny how so many people in Janesville seem to hate Mercy Health System and The Gazette... although they have no problem using one to complain about the other.

Tjncj, I agree i go to mercy, im satisfied with the care and my doctor, it is a good hospital, i think staciemarie hit it on the head that people who complain about long waits in the ER really dont have life threatening emergencies but maybe an annoying pain or a sprained or broken ankle that will get fixed but isnt life threatening so things are prioritized. If you say that the ER is empty you dont know that there wasnt just a rush and the person is in Xray or getting an MRI, I guarantee if you walk into the ER with a fence post sticking out of your neck they arent going to sit you down and make you wait for the guy who has a sore back from lifting a couch 2 weeks ago........

As far as Javon being fairly compensated i disagree i think he is grossly overcompensated, he gave himself a 13 million dollar bonus not long ago, 13 million....NOBODY is worth that i dont care if you are a brain surgeon pro sports player or president of the USA nobody is worth a 13 million dollar bonus yet we see it every day in this world, perhaps its part of the reason the value of the dollar is the way it is.

big mike and stacey-marie you hit it on the head.

I can't believe that we have such stupidity in our community. Get over it.

For those of you that work at Mercy and are complaining about it, PLEASE do the community a favor. Free up your future and go somewhere else. I'd bet that all the people that have complained about the care they received were probably treated by you! For those of you who don't understand the Baldrige award or the process (or don't care), get educated or keep quiet.
And for those that complain about the care they receive, please do the community a favor and go somewhere else. The grass is not always greener.
Mercy is taking the steps it needs to ensure there aren't layoffs in the future--that includes creating efficiencies where possible. This community will be hurt enough in the coming months by changes in the local economy.

I go to Mercy. I'm happy with my doctors and the care I get there. I am not complaining, I don't think we need another hospital, I think Mr. Bea and the VP's do a great job and are fairly compensated, that the Malcolm Baldridge award is a great honor and that the billboards and much of the other horn blowing about the award to the mass population a waste of effort.

I just can't believe it. Mercy has done so many great things for employees and for the community. They are trying to look out for the well-being of everyone. Don't you people understand that? They aren't laying off, they are trying to cut services that maybe aren't as vital to the community as other services. They are offering these people other jobs within. They are trying to be prepared for the reality that GM workers are probably not going back to work again. They are trying to prepare for another hospital coming to town that will take patients from their hospital, and they are feeling the pressure of people coming to their clinics with no insurance. Do you think we need another hospital with all these things happening to our community? No sir we don't. It will be harder on our economy than it is now....and if you don't understand that, then do a little research on what has happened in other communities when a second unneeded hospital is built. Lastly, shame on you mercy employees for biting the hand that feeds you.

stacymarie and Bigmike--well said! I'm tired of all the whiners in this community.

I have to agree the money spent on advertising "how wonderful Mercy is and how they won the award" is rather foolish. Seeing that short little guy standing next to GWB does nothing for me. If I have an emergency I will go to Mercy since there is no other hospital here. Why do they have to advertise???? Much like the post office why do they run ads and sponsor race cars and athletic teams?? Who else are we going to use to mail a letter or bill?? URGH!

Maybe the billboards are an attempt to educate an uneducatable community of whiners with unrealistic expectations about health care and business that they have a facility in their own backyard that has received national recognition for it's efforts and leadership in this community.

Even with mercy care you have the CHOICE to go out of network to see whatever doctor you chose. It may cost you some money but you still have that CHOICE. Once again people complaining about the choices they make.

HEY BEACHSEXTON WHERE DO YOU WORK THAT EVERYTHING IS SO ROSY.

ARE YOU A FORMER GM WORKER BY CHANCE

Bigmike-
As far as having choices - in health care? Get real - if you have Mercy Care insurance, you HAVE to go to Mercy ER - you DON'T have a choice.
I used to work at Mercy myself - I did get a job elsewhere - at a much more employee friendly company too. But that was a few years ago - and we all know what an abundance of jobs there are in this area right now. Mercy is an easy target & a lot of people are frustrated & feel the need to vent. Yes, this is America - one of the benefits of being an American is free speech.

You know, I have received nothing but the best care at Mercy. And for those of you who have not figured-out that a health system is a business...wake-up. Times are changing and sometimes things need to be cut. I can't imagine that Mercy is taking delite in these cuts but they are trying to survive just as other business are. Does anyone know what the reimbursement rate is for Medicare or Medicaid? Look it up and you may have a different perspective on why times are getting tough for all health systems. Charity care has also increased which puts further strain on Mercy.

And as for Dean building a hospital in Janesville...What the devil are they thinking? Mark my word, they are going to pull-out sometime in 2009. To drop a $140 millon dollar investment in a city that is contracting in population makes no sense. None. Heck, Beloit Memorial is not that far away.

And all of you who obviously have an envy issue with Javon Bea and the Vice Presidents, sit back and take a look at how they have grown this health system. Now that times are tough you just want to poop all over them. Shame on you. Envious people.

I didn't say it wasn't a "big deal". I was only commenting on all of the billboards. The problem with spending the money they did promoting it, in my opinion, is that no one really knows what the award means and most don't care. The billboards didn't really help to explain it and the advertising funds could have been used in a much more effective manner.

And by the way...The Baldridge award IS A BIG DEAL. Do a little research and see what it takes to achieve it. You might be surprised.

Thank you bigmike--very well said.

milton girl---about wsgreen--here's how it goes--they went to the emergency department, they were evaluated by the triage RN-a professional who specializes in emergency and trauma care--was found NOT to have a life threatening emergency, was placed in a treatment room (because even if it is not a live threatening emergency, everyone who presents to the ER requesting treatment, BY LAW must be seen and treated), the RN then gave report to the MD who ordered blood work based on the RN assessment of the patient. In the mean time EMERGENCIES were being treated in another room in the department. Get the picture?

Simple solution
If you don't like Mercy- don't go there
If you don't like working at Mercy- go get a job elsewhere
If you think the ER wait was too long- go somewhere else.
This is America. Don't bitch about the choices you make. You have the right to choose your health care provider and employer. If you think you can run Mercy better than Mr. Bea then work your way up the ladder and try to get his job.
Some of you people just don't seem to be happy unless you are complaining about something.

TJNCJ Very Nice comment ...couldnt have said it better myself!!!

Just got a memo today at work (mercy) from Javon Bea. He is cutting out ...Mercy Hospice, Mercy Adult Day care and Mercy in Motion. But hey lets keep the 10 Vice Presidents for you Javon and get rid of some wonderful services that help many patients and there families. Wow...its all about the big wigs here....they dont care about patient care one bit....As soon as we (the employees) made sure he got his Baldridge award and they went on their all expense paid vacation to Washington with all of Javons family and extended family I might add...they immediatley came around to the clinics and cut overtime and mileage for the floats.

I don't think wsgreen ever stated they went there because they were dying. What they are trying to say is they were put in a room, the only person that came in for the first hour was someone to draw blood. From what they said a nurse hadn't even been in, and they didn't really know what they were there for. Had this been a situation of greater magnitude, they could have died because no one checked on them. Geeze, even I didn't have to read between the lines on that one. What they thought to be an emergency may well have been, but to others, it may have been trivial. Cut them some slack!!

The comment about WWMBD is very funny!

Note to Mercy: Since I know you had employee meetings to think of ways to trim the fat, and you are really looking to serve the public, why not ask the public what they would like to see? Ask non-leading questions to us, and see what we think. Even those that can't stand your style will have good pointers. Sure you will be subjected to a unfiltered satisfaction survey, but it'll be good for you. It may change those rosy glasses you look through a pale shade of pink. We can't possibly think less of you, not even for wearing pink. It may even convince some of us you are willing to change aka trying. The gains you can expect from a willingness to change will outlast any gains from a handful of expensive billboards. The full page adds in the paper could be replaced with easy to see, full page surveys. Wow, that would truly satisfy me!

Maybe Mercy is just too big, but then again, this could just be a calculated plan by Mr. Bea. Personally, I think it is both. I think they have been too careless in their ways, behind the times in many aspects of accounts receivables & billing policies, as well as failing to shore up costly "fat" within the company. The little stuff adds up. It is about time they look at how they can become more lean. There is a natural ebb and flow in any business' hiring. They can blame it on whatever they want. Most businesses do not make headlines for porportionately low number of jobs adjusted. If you are losing your job at Mercy, just remember that next time they hire. Remember they chose to take out full page adds in the Gazette to influence the public view of "choice", which just so happens to be represented by Dean. Just remember that your job and the people you cared for came second to the thousands and thousands of dollars they paid PER MONTH for the full billboards on major highways 26, 59, 51, 14, and any others south of Janesville that I may not have seen yet. All of that money spent to try to convince us, against our better knowledge, how great Mercy is. Wait, it was also to show the cropped photo of Bea and Bush as an ego boost. Mr.. Bea, most of the world dislikes Bush. The only thing missing from your billboard now that you cropped out the others is the title: Northern Illinois & Southern Wisconsin's most disliked persons of the year.
Of course they are going ahead with the building of the trauma center. They are not experiencing any slowdown. People do not feel better in a bad economy. Mercy just wants a news story to chip away at the necessity aspect of the new Dean hospital. Bea, again, it is not about you! You are using peoples lives, jobs, and security to stay on top. This is exactly why we need competition. This is exactly why we can't stand Mercy. If there is any ray of light from all of this I hope that those people let go from Mercy are quickly snapped up by Dean

They should take those workers and staff the ER. I am not sure how a hospital can run like this and still get awards. About those billboards with the President. I heard that Mercy asked the Whitehouse for the okay to use the President in these ads and were refused, but they ran them anyways. I think Mercy should follow up on this.

Not just your sick kid--First and foremost--treat minor ailments at home--give your sick kid Tylenol/Ibuprofen, fluids, rest. Put ice in your sore toe(never seen a broken toe than needed to be casted), don't itch a rash--if it's head lice--buy over the counter treatment, if you got sunburned and it hurts try a cool bath--the ER isnt going to do ANYTHING for it. If you go to the ER and they treat you and tell you (as everyone is told) to follow up with your own doctor--THEN DO IT. If you dont have your own doctor THEN GET ONE. If you feel you waited too long in the ER--your illness or injury was prioritized when you were evaluated by the triage RN--maybe your EMERGENT back pain that you've had for weeks 2 weeks after you moved a couch IS NOT as emergent as you think it is.

No it's not in the ER. They are cutting the rides Mercy gives to their patients and in-patient hospice and the adult daycare. And their employees have been notified as of yesterday. Way to go!! Mercy really care for the low in-come people and the elderly and the dying!! Seems like they only want the high paying patients. So they make more money. Notice how the only person accepting the Baldrich award is Javan Bea and what did he do to get the award? Wasn't it the employees who earned it? Where are they in the picture???

I have worked for Mercy, and would never go back as a patient. I saw how the staff and patients were treated. I will not be a patient there!!

Maybe they should look at the billing department. I have several times received bills that weren't mine but, had my name on them. I called them and thought we had it straightened out and come to find out a month later I get another bill that wasn't mine. It was in my name but, I haven't been to Mercy in years.

Unidentified, just want to thank you for being the voice of reason. Nicely stated.

maresyann: "I have never had luck with Mercy"--It should not be about "luck", but we get what you are saying.
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ihavealife: Many people do not care if they do well or not. Many people in the area just want a choice; a choice other than Mercy.

I know people who have had problems with both Mercy and Dean. Things happen because NO ONE IS PERFECT. I agree that people go to the emergency room for stupid reasons. Take your sick kid to urgent care, not the emergency room.

I’ve dealt with health care systems from different parts of the country. Although I wasn’t happy with Mercy a decade ago, I feel their care is now equal or superior to a majority of health care organizations. Are they perfect? Are humans perfect? There are going to be exceptions and good and bad stories for any health care facility. I think many of the people in Janesville have been spoiled by good medical benefits and good medical care and don’t even realize it. To think that Dean is going to wave a magic wand and all their people will be error free is naive. I’ve used both Dean and Mercy and have received good care. Granted, there are times both could have been better, but again to error is human.

wsgreen: that's one reason why they call it "merciless" hospital...

I had a friend go to just a scheduled prenatal appointment within the mercy system with a complicated pregnancy... the staff misread her charts and she almost lost her baby... she transfered to a hospital out of Janesville just to ensure the health and safety of both herself and her unborn child... time for the new hospital!!

YES we do need a new hospital those who want to go to Mecy go ahead and those of us who want to go to Riverview will more than likely live longer

I second tjncj's idea. WWMBD? That's hilarious. GW is everywhere I turn these days! On the bus, on Hwys 14 and 51, and even on my doorstep!

Its hard to believe, wsgreen, that you were near death, drove yourself to the hospital, was evaluated by a professional RN trained in emergency and trauma care, placed in an exam room and forgotten about--all while you are almost dying??

wsgreen-If you were so bad and could have died, it sounds like the paramedics should have brought you- Its a matter of time and you will hate the new hospital too,its called bad attitude.

My emergency was one that best suited the "Emergency Room" vs Urgent Care. I know they forgot about me...because the nurse confided that to me. She apologized--but said they were short handed and very busy.
Nobody should ever be forgotten in the ER. From the moment I entered the exam room-they came in once to draw blood-from that moment on, it was well over an hour before I finally called the nurse-nobody checked on me--and I was alone. I couldve died in there! That tells me they are short staffed.
Like I said, I cannot WAIT for the new hospital.

Thats why there is such a long wait for ER. Its not that the nurse is eating lunch, its people that come into the ER without a true emergency and that takes away from people who really need to be there. Mercy hospital is a wonderful hospital and the people in Janesville should be very fortunate we have one so we don't have to travel to get great services.

It is misleading to think because the ER at Mercy Hospital is busy that the entire hospital is busy. A majority of the people that visit the ER shouldn’t be there in the first place, which slows down the whole operation. Every time someone has the flue it’s now considered an emergency. The chest pain ends up being heart burn and the stomach cramps end up being gas. People are doctor and pill happy these days. It seems like so many people are taking six pills a month and yet they still feel lousy, probably from all the side effects. The worst part is that the same people who clog up the doctor’s office with nonsense complain about the rising cost of health care and prescription drugs. A majority of these problems could be avoided or corrected by losing weight, but that would be more work than popping a pill.

tjncj: nice one!

wigreen--What was your emergency? Was it NOT an emergency and the staff was dealing with a true emergency in a different room?

WWMBD? (What Would Malcolm Baldridge Do). First he would cut advertising, specifically pictures with Bush on billboards.

Mercy is cutting jobs!?! I sure hope its not in the ER!! I was just there a few weeks ago, and they FORGOT me in one of the tiny exam rooms--after almost 2 hours of waiting-I called the nurse..and she explained it as " we are extremely busy and backed up"... I walked out of there nearly 3 hours after I walked in.
I cannot WAIT till the new hospital is built!

Welcome to America!
Mercy is a business. The bottom line is more profit for the company. It's not people's well being that Mercy is about like most are lead to believe. Nothing against Mercy, my family has been loyal to them for many years and will continue to be until they screw that up. Point is, when push comes to shove, the company will always win out because money always takes presidence over people in corporate America. Corporate America has compromised the good of many for the pocket books of the few. It's twisted and it's ruining our country.

I was never aware that people got sick less during an economic downturn. I also know someone who works at Mercy, and punches out, but continues working because it needs to get done, but is not allowed overtime. Same thing with the nurses. They can't usually take breaks, or lunches, because people need help, and there's not enough nurses to go around. Can you eat lunch while someone's dying? Interesting story that I find misleading.

i like how they put that the employees have not been notified yet. i would not be to happy to read about the changes in the paper. A member of my household works there and we heard people are being sent to hospitals way down in illinois. will these people be reinbursed for the high expense they will now have to drive all the way down there. your looking at hundreds of dollars extra in gas alone. and i'm talking about people who live close enough that they walk to work like my family member does. there is no way we could make it if she is force to a job so far away. we both walk to work. we bought our house where we did for the purpose of saving money this way.

With the job losses in the area this is no surprise. Some won’t lose their benefits right away, but being laid off makes it tougher to cover co-pay cost. Thus, they make fewer trips to the doctors. Mercy hospital had open beds regularly before Dean’s announcement of a new hospital and prior to the recent job loss announcements. I’m not sure the logic behind a second hospital other than selection. However, if both companies struggle in Janesville, is quality of the health care really going to improve? Probably not, but then Janesville has always been a knee jerk reaction type city so here comes another hospital. With cutbacks come fewer people having more responsibilities resulting in more possibility for error. This will be the likely result for both companies (Mercy, Dean) in Janesville.

I for one am excited about another alternative for Emergency and Surgical Care. Our insurance covers Riverview Clinic and hospital stays at St. Mary's. Travel isn't always a feasible option for everyone, therefore a second choice is great. And this isn't going to be a LARGE hospital. I have never had luck with Mercy, therefore I was excited when our insurance switched to Dean. I haven't had issues since. That's not to say that Mercy doesn't provide quality care, just that I wasn't satisfied with the care my family received there.

keep in mind that the article says that one of the factors of the job cuts was due to the new hospital being built in Janesville. These cuts are not an indication that we don't need a second hospital in Janesville.