Profit over Safety Erode Health Services to Las Crucens
Under private equity ownership, Memorial Medical Center (MMC) in Las Cruces is facing severe backlash for its alleged prioritization of profit over safety. Concerns surrounding moral erosion, patient endangerment, collegiality breakdown, and potential lease and legal violations have come to light.
An essential aspect of any hospital is oversight and collegiality, but MMC’s commitment to these principles has been called into question. Previously part of a National Physicians Advisory Board affiliated with Duke University, MMC transitioned to using seemingly less rigorous questionnaires. This shift is believed to have weakened the Medical Committee’s ability to protect patients’ interests and counterbalance administrative decisions. Disturbingly, doctors who raised concerns were allegedly subjected to retaliation. This situation begs the question: should doctors not be encouraged to ask questions?
One ex-MMC doctor, Jonathan Owens, expressed his shock at the hospital’s profit-driven motivations during the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated, The profit over safety motivation, particularly during COVID, was appalling. Another doctor recounted how the administration sought ways to circumvent the governor’s mandate against elective surgeries, focusing instead on lucrative procedures such as joint, heart, and weight-loss surgeries. This approach was deemed incredibly disheartening by medical staff and had a demoralizing effect. Doctors witnessing patients suffering or succumbing to the virus were bewildered by MMC’s insistence on prioritizing weight-loss surgeries.
Read Part 1: Healthcare in Las Cruces should be patient-focused.
One particularly concerning development was the establishment of a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at MMC, overseen by Dr. Jorge Saenz. Alarmingly, an unusually high percentage of pediatric admissions were categorized as intensive-care. Pediatrician Heather Owens, whose patients were admitted to the PICU, voiced her apprehension, stating, For PICU admissions of the magnitude MMC saw, we’d have to be suffering an order of magnitude increased illness. The reported number of PICU admissions exceeded the national average of 10-15% by several times. Authorities should investigate whether this overrepresentation was an attempt to maximize profits at the expense of defrauding Medicare.
Tensions were further exacerbated by Dr. Saenz’s abrasive conduct, which led to complaints from medical staff. Efforts were made to improve his collegiality, but they ultimately failed. Dr. Heather Owens revealed that she had filed complaints against Saenz twice. It is alleged that MMC CEO John Harris intervened to protect Saenz, further fueling discontent among medical professionals.
Did MMC prioritize lucrative departments at the expense of important, albeit less profitable ones? One doctor raised concerns about an outdated medical-records system that jeopardized patient care. The Emergency Department repeatedly requested new monitoring machines, but their pleas went unanswered. Tragically, a malfunctioning machine failed to notify staff of a patient’s death. The delay in obtaining new monitors raised questions about whether prompt action could have saved the patient’s life.
Several sources claim that MMC is understaffed, resulting in excessive workloads and burnout among its employees. This dire situation played a significant role in the departure of Dr. Jonathan Owens. Reports suggest that the RN/patient ratio at MMC is alarmingly low, and one patient, who is also a nurse, described the care provided as substandard. She recounted numerous instances of being treated by exhausted and disgruntled aides and LPNs, leading her to conclude that MMC has given me two near-death experiences. While doctors acknowledged that the nursing shortage exacerbated during the pandemic, they criticized MMC for failing to address the issue adequately.
Activist Yoli Diaz has accused MMC of refusing to treat indigent cancer patients and causing treatment delays. She labeled these actions atrocious, barbaric, and illegal. Diaz further argued that such practices contravene state law and a lease provision requiring the continuation of service to indigent individuals. According to her, MMC operates as a profit-driven, price-gouging business with aggressive collection practices and predatory billing.
This article has shed light on the alarming situation at Memorial Medical Center, where allegations of prioritizing profit over patient safety, undermining collegiality, and potential legal violations have emerged. Concerned voices within the medical community urge MMC to consider the well-being of its patients and the ethical obligations inherent in the healthcare profession. As Las Crucens grapple with the erosion of their healthcare services, it is crucial for MMC to address these issues promptly and transparently in the best interest of the community it serves.
This is the second of three columns.
