HCA's Finances Sour -- "more bad news to come"

<center>Thank you, Admin!!!</center>
Now, could we please return to the original topic of HCA's finances and bleak economic forecast? That was the purpose of this thread. The truth is that HCA is has run into financial problems that everyone in this community needs to be aware of before letting them build here.

 

Wick, great comment! I think it very pertinent to mention what you did. A lot of new folks are on this forum. They may have not had the perspective offered by reviewing hundreds of emails your comment so succinctly summarizes.

This type of truth telling provides direct and valid in put to the current topic and the views stated about the topic. I am sure Admin and others can see the connection between topic content and the need to balance source motivations to the topic.

Wick quote:

Two things: (1) calling out someone for a purported lie is not a personal attack. (2) However, if that is a personal attack, you are guilty of attacking virtually all of the pro-hospital people on this board, particularly Cliff. Your whole mantra has been that HCA (and, thus, its supporters) are built on lies and fraud. Again, the world of Chris is a world of double standards. She gets a free pass to dish out hate-filled garbage about HCA and its supporters, but no one better call her on it. Oh no, THAT would be a personal attack on Chris, which isn't allowed. This is great entertainment. Better than TV.


[/quote]

 

Read: "Thank you for giving me a free pass to, yet again, dodge another valid comment."

 

How many people see the website compared to a model that's physically located in the 'hood? Oversight doesn't make for a valid excuse in today's information age.

 

Why can't some people let go of this? I said I am not going to get involved in name-calling and I won't. But going against the Forum Admins and keeping up the game-playing is showing me that some of you are more interested in attacking people who oppose the hospital than discussing the issues.

Also, the Forum Admins have asked for this topic to be brought back in line. If people cannot respect the Admins, then what is the point of have a moderated discussion?

 

Who wants to let it go?!?!? This is much better entertainment than alot of TV shows currently running.

Brian, both sides "attack" each other on this issue and Chris is more than able to defend herself. She plays "this game" on our forums as well as anyone. I look forward to her posts whether I agree with what she has to say or not.

HCA stock down 0.46 (just to stay on topic)

And this forum is just like TV or the radio, if someone doesn't like it, they can go somewhere else.

 

You're wrong. Go back and read all the history before you post something like this. All of this is tied to HCA which is what this thread is about. What these guys are doing is challenging dubious information that was brought up against the Hospital. Several people, including myself have asked to see said evidence and the failure of it's appearance in itself is suspect. It's not an attack, it's about keeping these threads free of gimmicky stunts to make a point.

I would hope the Admins have better things to do than to watch each thread for moving off the path for a nanometer. This topic is VERY much related to HCA and this thread. It's not like we are discussing cars or football here. Another problem with your statement is that there is no metric to decide how far off topic this is and how far is too far. Do we use your standard (which seems tight) or a more moderate one. In which case you will see propigation of multitude of mini-threads that pop off b/c you can't abide one or two posts that may be more or less related to the main thread.

 

I was just trying to point out that the Forum Admins have asked this stuff to come to an end. Just wanted to be respectful of that even if no one else does. If this is your best form of entertainment, then have at it.

No shock to hear that HCA stock is down.

 

I'll take chris up on her request to go back to what started this thread.

If you read the link, then follow up with a bit more reading on the topic, you'll find that the 'bad debt' mentioned is linked to the failure of patients to pay their bills, not bad debt taken on by HCA the corporation. This seems to be a problem faced by many hospitals, probably including LHI.

HCA does seem to have underestimated its impact in their earnings projections - hence the drop in stock price. As I'm not an investor in HCA, I don't care much about what their stock price is.

Can't say that this info sways me either way in the 'great debate'.

 

No, the Admins simply asked us to stay on topic. I am also glad you are respectful of the Admins as pretty much everyone here is. Do you think you are the only one?

This debate will not end until the hospital issue is resolved, and I am willing to bet it will continue long past such date.

And if you READ correctly, I never said this was my "best" form of entertainment.

 

exrook -- It's good to see that someone is willing to discuss the facts instead of just bashing people who have honest questions and concerns about HCA.

I agree with one argument in your post (i.e., that HCA's financial woes not only affect that one company). However, why would we want to bring a company into the Broadlands that represents an industry with such a bleak future financial outlook? That does not seem to make any sense for our property values -- I'm sure that they would go into free-fall if HCA had to close down the facility and let it rot. And don't think that this is not going to happen -- just remember what they are planning for the two existing hospitals that they plan to close in order to open the facility in Broadlands.

brian_stearker: I'm sorry to see that you've been targeted for the abuse that is heaped on anyone who dares to raise a question about HCA. Welcome to the club!

 

Chris, you are a piece of work!

As for your ridiculous claim...health care in the United States represents 26% of the GNP. If healthcare has such a bleak, dark future, as you confidently state (and I think you are alone on this) we have bigger problems than just home values.

The obsolete hospital that is scheduled to close is over 30 years old. I would take a wild guess, very few of us will be selling our houses when the BRMC is 30 years old. Some think a hospital will increase home values.

As for the obsolete hospital neighbors, I am sure a presense of a hospital has not caused their home values to go down over the past 30 years.

Your argument is another example of extreme parnoia (NIMBY). It sits right up there with your other bogus claims, burning medical waste, 24/7 helicopter noise, "lunatics" escaping from the hospital and attacking our children, and other conspiracy based hyperbole.


Chris quote:

However, why would we want to bring a company into the Broadlands that represents an industry with such a bleak future financial outlook? That does not seem to make any sense for our property values -- I'm sure that they would go into free-fall ...

End quote

 

What abuse?! Talk about drama! Oh the pain....!

 

I don't believe that the healthcare industry has a bleak financial outlook, just the opposite. With the aging of the population, the demand for health care services can only increase.

I also don't believe that any company will abandon a brand new hospital in the highest growth county in the nation any time in the foreseeable future. I personally am not worried about my property values decreasing - and I live north of Vestal's Gap and west of Chickacoan, so am in the area closest to the proposed site. As far as I can tell, the presence of LHI hasn't lowered the price people are willing to pay for property in Lansdowne - why would it be any different here?

So far, nothing I've heard for or against the new hospital has moved me to lobby for either side. If it is built, I will use it when needed. It would be nice to have more options for specialists in the area - as in the past my family has had to go to Fair Oaks, Reston, and Fairfax because most of the specialists based around LHI are swamped. If it is not built, then we will continue as we have before.

 

afgm:

Again, you post crazy statements on a website that is for residents of the Broadlands, a place that you don't even live in.

Setting that aside, I want to focus on our crazy statements. For example, you state that healthcare represents 26% of the country's economy. I don't know what country you are referring to, but it is not the U.S. What country do you live in? It may be 26% where you live, but total healthcare spending in the U.S. represents approximately only 12 percent of GDP (2004 estimate). Though you seem to be no big fan of documented facts, you can see what the Federal agency responsible for healthcare financing has to say on the matter -- http://www.cms.hhs.gov/charts/healthcaresystem/all.asp

Please don't go around making crazy statements that are not true.

Also, keep in mind that hospitals are just one sector of healthcare. So, hospital care is just a percentage of healthcare's percentage of GDP. I hope that you don't have to work in healthcare (like I do) to understand that!

 

If you can't debate the subject without insulting the person and their ideas then don't post at all. You are the one losing credibility here.

 

Please. You've come to the defense of the most insulting and intolerant person on these boards. Here's an excerpt from her last post:

Who's losing credibility now???

 

chris,

It was only a month ago that you helped get the policy clarified for membership in these forums. I am surprised that you don't remember. Here is the relevant excerpt of the policy:

And, as afgm has stated several times before, although he does not live in Broadlands, he lives closer to the proposed hospital site than many of the homes in Broadlands. Thus, IMO he has standing to discuss this issue.

So how about dropping the "you don't live in Broadlands, so get off these forums" snipes?

 

PatsFan,

Thank you for the support but how ironic, support was posted by Chris less than a month ago. Not once but twice. See below quotes from this Forum.

I am sure this contradiction will be swooped away, in "self-proclaimed" irrelevance by the poster.

By the way, note the following statement from Chris on 5/10/2004, "If I ever made an inaccurate statement in these forums, I will gladly retract it." Humm, I wonder which contradiction will be retracted?

Chris, thank you for taking the bait. Healthcare GNP is in the neighborhood of 12 to 14%, 26% of healthcare expenses are related to paperwork.


Posted by Chris - 04/20/2004

"....Admin: Thanks for responding. Could you please clarify whether you plan on changing the "guidelines and rules" posted under "Forum Rules - Please read before posting"? Your response above is in direct opposition to the current "guidelines and rules." Personally, I enjoy having non-residents in the forums, and I don't want anyone excluded...."

Posted by Chris - 04/21/2004 : 13:22:54
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"...Thanks for clarifying that. Also, thanks for making the change in the first place. I think that it will be clear to everyone now that Broadlands welcomes all to post here...."

 

afgm - personally, I think you should stay out of OUR forums. It is not like the hospital issue will impact any community other than Broadlands. Come on! It is the "Broadlands" Medical Research Center. So only us Broadlanderianers will be allowed to use it!





For those with no sense of humor - &lt;tongue firmly planted in cheeck&gt;