MOC0428-- very well said. thank you!

Stacymarie and unidentified,
where is there another HOSPICE RESIDENCE in ROCK COUNTY-to take the place of HAVEN HOUSE HOSPICE RESIDENCE
that is also being eliminated? This very valuable service is not duplicated in this area.
And as far as Mercy placing their employees in other jobs....we all hope that will work out for them and there is no cuts in hours or pay-----------but we have to wait and see.

TheJoker may be on to something:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx...

I think the cuts Mercy is making makes good business sense. There are other services in the area that can pick up the burden. As a result, no one will be left without care. In addition, Mercy has stated that they will simply move the affected staff into new positions rather than layoff. Not many companies are so generous. I don’t blame Mercy for not going public with specifics, because the people directly affected (employees and patients) should get the news before the general public. Nothing annoyed me more, while working for an employer who recently laid me off, to receive news about layoffs or job cuts via the Gazette or other news outlets before hearing it directly from my employer. Thumbs up to Mercy for being that considerate considering the circumstances.

You don't think Dean Care makes profits-they made so much money they can build a new hospital. Look on both sides of the fence-they both are making a profit. Leave mercy hospital alone- Mercy also provides a hopeless shelter for women and their children, can Dean Care say that.

People, wake up! Mercy is not eliminating services in Janesville--they are eliminating services at Mercy that are duplications of services offered elsewhere. Check the yellow pages 'Day Care-Adult', also Rock Co. Transit caters to the elderly and special needs persons. Mercy is only abiding by their own theory that duplicated services are not needed in Janesville and Rock county. In an attempt on Mercy's part to 'trim the fat', they have created an outcry from the community that if Mercy doesn't offer these services they are uncaring. However, look at the whole picture--Kandu has seized the opportunity to broaden their services, and also broaden their revenue. Again, take another look...If a transportation services is vitaly needed, couldn't a displaced GM employee obtain a wheelchair accessible van and a chauffeur's license and begin their own business?

Making a profit is fine, but be honest about it. Mercy is always spinning the non-profit angle, and working hard to get awards that make them look like they are in this for the people, not the money. If the elderly aren't the people, who are?

Mercy can't have it both ways. To take out ads in the paper to tell us that competition is a bad thing and will hurt the community is a bunch of self-serving B.S. If Mercy wishes to pursue the profit motive, fine. But knock of the self agrandisement PR campaigns. Its disingenuous and insults our intelligence. Trust me, if Mercy fires my doc, I'll find another one.

Mooshoo: It is called capitalism! Get over it, the cuts could have been much worse than what they are! If you are so against it let them fire your doctor first, that should save 150K a year right??? Then the vans can keep running!

Well said whatthe. You are to be commended for your logical and rational explanation of the situation. It was naive of me to expect an organization named Mercy would place priority on the care of the mentally ill, disabled and elderly. Instead, I unfairly lashed out at the management team whose focus is profit, not people. I apologize for statements that insinuate the management team is a bunch of greedy, self serving, meanspirited minions to a napoleonic megalomaniac. Clearly, that is not the situation. I wish the management team at Mercy luck in its pursuit of the grossest of all profits.

There is a program through Rock County that offers respite care and payment for relatives taking care of an elder. Hope this is helpful!
To access services in Rock County, contact the Rock County Council on Aging, Information and Assistance Specialist at 608-758-8455. Or go to the Council on Aging website at http://www.co.rock.wi.us/dept/aging.htm. You may also refer to the Rock County Senior Directory which is located on the website.

The headline should read "Mercy is dumb on cuts".

What did I tell everyone before? Mercy is on a short leash with their creditors and they are starting to cut costs and sell off assets before Aurora agrees to buy them. Remember, you heard it here first. Wake up Janesville before it is too late.

This is really a bad bad deal for the city of janesville,I have used Mercy in Motion for several years. And i am here to tell you they are the most reliable, kindest, caring group of men and women. They are #1 in the transportation business.This is really a great big loss,and will be greatly missed.If you have ever used the service you would know what im saying.This group of people go above and beyond the call of there duty everyday.When i say this it is for the employees of Mercy in Motion and not the hospital.To the whole crew best wishes and good luck, you have touched the hearts of several people in community, THANK YOU TO THE DRIVERS AT MERCY IN MOTION AND TO THE GAL IN THE OFFICE

Back to the point. Mercy is cutting out programs that help our elderly and their caretakers. Mercy claims that they are closing the day care because of GM closing, and Dean hospital coming in. Neither of these have much effect on the day care population. Truth is Mercy is cutting a program that doesn't make them alot of money. After all they haven't slowed up on building their new addition. Day care is a needed service, and Mercy is chosing to ignore that need and build more profitable ventures.

First off, doctors that work at Mercy are employees, they are paid along with the rest of the Mercy employees. With the reimbursement rates of insurance companies, Medicare, and Medicaid these days, there is no way that they could be in a private practice setting. I believe the same holds true for Dean doctors.

With the changing economic climate in the area, it just makes sense to cut back expenditures.  Mercy has chosen to do so in ways that don't include laying off employees.  Isn't that a good thing?  I have family members that work within the Mercy system and they are grateful to have jobs and consider Mercy an excellent, caring employer.

It is sad that some services have to go--this is certain-but if not these services, which ones should go? The Heart Center, the Neurosurgery Center? The OB department?  Some tough choices had to be made-I wouldn't want to make those decisions. For those of you who continue to complain about how much the VP's make, do you really think that decreasing their pay would be enough to make a difference in the services offered? As in past Mercy news stories and comments, eventually cooler heads will prevail and people will step back and consider the real fiscal issues here.

Everyone calm down. Isn't it obvious what Mercy is trying to do here? They are being proactive about the state of the economy here, looking for places to downsize that won't leave the community without vital services. They have to do this or they would put themselves into financial trouble (que the naysayers with talk of Mr. Bea, the VPs, highly paid docs etc.) It looks like to save money without the large layoffs and dramatic shifts that other organizations have allowed. Considering their lost revenue when the new hospital opens and the GM plant closes, could you honestly think they would be able to maintain the same level of services.

And to those being glad there is competition, yeah you might have a better time getting in for an MRI, but you can blame that competition on the disappearance of all these community benefit services that will be going away. Dean is coming in to pursue those services that make money which is going to force Mercy to do the same to avoid crisis.

I see the Mercy VP of Lame Excuses has weighed in. Can't wait to hear from the VP of Stupidity. Who dreamed up the "Mercy Health System officials won't confirm publicly" approach to community relations? Actions speak louder than words. Any spin the VP cadre puts on the cut and run approach to community services is lame.

I agree-its time that Dean steps up and not hide behind mercy all the time

http://wherethemoneygoes.com/
For anyone that doesn't think Health Care is out of control!

MOOOSHOO...It isn't the emergency dept that holds up the police officers it is the inadequate crisis center..If a patient is brought in with JPD for medical clearance they are usually cleared with in 1-2 hours by our physican. Then the wait begings for the crisis or pysch dept to find adequate placement. Most of time it is the outlining facilities that are the hold up on transfer....Maybe instead of always blaming the "BAD MERCY EMERGENCY DEPT" the Gazette should start reporting more actual instead of one sided stories...

People people people---can we move on? Is it necessary to continue bad mouthing GM, Mercy and Javon Bea? Perhaps Dean should step up to the plate if they want a competitive presence in town and offer community services like Mercy has been doing for years!

I’ve only been in Rock County for a few years but did both Mercy and Dean provide this service or has it only been Mercy all this time that provided a transportation program and an Adult Day Center to the area??? Does Dean also provide these services or was it being left up to Mercy to provide the services? I can’t tell by the article.

MOOSHOO

I couldnt have said it better myself...well done

MooShoo, did you forget to take your medication today?

What a bunch of crap! Just recently it was the poor treatment of the mentally ill at the hands of Mercy. The emergency room is so poorly organized and staffed that cops have to wait for hours in order for a doc to clear a mentally ill patient. And what was Mercy's response - its the County's fault!!! Now you cut services to the disabled and elderly. What next, are you going to start delivering babies in the parking lot?
.
Javon, you need to get one of your gazillion VPs to nominate Mercy for another meaningless award from a do nothing national organization. Should you get it, make sure the Marketing VP, the Community Relations VP, and Public Relations VP all mercilessly bombard the community with your great achievements. And don't forget to paste your face on a billboard. Next, turn the goon squad loose again to tell us how competition is a bad thing! We all need to be reminded again and again that this town ain't big enough for two hospitals.

When you have a for-profit health care system, as we do in this country, what else would they be trying to do than "make a buck?"

I'm all for looking into the possibility of cutting wages but it needs to be looked at carefully.

Some of you need to crawl out from under the rock you live (wahoo). To compare an unskilled job to that of a doctor or nurse is insane. Not everyone can become a doctor or nurse! Pretty much anyone who can show up to work on time can work at GM. I'm not trying to slam GM'ers just making a point that the two fields cannot be compared.

Let's say Mercy cut the doctors/administration wages by 10-20%. Most of the good doctors will end up leaving and less than desirable doctors may get their job.

Wahoo_35: Why do you work? I would assume the same reason I do. To take care of my family first but then to have fun in life. If a persons job means they can afford a boat with a home on a lake, good for them. They went to school for 12 years to earn that right. Don't begrudge people because they have a better career than yourself! This is the way the world works and to think that it should work with your line of thinking is not realistic.

This is par for mercy let competition move in and bang. Their high maintainence remodeling was so needed.I welcome new hospital with open arms as my experience lately has been less then satifying I hope for the employees get a fair shake as I have some great friends at mercy. No more monopoly and hope competition happens to cable to as the costs are outrageous

Javon Beau will probably get another big 2 or 3 million dollar bonus

The doctors and upper management take pay cuts? Yeah right, that will be a cold day...! Are you crazy, heaven for bid they cut their SIX FIGURE incomes.

I know a few people who work there. They have told me Mercy is cutting people like crazy.

Instead of cutting programs that people need. Why don't upper management and doctors take a paycut? Are they trying to help people or just making a buck?
I am sure there is enough money to be found there to keep these programs running.
If they think these people would be okay with out care, I think these same people would be okay with less pay. And people complained about GM wages!