Freed was CFO of Grand Rapids-based Spectrum Health for nearly 19 years, and later headed the hospital companys lucrative Priority Health insurance arm for six years. In addition to lacking a CFO and chief compliance officer, Beaumont has yet to find a replacement for its chief marketing officer, who left last September. There are no bios or photos of Beaumonts other directors, and thats by intent. Beaumont is offering all its nurses systemwide an additional $45 to $50 an hour bonus to work beyond their assigned shifts, an additional $15 an hour for techs. A traditional Bachelor of Science degree in nursing is typically four years. Various studies, including one published in 2019 by Harvard researchers, also show that hospital mergers result in worsened patient experiences. The evidence is, Spectrums previous head of diversity was Ovell Barbee, an African American, who Spectrum, Many organizations are not interested in real change, Chris Metzler, the former associate dean for human resources and diversity studies at Georgetown University,, Disparities in healthcare are typically blamed on racism of U.S. doctors and other health professionals. Thats how Beaumont ended up in the sorry state that it did. That amounts to a Spectrum takeover in my book. Copyrightdocument.write(new Date().getFullYear());Deadline Detroit, Inc. - All Rights Reserved, Starkman: Why Tree Huggers Must Save This Small Town in Michigan From Ford, 'Detroit In Black And White:' Why We Got Kicked Off 910 AM, Randy Wimbley Leaving Fox 2 After a Decade on the Air. Nessels do nothing stance on healthcare matters is in sharp contrast to her Massachusetts counterpart Maura Healey, who has moved to block the expansion of Massachusetts General Brigham on the grounds it will lead to higher health care costs in that state. A Grand Rapids television station revealed that operating room OBGYN doctors were posting photos on social media of them holding up surgically removed organ and tissue material as part of a game they likened to The Price Is Right. The report by NBC affiliate WOODis a classic worth watching because the reporter cant believe what shes actually reporting. It comes as no surprise that Spectrums takeover received the green light. The nursing shortage in our state is a critical and complex challenge that must be solved with bold and collaborative solutions, the Detroit Free Press quoted Freese Decker as saying. Starkman: Electric Vehicles and the Exploitation of Michigan Taxpayers. To support Deadline Detroit's independent journalism, please sign up for a $3a month membership or a one-time donation. Spectrums previous head of diversity was Ovell Barbee, an African American, who Spectrum proudly announced last April was named one of the leading diversity executives in the country. Beaumonts leadership page only features a photo and bio of Julie Fream, who on paper at least seems credible: Fream is the president and CEO of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association, an industry nonprofit, and she has a Harvard MBA. But ER nurses are angry with Melissa Foreman Lovell, Troys chief nursing officer, who they say rarely appears at the hospital. Grand Rapids business community is small and tight knit, and Spectrum is a major employer in western Michigan. With regards to healthcare, Nessel is a do-nothing attorney general who has stood idly by as Fox drove Beaumont into the ground and is expected to rubber stamp Spectrums takeover. Its Beaumonts attempt to mislead southeastern Michigan residents that they arent losing a local institution. He didnt address staff as folks as hes repeatedly done in the past and he looked more relaxed and rested than in previous videos. Whats becoming increasingly obvious is how Freese Decker, like John Fox, is prone to making public statements that have no basis in fact. Destroying Beaumont and Spectrum Health, Covid Not Responsible for ER Debacles at Beaumont RO and Troy, Sh** Show at Beaumont Endoscopy Suite in Chaos Amid Nursing Shortage, C-Section Horror at Beaumont Lawsuit Claims Surgeon Left Sponge in Patients Abdomen, Former Spectrum CFO Trashes Beaumont Merger and Warns of 'Massive Financial Loss', Beaumont's Merger Partner Reveals its Disingenuous, Deceptive, Disrespectful Nature, Spectrum Healths Black Employees Explore Class Action Lawsuit Alleging Systemic Racism, Beware! Travel nurses are also required to oversee only four patients at a time and are exempted from having to transport patients to other areas of the hospital. A lifelong Michigander with an impressive background, Barbee resigned in October to join Indiana University Health as head of HR. The joint release promotes the benefits of Priority Health, Spectrums insurance plan. 'The Week That Was:' Will Kristina Karamo Seriously Damage Michigan's Republican Party? By Eric Starkman. Susan Grant, the chief nursing officer for all of Beaumont, has her primary home in Atlanta. It speaks volumes that Spectrum Health CEO Tina Freese Decker and her fellow directors have chosen to get into bed with the directors who are ultimately responsible for the implosion of Beaumont Health. Fox is about 70, and given his failed performance, it was a given that he wouldn't lead the combined Spectrum Beaumont entity. Reach Eric Starkman at eric@starkmanapproved.com . Freed is seemingly unaware of how desperate Beaumont CEO John Fox is to find a merger partner and complete the sale before year-end. Lewis previously served on the board of one of Beaumonts predecessor companies and likely didnt want to continue after Beaumont completed its merger. The deal will invariably be good for Fox, as he will likely get a very lucrative exit package to sail into the Georgia sunset. On Thursday he posted an open letteron his LinkedIn page to Spectrums board implicitly questioning Beaumont Health's financials and warning that merging with the Southfield-based hospital network is ill advised. Eric Starkman of Los Angeles is a former Detroit News business reporter who blogs at Starkman Approved. She never followed up with a comment. Beaumont is awaiting approval to be rescued by Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. So What? Prioritys goal is to capture as much market share as possible and then use that power to reduce what it pays to doctors to cover their services. A credible and competent board would have fired Fox, Wilson, and chief medical officer David Wood Jr. after internal surveys last year revealed the majority of Beaumont doctors and nurses had no confidence in them. Freed might want to reach out to Mark Shaevsky, a prominent southeastern Michigan attorney and a former Beaumont board member before it merged with two lesser hospital companies in 2014. Why would Beaumont nurses want to remain on staff when they can make more money working at a staffing agency? Beaumont was once mostly staffed by highly skilled veterans, among the best in healthcare. These contracted doctors also were responsible for setting up a Covid-19 ICU unit at Beaumont Troy. Copyrightdocument.write(new Date().getFullYear());Deadline Detroit, Inc. - All Rights Reserved, AG Dana Nessel and Gov. Freese Decker is likely assured a big pay increase and bonus. This is Beaumont's latest attempt to merge with another hospital . By Eric Starkman . Copyrightdocument.write(new Date().getFullYear());Deadline Detroit, Inc. - All Rights Reserved. So What? The writer, a Los Angeles freelancer, is a former Detroit News business reporter who . In his video, Fox was wearing a pinstripe suit jacket, not his trademark blue blazer. To support Deadline Detroit's independent journalism, please sign up for a $3a month membership or a one-time donation. The insurance business is among the most profitable sectors in healthcare, but as anyone who has dealt with one of these companies know, their priority is profits, not patient care. How Absurd. A hospital CEO committed to the best interests of their organization and the communities it services would typically demand a premium of one times the annual revenue, meaning Spectrum should pay nearly $5 billion to take over Beaumont. Spectrumreportedthat Beaumonts operations already have racked up nearly $100 million in losses. More importantly, I doubt that Spectrums doctors would feel the need to circumvent management in the first place. Craig's guest is Eric Starkman, Deadline Detroit contributor and author of the blog Starkman Approved. Gretchen Whitmer has paid lip service that shes committed to so-called healthcare equity, meaning that Blacks receive access to the same quality of care as whites. The writer, a Los Angeles freelancer, is a former Detroit News business reporter who blogs atStarkman Approved. Though a far cry from what Beaumont Health was before CEO John Fox and COO Carolyn Wilson arrived, Spectrum is a quality healthcare company overseen by a responsible board comprised of directors who are pillars of western Michigans business communities. Beaumont employees and vendors are encouraged to reach out, with confidentiality assured. According to an email obtained by the Detroit TV station, Beaumont transferred its Covid patients because the CEO said the hospital system was losing too much money treating them. The terms of the deal were so obscenely favorable to Advocate Aurora that Rep. Andy Levin, whose district includes Beaumont Royal Oak, announced he would oppose the deal. Gretchen Whitmer were silent. Based on what was paid to the CEO of one of Beaumonts predecessor companies, Fox possibly stands to receive more than $30 million to sail into the Georgia sunset. According to the most recently available filings, Freese Decker earned $3.9 million in 2018. April 18, 2020, 3:27 PM . In a further diss to the community, Beaumont converted a laundry facility into a makeshift morgue without getting permits. The writer, a Los Angeles freelancer, is a former Detroit News business reporter who blogs at Starkman Approved. Spectrum has also been embroiled in controversy that made national news. Freese Decker cant say she wasnt warned. The Freep quoted Oakland University dean of nursing Judy Didion as saying it will take about a year to build the infrastructure until the school can begin to admit additional students. Spectrum also reported that Beaumont lost $253 million on its investments. That could further worsen Beaumonts nursing shortage. Freed notes that Beaumont claims to have 300 days of cash on hand but doesnt have a top-tier bond rating allowing it to borrow money at the best rates. Beaumont CEO Fox and COO Wilson Must Go Now! If Michigan had a competent attorney general or a governor with a healthcare interest beyond abortion rights, the deal would have been derailed. I expect Fox to promote the deal as a merger of equals and its possible the Beaumont name could be retained in some capacity, but dont be fooled: The combination is Foxs Hail Mary attempt to cash out and distract from the extensive damage his leadership has caused. Starkman: Beaumont CFO John Kerndl and Top CEO Aide Say No! Fox trumpeted the deal as a win for Southeastern Michigan because he said Advocate Aurora would invest $1 billion to move the William Beaumont Medical School in Rochester to the Royal Oak campus and upgrade Beaumonts technology. Business Starkman: Bloodbath at Beaumont - COO Carolyn Wilson and Top Doctor Ousted; Chief Quality Officer Resigns Tweet Share July 22, 2021, 12:45 PM This columnist, a Los Angeles freelancer,. Why isnt Freese Decker following through on that supposedly great initiative? Fox isnt the only hospital executive looking to exploit the perception that the unvaccinated are responsible for wreaking havoc. One of the deciding factors in evaluating merging Beaumont and Spectrum will be the financial terms of the deal. To the distaste of the pediatric heads colleagues, Susick walked him out of the hospital in front of his staff. To be sure, Beaumont isnt alone in suffering from a nursing shortage. Eric Starkman of Los Angeles is a former Detroit News business reporter who blogs at Starkman Approved.. By Eric Starkman. Getting more Americans vaccinated is widely believed the ticket to saving lives and preventing hospitals from being overrun with Covid patients at deaths door. Beaumont is having difficulty attracting mid- and lower-level employees as well. Virtually all of Fox's senior management team resigned or was . Also unavailable for clarifications will be Dawn Geisert, Beaumonts former compliance chief. Newsweek Ranks 3 Beaumont Hospitals Among Best in U.S. One Down, Three to Go. In June of last year Fox announced he planned to merge Beaumont into Advocate Aurora, a Chicago-based hospital network whose CEO was on record as having insatiableambitious plans. Fox, who has already been paid more than $20 million in compensation since joining Beaumont in 2016, potentially stands to earn tens of millions more if regulators approve Spectrums takeover. By Eric Starkman John Fox, the Atlanta carpetbagger who washed up on the shores of southeastern Michigan seven years ago to bolster Beaumont Health's profits and gussy up Metro Detroit's. The metric that matters most is quality of patient care. Beaumont does not have a good reputation regarding how they treat employees. Reach Eric Starkman at: eric@starkmanapproved.com. Beaumont CEO John Fox . Another open position is the Chief Inclusion, Equity, Diversity and Social Impact Officer.. Although Spectrum and Beaumont have characterized their combination as a merger, Spectrum is effectively taking over Beaumont. His latest story for DeadlineDetroit.com shows that high ranking executives are being let go in advance of the proposed merger with Grand Rapids based Spectrum Health. Under Susicks leadership, Beaumont Royal Oak precipitously declined, and internally she was viewed as a Fox sycophant. That wasnt entirely true. Its a standard practice when companies of near comparable size combine: The company whose CEO is tapped to lead the mergedcompany agrees to have the chairman of the partner company serve as chair. Fox has blamed the pandemic for Beaumonts HR problems, but the issues predated Covid. Starkman: Electric Vehicles and the Exploitation of Michigan Taxpayers. Eric Starkman of Los Angeles is a former Detroit News business reporter who blogs at Starkman Approved.. By Eric Starkman. In a company video posted on Vimeo Thursday, Beaumont CEO John Fox disclosed that Beaumont plans to spend significant dollars to embark on a three to five-year plan to expand the health systems private bed capacity. Allowing them to continue profiting from their mismanagement would undermine Spectrum managements credibility from the get-go. Disgruntled Staff. Beaumonts flagship Royal Oak hospital only garnered a four-star rating and its other hospitals earned two-and three-star ratings. Spectrum, with $6.9 billion in revenues, operates 14 hospitals in the western side of the stateand has 30,000 employees. Also, if you wish to support Deadline Detroit's. No doubt the pot of cash is the bait that got the merger talks going. Fox previously disclosed he talked to more than 100 hospital systems hoping to find a corporate bride for Beaumont. The evidence is overwhelming that when hospitals merge, prices go up. Beaumont Royal Oak is a Level I regional hospital, which according to the American Trauma Society means it is required to have 24/7 staffing available to provide total care for every aspect of injury from prevention through rehabilitation. The FTC is headed by Lina Khan, a Democrat appointed by Biden and sworn in last June 15 to a three-year term. Board chair Fream, who holds a Harvard MBA, told The Detroit News that Beaumont's board used an "independent consultant" to determine Fox's compensation. 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