All for One, and One for All!! Ha!

[Mongo]

Seems that you have an answer for everything, every possible issue that arises, you know the correct thing to do. You still did not tell me how you would resolve the issue of moving a six year pt. to another chair simple because an ins. patient wanted his chair and time (note not a working patient, just one with insurance). You say you would "work it out", well how would you work it out when the gentleman that was there for six years did not want to lose his spot for no reason? Could you go into detail? Lol

Sheeeesh...you've been gone for almost a year and you still want someone to tell you how you should have done your job! No wonder your ROD made you handle this...he/she was probably sick of always holding your hand and doing your job for you!  LOL

I will repeat...if I felt as strongly about this matter as you do/did, I would have left my patient of 6 years in his original spot and worked out something else with the Hipper. I don't know how specific you want me to get as I'm sure you're only giving us the details you want us to know. And...my ROD would have never been involved in this matter because I would have had it handled long before his involvement became necessary. I don't know how more detailed you want me to get?!?

You are so ate up with DaVita you can't, or won't see the forrest for the trees. You can say how nice it is and how they do everything so peachy but you know its not true. Your statement on the staffing is another issue your wrong on. Again, we made a huge profit for Gambro the way we were staffed, but that was not good enough, Duh-Vita wanted more profit so we cut staff and cut hours and gave the patients less of our attention (less time and less staff = less care). Oh wait, I forgot, you are super FA and you could arrange it that with less staff you could have taken better care of the patient right? LOL

No, I see DaVita for what it is...a company that wants to have an impact in health care. Everything isn't "peachy"...we are far from perfect as we are made up of people...we screw up just like anyone else. It's called efficient staffing...why not run 1:1 while you're at it. Yes, productivity is an important metric that is followed in DaVita because labor hours are your biggest expense. All I can say is that I run efficiently and take good care of my patients. Instead of seeing your team through the transition, you abandoned them AND the patients. You were in a position to affect change and instead you bolted.

Thanks for the "super FA" moniker...I'm way too humble to accept such a label, but it is an honor just to be nominated!   

Your ego is as big as KT's love for a bonus. No matter how you cut it, dice it, slice it, bend it, or break it, its still the same ole Duh-Vita. Nothing you say, no matter how you twist it, will make it any better.

You're right...words aren't the answer...action is! And I will continue to act in a way that serves my patients. I will see what needs to be fixed and fix it. I won't cry and complain about how bad things are and wish for "the good ole days" (actually, the good ole days for DaVita is not something we want to go back to!) You had your chance to be a part of the solution and you are now content to sit on the outside throwing rocks...how sad! 

Yea, billing for dead people, billing for people in the hospital, etc, etc, is okay with you, as long as your beloved company is okay. I can't, I won't, tell you how I know about the illegal billing that Duh-Vita is  doing, but I will tell you its being taken care of. There are MANY MANY MANY in your beloved company that is putting it all on the line to blow the whistle on their illegal activities. There is an entire network working behind the scenes to gather data (and its working) 

Illegal activity is illegal activity regardless of who engages in it. But, forgive me if I don't take YOUR word for it. You are so bent on seeing DaVita crash that it wouldn't surprise me if you've truly snapped and am imagining all of this.

Again, you'd know better than any of us about Medicare fraud being a former Gambro employee, wouldn't you?

GAMBRO HEALTHCARE AGREES TO PAY OVER $350 MILLION
TO RESOLVE CIVIL & CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS IN MEDICARE FRAUD CASE

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2004/December/04_civ_774.htm

GAMBRO HEALTHCARE, INC. AGREES TO PAY $53 MILLION
FOR OVERCHARGING MEDICARE, MEDICAID & TRICARE

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2000/July/399civ.htm

You keep feeling important with your little network, insider emails, and those working behind the scenes to bring DaVita down. How sad!   

Mongo, I am going to quote your post to me today

Nice...thanks for giving everyone a clear picture of your character, bioya! Posting a private conversation that we have been having shows me (and everyone else on the board) the type of person you really are. You are much more than the coward I pegged you for.

But, that's cool! I have no problems with patients who have complaint about their units or DaVita for that matter. I just want everyone to realize that the majority of the problems experienced in a dialysis unit is due to poor unit leadership. Bioya, you are copping out by blaming DaVita. There are 1000 other FAs out there doing the job you couldn't do...and they are doing it well, with the same "restrictions" or "work conditions" that you couldn't handle. I encourage anyone with a complaint to take it to the administrator of the unit. Often times, I don't know about a problem until a patient brings it to my attention.

My whole point of engaging you, bioya, is to show you to be the blowhard that you are! You are a DaVita-hater and there is nothing that they can do right (except maybe Snappy!  ) Stop projecting all the feelings you have about your inadequacies as an FA onto DaVita and fess up that you were the problem in your unit!

Mongo

[reno2360]

There are instances, many really,  where unfortunately patients that passed away or were hospitalized had claims submitted to their insurance companies for services they did not receive.  These are mostly PD patients however and most of them Medicare.
Do you have PD patients in your clinic and if so, how do you handle keeping track of thier hospital stays?   

You may not like it but Bioya  was correct when he, or she- I don't know which, stated that this goes on.  It's an ongoing problem that doesn't seem to be improving.  If you have any pull at all maybe you could get the powers that count to really look into this. 

Also since you are on the clinical side can you explain why Davita is lobbying against bills that would require techs to be licensed.  I understand this is an issue at this time in Colorado.  Being an FA can you explain what would be the cons of having this happen?

Please take these questions as an attempt to gain some knowledge rather as an attempt to instigate more of some of the rather mililtant posts that have shown up lately.  Those of us that don't work on the clinical end but in a CBO would just like to know a little more about these topics.

[bioya]

They lobby against the Dialysis Tech bill because it would force Duh-Vita to hire more qualified staff and to give them training that would better take care of the patient. I am in one of the states that require state certification though the Board of Nursing for dialysis techs, and you should have seen Duh-Vita try to fight that bill in the state house. They even hired a legal begal in our state capital city to go and lobby the state legislatures to vote the bill down. Hell, even FMC was for the bill and they were even allowed to participate with the state in developing the training requirments because FMC was a TEAM PLAYER, unlike Duh-Vita that was only worried about the cost associated with the state bill. 
This dude is so ate up with the Duh-Vita way that nothing anyone says will have a negitive impact on his views. He thinks that Duh-Vita is really out for the patient when it is not. But, having said that, its okay for him. He has no ability to get a job in another area of nursing like the hundreds of us (CD's) that left because of mismanagment. You can say I cut and run, thats okay too. I know when there is nothing left to fight for. Sometimes, it has to be the patient that makes a stand because they may be listened to (at least for awhile). Think I am wrong about how many CD/FA's have left Duh-Vita? Look at their career site and scan each state and look at how many FA positions are open each and every week.  There will be a day when just as Gambro and FMC were caught with their pants down, so will Duh-Vita. This I am sure of.

[Rerun]

Just remember Enron!  People at the corporate level got greedy.  If DaVita is doing illegal activities they will get caught.

[kitkatz]

All I can say is I am glad my unit went to RAI and Davita did not target us for their improvements. RAI has brought in brand new chairs and machines and fixes things as soon as they break in the unit.   Whent hey were Gambro we had high turn over of staff and changes daily in routines.  It is much better now.  Still sucks, but a little better.

[bioya]

I understand your point of view. However, in my humble opinion, I don't think anyone should be treated any different based on simply whether they have ins. or not. I have worked and carried insurance every day of my life since I joined the work force in 1972. I understand what you are saying.
Of course, I am the same person that thinks that every kid in the U.S. should be able to go to college no matter what their finincial status if their grades were good enough.  I just see so many good kids not getting an edication they want and deserve. Also, I see people struggle for healthcare when this, the ricest land in the world could do more.
Thats just me, its kind of like religion, you don't want to talk about it with friends!!!!

[Mongo]

There are instances, many really, where unfortunately patients that passed away or were hospitalized had claims submitted to their insurance companies for services they did not receive. These are mostly PD patients however and most of them Medicare.
Do you have PD patients in your clinic and if so, how do you handle keeping track of thier hospital stays?

You may not like it but Bioya was correct when he, or she- I don't know which, stated that this goes on. It's an ongoing problem that doesn't seem to be improving. If you have any pull at all maybe you could get the powers that count to really look into this.

You have as much pull as anyone...if not more...because you appear to be dealing with it first-hand. Have you taken this to your supervisior? Have you reported it to the Compliance Hotline?

I don't have PD in any of my clinics so I don't have any good answers for you. However, I think this is more of a systems problem than it is a fraud issue.

Also since you are on the clinical side can you explain why Davita is lobbying against bills that would require techs to be licensed. I understand this is an issue at this time in Colorado. Being an FA can you explain what would be the cons of having this happen?

Please take these questions as an attempt to gain some knowledge rather as an attempt to instigate more of some of the rather mililtant posts that have shown up lately. Those of us that don't work on the clinical end but in a CBO would just like to know a little more about these topics.

Just because a law is introduced doesn't mean it's a good one. Look at all the laws on the books that started out as good intentions but, after the politicians got a hold of it, it is unrecognizable or no longer addresses the issues initally intended (i.e. HIPPA).

Yes, the idea of licensed techs sounds good on the surface but the devil is in the details. 3/4's of my PCTs are "Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technicians" (CCHT) through the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission...paid for by DaVita. I don't know about the law which you are referring to nor do I claim to know why DaVita would be against it (same with bioya...he thinks he knows but he really doesn't...all he can do is look at it through his anti-duhvita).

I don't know if the law forces units to hire licensed techs...which will make it more difficult to staff units with PCTs because licensing will naturally create a shortage. I for one, would much rather hire PCTs like I already do (98% come to me with no dialysis experience), train them and then send them for certification or licensure. If I were forced to only hire licensed PCTs, I would be up a creek.

I appreciate your questions and the fact that you appear to want to look at them with an open mind!

Mongo

[Black]

I'm sorry you're having issues with your employer.  The only time I've seen real change in the way companies treat their employees is when an exodus of staff begins and the employer's reputation makes recruiting new people tough.    There is always a better job out there.  The grass isn't always greener though.  Good luck.   

That has already happened and that is why so many clinics are short-staffed, and why some of the techs speak broken English and can barely read or write.  The overcrowding is causing more clinics to add second and third shifts, but some clinics can't because they can't get any additional staff to work the other shifts.  If the company would cut just 1% of their profit and kick it back down to the people actually working in the clinics, staffing wouldn't be a problem and the quality of care would improve.  The good people, who are forced to work side by side with people I wouldn't trust to walk my dogs, deserve better and I admire their dedication to their patients.

[kianhu]

I'm sorry you're having issues with your employer.  The only time I've seen real change in the way companies treat their employees is when an exodus of staff begins and the employer's reputation makes recruiting new people tough.    There is always a better job out there.  The grass isn't always greener though.  Good luck.   

That has already happened and that is why so many clinics are short-staffed, and why some of the techs speak broken English and can barely read or write.  The overcrowding is causing more clinics to add second and third shifts, but some clinics can't because they can't get any additional staff to work the other shifts.  If the company would cut just 1% of their profit and kick it back down to the people actually working in the clinics, staffing wouldn't be a problem and the quality of care would improve.  The good people, who are forced to work side by side with people I wouldn't trust to walk my dogs, deserve better and I admire their dedication to their patients.

Amen, I agree with this statement.  I work for Fresenius.  I am one of the "good people"   

[Hawkeye]

I work for Fresenius.  I am one of the "good people"   

I work for Fresenius too, and you cant tell me the situation at the clinic level is any better as far as staffing issues are concerned.  Clinics seem to be more like training facilities than clinics some months with the high turnover rates.  As far as the higher ups are concerned if they splurge they don't get caught, but it would definitely be beneficial to pass on more of the profits to the clinical staff than the corporate level.  On average Fresenius employees make around $5.00 less an hour than our counterparts at other companies.  If any of the newly acquired employees from RCG would be willing to talk starting salaries and yearly raises you would see that they are all making more than Fresenius employees even now that they are Fresenius.

[JerseyGirl]

I personally think those costumes are pretty stupid.  I work for FMC and many DaVita staff have quit and come to FMC.  Davita employees are NOT happy campers.

[Mongo]

I work for FMC and many DaVita staff have quit and come to FMC. Davita employees are NOT happy campers.

...and I know of many former FMC employees that have come to DaVita. Far be it from me, however, to over-generalize that all FMC employees are "NOT happy campers" from that simple observation.   

Mongo

[Mongo]

If the company would cut just 1% of their profit and kick it back down to the people actually working in the clinics, staffing wouldn't be a problem and the quality of care would improve.  The good people, who are forced to work side by side with people I wouldn't trust to walk my dogs, deserve better and I admire their dedication to their patients.

I wish it were that easy. You either love or hate working in dialysis...and, unfortunately, more people find that they hate working in dialysis than those who love it thus the turn-over you see.

DaVita has paid it's PCTs $65,000,000 in bonuses since 2000. I am paying my techs, on average, $13/hr...which where my clinics are, is a very good wage. Still, however, I have turnover because of the early mornings, late evenings, the physical nature of taking care of patients, and everything in between.

I have teammates that go the the mat for our patients and I have teammates that just do enought to get the job done. It is my #1 struggle as a manager to get all of my teammates to go to the mat for our patients and it will be something that I will work on for a long time to come, I would imagine.

Mongo

[kianhu]

Just out of curiosity, what state are you in and what is the avg pay for RNs?

[Hawkeye]

I work for FMC and many DaVita staff have quit and come to FMC. Davita employees are NOT happy campers.

...and I know of many former FMC employees that have come to DaVita. Far be it from me, however, to over-generalize that all FMC employees are "NOT happy campers" from that simple observation.   
Mongo

I have seen many FMC employees go to Davita and come back again, and they same true for Davita employees that have come to FMC and then returned to Davita.  I have seen more come from Davita and stay and more leave FMC and return again, but that really means nothing.  Each company has it's own way of doing things and sometimes the switch works out for the best, but sometimes the change is too much and they return.  Either way it doesn't point to either being a bad company to work for, just that they operate differently.  In the end Fresenius employees will complain that Fresenius is screwing them over and Davita employees will do the same about Davita.  So lets get off the trying to compare companies because it just wont work.  Each side will say they are right and will argue it till there are blue in the face.

[JerseyGirl]

Yep you're right there!  Davita does promote more educational opportunites for their staff than FMC does, however.  FMC is pretty cheap with sending their employees to conferences, etc. 

[bdpoe]

I really don't mean to be negative all the time but Gambro was terrible to me and the others seem even worse.
regulatory agencies must insure that patients are getting quality treatment under safe and sanitary conditions
and back it up with surpise spot checks, fines and sanctions for repeated discrepancies.

[bdpoe]

I really don't mean to be negative all the time but Gambro was terrible to me and the others seem even worse.
regulatory agencies must insure that patients are getting quality treatment under safe and sanitary conditions
and back it up with surprise spot checks, fines and sanctions for repeated discrepancies.

It's all about the money and funding. It's sad that Dialysis patients aren't protected better than this.

...bdpoe/orlando

[Black]

I really don't mean to be negative all the time but Gambro was terrible to me and the others seem even worse.
regulatory agencies must insure that patients are getting quality treatment under safe and sanitary conditions
and back it up with surprise spot checks, fines and sanctions for repeated discrepancies.

It's all about the money and funding. It's sad that Dialysis patients aren't protected better than this.

...bdpoe/orlando

That is exactly the problem.  The health department is better funded for restaurant inspections than the bureaucracy responsible for dialysis inspection.

[Bill Peckham]

The simplest, cheapest (basically no cost) first step would be to make each unit's Dialysis Facility Report public. The best disinfectant is sunlight - releasing the DFRs would shine sunlight on the dialysis operations of each individual unit.

Here is a sample  http://www.sph.umich.edu/kecc/usr/samplereport.pdf  . Every facility gets one every year. Time to post each one on the internet.

[Black]

Thanks, Bill.  Why aren't they on-line already?  I'd guess $$$ have something to do with it, that it would take many, many $$$ to make it happen.

What happens if a patients asks to see those reports at their own center?

[Rerun]

They get air in their lines!!!

                                                             

[Bill Peckham]

Thanks, Bill.  Why aren't they on-line already?  I'd guess $$$ have something to do with it, that it would take many, many $$$ to make it happen.

What happens if a patients asks to see those reports at their own center?

As of September 2006, each state's surveyors will receive the DFRs for all dialysis facilities in their state. We should all ask our state survey departments for the DFRs. I think States can not keep this sort of stuff private ... who's willing to call? I'll try Washington State (I've already seen my provider's, I think they are available for the asking from NKC to their dialyzors).

[groggy]

Thanks to all of you who are telling the truth about Davita. I worked for this organization for a short time but quit because I felt many of their philosophies were questionable. The bonus system for employees would encourage bullying of patients to stay on their diets. AND I mean bullying!! The problems should be addressed but it is ultimately up to the patient. The FA only talked about getting good lab values so we could get the bonus, not because she was concerned for the patient.  There was a lot of money spent on buying lunch  (and I mean expensive ones) for staff. Since they work them short handed they thought by buying dinners/lunch would keep them quiet. The treatment between patients with insurance and those with medicare was beyond  belief and they were very blatant. I am not a Davita basher, I am just sick and tired of seeing organizations presenting themselves as pro patient and using people who are ill and less fortunate for their own gain. Give me a break, I thought I was going to fall out of the chair when someone said the mayor "cried at movies"... We are talking about people on dialysis, who have more courage and go through so much hardship daily. They have to endure pain, loss of a way of life they were use to, financial ruin, multiple medical issues, fear of their access  having problems.   And this mayor idiot is suppose to get credit and acknowledgment because "he cries" at movies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Those of us who really care in this business get burned out fighting the system and trying to protect our patients. We are tagged as trouble makers, disgruntled employees etc.  We are nothing but advocates for those who deserve the best and just don't have the energy to fight the bully anymore.  I am not a dialysis patient but I do live with a life threatening disease that helps to make me fight for patients rights and stop big corporations from profiting of others misfortunes.....   I believe they are always looking for a loop hole, like the epo, to make money.

 Many of these money making corporations have the same MO. They are all smiles with games and fun but I believe that they are the only one smiling. I can't have fun eating expensive meals, playing stupid games, attending expensive seminars with everyone dressed as idiots, accepting bonus's for increased census or patient accomplishments when I have to go on that floor and watch the suffering and hardships caused failed kidneys.

Thanks for letting me vent.   To all you dialysis patients out there. You are my Hero, your courage and strength are beyond belief.....

[okarol]

Very well said groggy. 

If you'd like to introduce yourself please go to http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?board=14.0 - thanks.