March 20, 2009

Bristol Hospital rejects health insurer for being too stingy


Bristol Hospital is taking a stand. United Healthcare is, too.
And who loses? The thousands in Bristol who have United Healthcare insurance and now pretty much can't use Bristol Hospital except perhaps in an emergency. Wonderful.

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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Or is Bristol Hospital being stingy? Either way, The insured people win because they will going to another hospital.

Anonymous said...

good point .

Anonymous said...

United is only willing to pay for what they get. Bristol Hospital doesn't provide top of the line services...they are middle of the road AT BEST, so why the heck should United pay higher reimbursement rates? If Bristol Hosp shapes up and starts providing better services, better quality of care care and have higher standards... like Middlesex Hosp, Midstate Hosp and New Britain Hosp all have, then maybe United would pay more.
When I step foot into Bristol Hosp these days, I feel like I stepped back in time 15 years.
Not to mention that I NEVER once felt that any employees gave a damn about their jobs and especially not about me as a patient. Most are too busy gossiping or moping around. I usually hear thing like "I can't wait to get out of here" or "This day is never going to end" or sometimes they just plain ignore you and wont even make eye contact. When you go to the other hospitals i've mentioned above, you rarely see this. People are helpful. They actually like their jobs and like being there. They are patient, kind and most of all they pay attention to details!
The Doctors at Bristol Hosp are good. The nurses, administration and other staff are terrible. They deserve what they get. If they aren't willing to put in some actual effort and provide high quality professional care, then they don't deserve to reap the benefits. Just my personal opinion.

Anonymous said...

No, the insured people LOSE. They can't stay with their own doctor and have to go to an out of town hospital. Think of someone in the middle of a cancer treatment process, someone about to give birth, someone who is scheduled for surgery... and to be told they can't use their regular doc or their hometown hospital. It stinks, and I blame the insurance companies.

Anonymous said...

Re: 4:06

He may have come off as a little harsh, but many of his points are quite valid. Frankly, I have always used NB General for many of the reasons 4:06 stated.

What is rather ironic, Tanner was "bounced" from Bristol Hospital several years ago and he appears to be "paying back" the favor as the president of NB General.

Someone a lot smarter than I said, "What Comes Around Goes Around."

I don't know Barwis, but he comes across as a whiner. The Board of Directors need to do a better job of selling this place and the only way it will sell is when they have a better product, perceived or real.

It would help if they had more "Bristol" people in the executive suites. Right or wrong, Bristol people are suspicious of those not from Bristol. Kurt, welcome to Bristol.

Anonymous said...

I think Bristol Hospital is top-notch. I have been to all of those other hospitals as a part of my job and Bristol compares favorably with all of them.

Concerned Constructive Conservative said...

The doctors, nurses and administrators at Bristol Hospital are great.

The problem today is that government forces the unfunded mandate of healthcare to all who enter. The hospital had over $10 million in bad debt last year.

Anonymous said...

Concerned Citizen don't you like anything? You must be a sad person.

Anonymous said...

5:26, you missed the point. The insured are better off at another hospital. They might have to leave their comfort zone, but they will get better health care.

Anonymous said...

The other night we went to UCONN's Jack Dempsey's emergency room at midnight(because we have United Healthcare). The experience is one I will always remember. It took 3 1/2hours to be seen by a doctor. We were left alone in a corner and no one checked in on us. There were people on gurney's in the hallway. A women who was with a patient in the next room was sleeping on the floor. Bristol Hospital is far better than people realize. And, the only people who are getting hurt by this are people who have United Healthcare and do not have another choice! Shame on United Healthcare and Bristol Hospital for not workng this out. The next step will be that for those on United Healthcare to be forced to choose new doctors would have rights to the other hospitals.

Concerned Constructive Conservative said...

March 21, 2009 7:20 AM:

Can you read?