Here They Go Again
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2003 12:34 am Post subject: DuhVita Budget Cutting in Michigan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earlier this year the DuhVita (DaVita) Michigan Region began cost cutting measures by getting rid of facility administrators, who, always acted above board and ran their centers with a patient-first quality, and always asked the regional director to explain her namby-pamby directives. She then replaced these fine administrators with others that don't question her directives. <
>Now it seems that the 2 Michigan regions are in a "budget retreat" formulating new cost cutting programs for 2004. These include running centers with 80+ hemo patients with 1 RN on duty all day, 5:1 patient to staff ratios for PCT's, and a Nazi approach to running the business. By that I mean that the entire staffs are feeling threatened by the "My way or the highway" management style. Michigan is a growing DuhVita region, but they are only growing by buying out money-losing programs, not by the doctors increasing their patients. They have many doctors that only round on their patients once a month and even then if it weren't for the RN's leading the doc's around by the hand these doctors wouldn't even know who their patients are.<
>We the staff, or "TEAMMATES" as the call us are sick and tired of the unsafe conditions that are administered in these facilities on a regular daily basis.<
>DaVita (DuhVita): He/She Gives Life, is just a grand shell-game marketing approach that is making a few top level execs very rich at patients and staff expense.<
>Wake up renal patients...Ask questions, demand answers, demand QUALITY. Remember, It's YOUR Life they hold in the balance!!!!!!!
**********************************************************************************************
one patient who is awake
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2003 3:19 am Post subject: DuhVita
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, I'm in a DuhVita unit and experience the insanity. They work the staff like dogs. It's so terrible. We have some very good staff, but they are forced to be wiped out. They work these 12 hr shifts and can hardly function. They're like slaves for the company. <
><
>We have a very nice administrator, but he's a workaholic and requires the staff to tow the line. Eventhough he's nice to us, he bends to the company dictates. So, the point is, he and the staff are good to us, but they work in a cockeyed way that is not good for them and not good for us. <
><
>And we can never get truly individualized care, because everything is about company protocols that are in the best interests of the company, not the patients. I always wonder if the workers are going to finally burn out as how can someone keep going like that without getting sick or injured? <
><
>I heard one tech got let go as she was well liked, but couldn't tow the line fast enough. Its not fair to anyone for the company to be run like this. If the govt. doesn't step in and penalize these companies, they will keep getting away with murder! : evil
**********************************************************************************************
DaVita
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
Posts: 2
Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2003 6:29 am Post subject: Good Lawyers in Michigan Area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The more that I am in this funnel of insanity, it appears to me that DaVita is the number 1 "dumper" of patients. There seems to be a current push to have patients dismissed. I dont know if we are getting better known as an organization, and hear about more of this company and their apparent dealings, and their reluctance to be fair to the patients.<
><
>It also is coming to our attention that the administrators arent Registered Nurses and positions are filled with EMT's and Machine Techs. Bio Med. This is a new trend that many of the companies are doing. All they need is one Registered nurse period per shift in many states.<
><
>I am really concerned with the current BIF and what appears to be "cherry Picking" This is what the Senate Hearings are about. I would suggest that you contact us or write a statement for us to take to Washington DC next month. We have been able to secure attornies in the Michigan area. <
>
**********************************************************************************************
DaVita RN in Michigan
Joined: 24 Sep 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2003 8:49 am Post subject: DuhVita Cost Cutting in Michigan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DuhVita is going to start assigning patients for RN's to do treatment on as well as their already overloaded daily duties. One more example of DaVita's way to make money. They will eliminate PCT jobs and pass on the duties to the RN's. Patients will suffer when the good RN's leave and the mediocre RN's replace them. Bad for the patients, but, good for DaVita's bottom line.....<
>PROFITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
**********************************************************************************************
Fed UP in Michigan
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 5:53 am Post subject: Lawyers in Michigan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would contact Jeffery Feiger in Southfield, Michigan and see what he and his group can do legally for you. If he/they can't help you ask them for referrals.<
>Good luck, it's time to make DaVita and all the other dialysis providers responsible for their actions!!!!
**********************************************************************************************
leadsag
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 263
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 6:40 am Post subject: RN's doing treatments
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't understand. Isn't having a RN do the treatment prefferred over some tech with a GED and in house 2-3 weeks of in house training only?
**********************************************************************************************
Stan
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 8:04 am Post subject: RNs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are RNs who seem like they never went to college. They don't use what they learned. I currently have a tech who is excellant! She has a college degree in another area and is every bit better then my RNs, because she really cares and does her job with professionalism. The RNs act like they are better then the techs, because they have a degree. You can't get a degree in caring and integrity. A 2-3 yr. course (theory and people skills) needs to be designed for people who really care about this profession and want to give their best. The reject RNs aren't any better then the worst techs.
**********************************************************************************************
leadsag
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 263
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2003 9:01 am Post subject: techs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stan - I would have to toally agree. There are techs at the unit I go to that I am much more comfortable with than a couple of the RN's. They care, they have better attitude, they seem to know how to handle more of the day to day machine problems, but do they have the education needed in case of an emergency? They seem to handle situations that arise ok, so maybe the 2-3 week in house training is ok.
