Pocono Medical Center

**NEPAKevin** · June 27th, 2012, 12:43 PM

Does anyone know what the reason is that many of the "Hospitalist" doctors at PMC try to hard sell sending the elderly to the VNA Hospice House?

**csmith** · June 27th, 2012, 12:53 PM

I have no inside knowledge on these two facilities but my guess would be that they are both owned/operated by the same parent company and the doctors are strongly encouraged to push the issue. Prior to becoming a stay at home mom my wife worked in the field and frequently made comments about this kind of stuff going on where she was. I wouldn't rule out the possibility of some sort of "finders fee" but that is pure speculation on my part.

**SteveinNEPA** · June 27th, 2012, 10:10 PM

How about they are all assholes... Sorry, I see PMC mentioned, thats the FIRST thought that comes to mind... Knowing those half-educated know nothings, I am inclined to agree with the finders fee idea.

**Plinker** · June 27th, 2012, 10:22 PM

.... follow the money....

Plinker

**Exbiker** · June 28th, 2012, 05:55 AM

Actually very few on this board are old enough to remember when PMC was a rinkydink lousy med center. They have become a really decent place over the last 20 years. I still do all my stuff in the Lehigh Valley because of habit and where my docs are and always have been. If time was of essence I wouldn't hesitate to use PMC.

Having a couple friends that are doctors, friends and relatives that are nursed and an RN mother that has run the same doctor's office for over 33 years in the valley I can tell you the reason any would suggest a certain place is the experience with that group.
VNA and hospice has to have a good working relationship with the patients primary doctor so whoever that doctor is comfortable with is the way they lean. There is no kickback. I have first hand experience with this communication between the two.

**Capt Quahog** · June 28th, 2012, 07:35 AM

Thing is . . . most, if not all of these hospitals / medical centers were bought out long ago by amalgamate corporations. It's all big business and the bottom line. If somebody is looking for compassionate hand-holding care, it ain't on the menu at any of those places.

I happened to be at a hospital over Jersey City yesterday undergoing medical tests. It's all . . . station to station, wait here and wait there . . .etc. That hospital just changed hands again for the third time in two years. The new parent corporation is consolidating departments and cutting staff. Again . . . it's all the bottom line and the bean counters rule.

As far as Pocono Medical Center goes, despite most establishments (of all kinds) in this area of Pennsylvania that are substandard dogcrap and staffed by arrogant morons, that PMC hospital has the absolutely best system for walk in procedures such as blood tests. It's fast and easy with a simple assigned number having lighted number signs above each door of the room. When it's your turn, the numeral blinks on above that entrance. It's really slick.

**Dredly** · July 12th, 2012, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Exbiker

Actually very few on this board are old enough to remember when PMC was a rinkydink lousy med center. They have become a really decent place over the last 20 years. I still do all my stuff in the Lehigh Valley because of habit and where my docs are and always have been. If time was of essence I wouldn't hesitate to use PMC.

Having a couple friends that are doctors, friends and relatives that are nursed and an RN mother that has run the same doctor's office for over 33 years in the valley I can tell you the reason any would suggest a certain place is the experience with that group.
VNA and hospice has to have a good working relationship with the patients primary doctor so whoever that doctor is comfortable with is the way they lean. There is no kickback. I have first hand experience with this communication between the two.

We used to drive to Palmerton because it was quicker to get help in the ER... Pocono used to literally shut down their ER when there was an accident on 80. You could be sitting there bleeding (and often were) while they put up screens so the incoming accident victims wouldn't be seen as they were rushed past.

After 2 or 3 bouts of "Sorry sir there is an emergency patient arriving soon, we cannot help you yet" we decided to stop going there. I remember my dad just saying screw it, give me a gauze pad and just walking out instead of waiting for stitches on one occasion. They are supposedly much better now but I haven't been there since I was probably 8 or 9.