Where does all the money go?

I was a patient recently, and I now realize how expensive a prodcedure can be. I also realize as a nurse how much we get paid. It really seems complicated when you look at all the costs in running a hospital. Are there really deficets? I know health insurance is a slow death to a lot of industries. So are hospitals like some other corporations, big salarys on top and to home office?
Quote from everydaynurseI was a patient recently, and I now realize how expensive a prodcedure can be. I also realize as a nurse how much we get paid. It really seems complicated when you look at all the costs in running a hospital. Are there really deficets? I know health insurance is a slow death to a lot of industries. So are hospitals like some other corporations, big salarys on top and to home office?

Quote from KelRN215Hospital CEOs are multimillionaires.

Don't forget the LAWYERS!!

Take a gander and find your CEOHealth Care Renewal: What Goes Up - Non-Profit Hospital CEO Compensation Continues to Defy Gravity

I was wondering that too! I think they said our post-op patients pay about $3000 a day on our unit (disclaimer: I might be TOTALLY wrong about that) and I wondered myself.

BioPatches cost around $10 per patch. A box of nitril gloves cost around $15-$20 a box, depending on the type. Primaxin IV is around $75 per doseZosyn is around $50 per doseZyvox is around $150 per doseVanco is around $20 per dose (but you must figure in the labs that go with it)Enteral feeding typically costs $150-$300 per day (greatly depending upon the type)PPN/TPN can cost around $500-$1000 per dayIV catheters are usually about $2-$4 per catheterDepending upon the size of the hospital is typically costs $5,000-$80,000 per day for gas The various liability insurances costs many many millions per yearThis is not saying that money can be wasted on hospital leadership but do not kid yourself that the basic supplies and medications you administer do not cost a substantial amount.

Don't know if those prices are the large bulk purchase prices or individual purchase prices. The gloves? I've ordered those for much less in a small private practice just on our quantity. Hospitals, like all business who have large quantity purchases do negotiate and purchase sometimes abroad as Walmart does in order to get a lower price. They place a hefty markup when they re-bill, as they do for any and all services.

Quote from netglowDon't know if those prices are the large bulk purchase prices or individual purchase prices. The gloves? I've ordered those for much less in a small private practice just on our quantity. Hospitals, like all business who have large quantity purchases do negotiate and purchase sometimes abroad as Walmart does in order to get a lower price. They place a hefty markup when they re-bill, as they do for any and all services.

Money go? At our facility, it's not a black hole in the CEO's office as much as it's an entitlement mentality and an abuse of the ER, EMS, and the healthcare system in general. Quote from this week:"I want x, y, and z...because it's free, well, at least I'm not paying for it"

Quote from HalfMarathonerI was wondering that too! I think they said our post-op patients pay about $3000 a day on our unit (disclaimer: I might be TOTALLY wrong about that) and I wondered myself.

I read in an old report on how money flows in the hospital and in particular for ER's, by their nature, actually cost most hospitals money rather than earn anything.

There is a great deal of cost shifting going on, but one must be careful not to attribute a $4 tylenol tablet to fraud or avarice. Regarding the salaries of CEOs, consider that there are relatively few people capable of running a hospital system but an innumerable number of people wanting to work within one. That they are paid so highly for their work while the rest of us are poorly compensated for ours is pure post-Keynesian economics. It isn't a conspiracy, it's the economy, stupid.