After 34 years of working at a Childrens hospital in Dayton my position was eliminated.It most likely didn't help that I have a workers comp claim with them but it kind of sucks that for the first time since I was 14 I am unemployed. Thanks Larry

After 34 years of working at a Childrens hospital in Dayton my position was eliminated.It most likely didn't help that I have a workers comp claim with them but it kind of sucks that for the first time since I was 14 I am unemployed. Thanks Larry

Been there, done that, said the heck with it and retired

Good luck

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Sorry to hear that...I was in a very similar situation a year ago. You probably don't want to hear a bunch of cheerleading right now, but please consider this: do not dwell on the unfairness of it, nor allow yourself to get bitter about it...start fresh, right now today - it is water under the bridge, and new opportunities lie ahead.

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Do or do not. There is no try.

Health care is one of the few areas that aren't participating in the current recession. Here's hoping that a better job presents itself after a short but well deserved vacation.

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Insert short witty words here

+1 on what Jst1mr said.

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Kevin in Oregon

Been fired several times in my life. The last one 5 years ago was particularly rough. Cost me over $50,000 in lost wages and benefits not to mention the emotional trauma.

Found another job in 30 days. Stayed there 4 years which directly led to my current position doing the exact same thing at a much better place. I am now making about 30% more than I was at the place that fired me and I like this job soooo much better.

The economy sucks right now and a lot of folks are looking for work. Gotta be strong. Gotta have hope.

God bless and good luck.

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No life story has happy end.

I've been through more than one recession in the healthcare industry and like this one they all hurt. Elective care goes away and needed care is defered having a huge impact. And the job SWMBO had helping staff go live on paperless computer programs has disappeared overnight as hospitals are defering implementing new programs. In fact, she's traveling as far away as Texas to book ICU shifts! All of her critical care nurse friends are in the same boat.

Larry, keep your chin up and you'll get through it. Been there, done that and it's no fun but there is a brigher side down the road.

Bob

New opportunities lie ahead!

boneman, sorry to hear that! After 34 years are you ready to retire anyway? If not, sounds like you are qualified to go to another job in a specialised field?

I'd talk to your Attorney who is handling your "claim" as this could give you another piece of ammo and a very large one at that. Just because your job was eliminated doesn't change the fact that you have a claim. Many Companies and Government Agencies try to pull this kind of S*it on people and lots of them simply walk away. If you figure it is worth the fight then take it to them. You've got time on your hands and you can make the fight a full time thing.

I too am just waiting for the "We need to talk to you" stop by from the bossman to tell me that I have been found redundant.

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I mean, you feel me....

If you spent 34 years with a company you must have been doing something right. That is an incredible accomplishment and something to be very proud of.

That may not be true . Hospitals are always looking for ways to save costs. One of their major costs is the payroll, so that is where they get efficient . Todays economy (including spiraling healthcare costs) is requiring hospitals to get even more efficent. At our local hospital, large university teaching hospital, all of the doctors, researchers, administrators, etc. have taken salary cuts, or had their salaries frozen. That is easy when you are int $250-$700K range. They also are still looking and hiring in this category! The middle range people, clerical, mid-level managers, maintenance staff,< $100K, most <$30K, many hourly at slightly over minimum wage, etc. are being watched and the answer for them is layoffs and cutbacks :[ But the number of foreign researchers, research assistants, etc. increases. Research follows the grant money which comes from a variety of sources, much of which is government agency funded.

Other local hospitals not U related are under hiring freezes, considering salary feezes, and you know layoffs are not far behind, if the economy doesn't improve.

All are cutting back on construction improvments,new construction,renovation, etc. because of the uncertainty of the economy. This affects many trades, design professionals, consulting professional and construction companies, suppliers, etc. Trical (sp) down affect.

Nursing seems to be somewhat stable, as there is a nursing shortage, but even that could eventually be affected. Lots of issues with nursing salaries, management needs to cut costs, so who knows here?

And healthcare is watching very closely the present adminstrations potential changes in the healthcare system and reimbursements, e.g revenue, so everyone is nervous in healthcare also.

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Wherever my mind isn't
Jim

+ 1000!!

I always thought it was criminal what the hospitals charge and what doctors get and the way they charged outrageous bills for even a asprin and whatever else they could and DO pad.
I always figured it was because if you had good insurance it was to r--e the insurance company for the other people that cant and wont pay.
But what always got me is that the doctors and other specalised "professionals" and administrators think they should make a million a year, but try to get the grunts, maintainance etc should work for minium wages, and on top of that beg for volunteer services. I just went through 3 major surgerys in the last year and a half on getting a new nose. I have medi-care and a good secoundary insurance. While it hasnt cost me personaly a fraction of the total, and I would be broke without it, it does make me irate to read the padded up bills that NEVER stop comeing in! 3 surgerys, about 5 days and nights in the hospitals probley have cost about a third as much money as I made in my lifetime, and I made good money! Does that really balence out? If a fireman, cop or another citizen saves your life once in a lifetime, should you give them about 15 years worth of your lifes labor? Well, evidently thats what the hospitals and doctors think! Well, once you get lucky enough to reach old age, it WILL happen!

Quote above by feralmerril.

You are partially correct. Your bill IS higher because of patients that can't or won't pay. I have worked in a rural hospital for 36 years so I know a little about the business side of this. Those patients HAVE to be treated, this is both a legal and a moral requirement. That being said, where do you think the money comes from? Medicaid is now paying us 20 to 24% of cost. That is Cost not charges. Medicaid makes up about 13% of our business. Medicare changed the reimbursement a few years ago to Diagnosis Related Groups. This means they pay a set fee for a specific diagnosis. If you aren't well enough to be discharged by the end of the allowable days, the rest of your stay is on the hospital.

Now lets talk about regulations. More and more paper work is required to be kept on every patient treated. This means more employees, but not more treating the patient. Your overhead costs just went up. That high charge for a band-aid or aspirin? Well, more and more you are not allowed to charge seperately for this type of item. You must bundle it all into a room rate or a procedure charge. That's fine if your case required a lot of supplies, but if you used minimal supplies, you still have to pay the same rate.

As I said, I've been here for 36 years and I'm still making under $50K per year. Most employees are here because of a real desire to help others and because it's a job where you can see you are making a difference. When we are patients we complain about the high costs too, but the problem is more government than greed.

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Charles Randolph

Thanks to all who sent words of encourgement. I am proud of the fact that I spent 34 years on the job with my evaluations all role model.If I didn't have a workers comp. claim I would still be employed. My wife and I are lucky as that everything we own is paid for we owe nobody. Linda manages a Dr's office and I think I will just take some time off for a little bit. So again thanks! Larry

Damn straight...hang it up.

Enjoy life, this is not a rehearsal.

Same basic thing happened to my wife a couple of years back. Got a great periodic evaluation and a little raise in the morning and was told her job was gone in the afternoon. She had worked for the same hospital as an LPN for 43 years.

Larry,
I am sorry to hear that your position was eliminated. As others have said in a different way, when one door closes, another door opens. You can hold your head up high knowing that you did your job to the best of your ability. You should be very proud of that.

My advice is to take some time off, buy a new gun or two, and chill out. You will find something else that you will enjoy when the time is right.

My retirement from being a firefighter for my entire adult life was not an easy pill to swallow, but as the guys that had retired before me stated, "There is life after the FD!" They were right. It didn't happen overnight, but I did eventually come to grips with it, moved on, and now have a very stress free job that I like very much.

Best of luck to you,

WG840

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Freedom above all else.

It doesn't cost you anything to talk to a lawyer-this sounds like a retaliatory discharge from what you have posted. FWIW

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Forum consigliere

Boneman; almost the same thing happened to me only 21 years ago. Phone company was getting rid of us older guys after Bobby Kennedy broke up AT&T. Yeah he started it before. I was 57 & had 38 years. They kept after us old guys until I finally said YES!Got the golden parachute & never looked back. Organized a little handyman business until S.S took over at 62. Still kept going & hunted out of state every year. You can do it, just keep the faith. God Bless & be a proud American.

That is always the problem. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

I know the weight of fear and uncertainty you feel right now. It happened to me 19 years ago but I remember it like it was 10 minutes ago. but things came around for me and I hope it does for you soon. I felt despondant and liberated at the same time. It's hard to explain. It was a forced oppurtunity to take some chances. I don't wan't to sugarcoat things, but something great might happen because of this. Keep in touch.

good attitude. +1

Not just that, but you might be able to make a case that your discharge was in illegal retaliation for your comp claim. By all means talk to your lawyer about it.

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Not in jail.