2008.08.29
Carilion
For early next week, we're working on an editorial about The Wall Street Journal's front-page take-down of Carilion. The article claims that Carilion's monopoly on health care in the region is driving up prices, taking the region from the lowest health insurance premiums in the state to the highest over the last 20 years. On top of The Roanoke Times article the same day highlighting Carilion CEO Ed Murphy's $2.27 million salary, it was a bad day for Carilion's image.
The articles raise important questions about the role - and profitability - of "nonprofit" hospitals that need a broader airing.
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The question is, will this upcoming piece just be a rebuttal to the WSJ article defending Carilion or will it call for more investigation.
My sources tell me that the WSJ did not go far enough and there is more to this story.
Comment by John R — August 29, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
More investigation, please - the public has a right to know.
Comment by Carilion Employee — August 29, 2008 @ 9:09 pm
The local news today is Carilion bought more practices. I hope the Times editorial board works as hard "for the people" of Roanoke, and do not do a fluff defense of Carilion. The largest employer in the valley keeps getting bigger, more powerful, and buying more doctor practices, and diagnostic firms. This does not bode well for the VERY FEW independents who cannot compete. Lewis Gale as cited by Carilion's CFO, is not competition, with no room for expansion, no cash flow, and other operational problems. The Times editorial, as well as news side, have decried for years the folly of a one dominant (railroad) economy. Will you now address Carilion as the same thing now that NS was? The facts are overwhelming that Carilion is even more dominant than NS was locally. What happens in 10 years, when the boomers decline, just as railroad passengers did? What happens when Carilion cannot be awash in the cash they have had in the past due to factors like, government socialization, anti-trust action to lower out of control costs, and others? Hope the might of The Times can tackle the big picture in the citizens of Roanoke's interest, not a fluff defense of Carilion. At work today, the consensus was a fluff defense piece, and I agreed. Please prove me wrong! This is a short-mid-long term issue for Roanoke, more important for the future direction of the city, than any other issue. So far just cheerleader stuff for Carilion, can we get some real analysis please?
Comment by Bill McClure — August 29, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
Yeah, right! Your working on an article but where have you been on the issue up until now? When a publication with the reputation of the WSJ comes into YOUR town and scoops you, it must make you feel pretty foolish. And you know what's really funny is there were a group of rowdy citizens back a few years ago that hit on this subject but as with most things you don't want to open up to public view, you ignored the information. I can just see those phone calls being made...So Roanoke, Botetourt and Salem calling the RT's. Give it your usual white wash and the silly little people will all go back to sleep tomorrow...how about lunch on Friday and a round of golf?
Comment by Al — August 29, 2008 @ 9:39 pm
To be sick of sickness is the cure! Our Mayo Clinic, Carilion, has many disgruntaled former patients, and is along with Anthem Roanoke's main employer. But just how are they doing? I sat for 4 hours in Their Er with pain so bad my Bloodpressure was sky high; an older lady with an open diabetic wound was still there when I walked out.
I sold my house, barely getting out knowing that Carilion would take it, and speaking to a VP, was unable to be considered a "charity". Let them buy all practices, their reputation has become tarnished, but they have ins with legal so the little guy looses, all for this enity.
I go to Lewis Gale if desperate, and like many have learned alternative medicine is healhtier for long and quality life.
Comment by Dona Wheeler — August 30, 2008 @ 1:07 am
I would like to also suggest investigation into how and why certain legitimate groups of health care providers such as certified nurse midwives have not been allowed to practice at Carilion. Currently in Virginia Nurse Midwives must have a written agreement with a physician to practice, but Carilion Medical Group has not allowed willing physicians to work with CNM's. Local women do not have midwifery care as an option, even though nurse midwifery care has been found to be safe and cost effective. Ah, that may be the problem.
Rhonda Arthur DNP, CNM, WHNP-BC, FNP-BC
Comment by Rhonda ARthur — August 30, 2008 @ 9:46 am
I will be interested to see your truthful reporting on the Carilion issue. I hope you will report an objective story and not a subjective "green poultice" version.
Comment by Roanoke Nurse — August 30, 2008 @ 11:27 am
Roanoke Valley employers and citizens are getting one continuous "Colonoscopy" according to this WSJ report. Will the Roanoke Times check political contributions individually and by PAC?
Comment by Valerie — August 30, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
Well, as long as you are going to "look into things", how about giving us some inside information on why patients and NEWBORNS are contracting MRSA in such staggering numbers? Then they charge us a fortune to treat it - if you are one of the lucky ones who has been able to get treated by a competent, licenced physician. Heard anything about any class action suits concerning this topic? I am REALLY interested if you have.
Comment by Franny — August 30, 2008 @ 11:14 pm
Please define "non-profit" for the reader. How can a non-profit keep buying property when they are suppose to invest it back into their operating expenses. Please have a lawyer define the law for us.
Comment by Richard M. Delpierre — August 31, 2008 @ 2:16 pm
Carillion goes beyond Roanoke -- it has its hooks deep into the New River Valley also. At least we have the advantage of having Montgomery Regional Hospital conveniently located nearby. I also have no complaints about my physician, but Carillion has got to have the most horrible and convoluted billing system going. Of course, that might be by design, so the confused patients don't know what they really owe, mess up on payments, and get passed on to the collection folks. As to the Roanoke Times coverage, there will probable be some soft blows to make it look good, but nothing substantial or deep. The RT used to be good at investigation and in-depth reporting. It wasn't that many years ago that it did a series on underground tanks and a look at what I-581, the Civic Center, and other urban renewal projects took from the city and the valley. But ow advertising drives the newsroom now and the reporters who could do the job aren't around anymore.
Comment by Joe Hokie — August 31, 2008 @ 9:50 pm