Comment Archives: Last 30 Days
Re: “Staffers at Partnership Health Center in Missoula allege harassment, wrongful discharge”
@ JohnSteven: As a matter of fact I did quit my job, which was a great financial hardship for me and my family. As tough as the Missoula job market is, many PHC employees quit rather than put up with constant harassment. The pattern of abuse and mistreatment at this institution was and is still far too pervasive to blame the victims in this case. It is absolutely the most dysfunctional place I have ever seen in my 20-year career in healthcare. Employees who did their best to take care of sick people were not acting entitled when they asked to be treated with respect. It takes courage to stand up and publicly say that the way PHC is run is totally unacceptable. We should in no way feel ashamed to be taking that stand.
Re: “Flash in the Pan”
Over-breeding and irresponsible owners are what have put horses in their current situation. We need breed organizations and humane societies to call for a moratorium on breeding. Any backyard yokel can breed horses (or more dogs, cats or humans)....and frequently do. Ari LeVaux apparently only cares about filling his belly, then writing proudly about his opinions. Anyone who has or worked with a horse knows that they are trusting and devoted. There is no humane way to slaughter a horse. Period. Slaughterhouses are an environmental nightmare, besides. Wild horse populations have as much or more right to grazing land as cattle and sheep, and their numbers can be controlled with sterilization techniques and adoption. Horses (and dogs, cats and humans) are not "disposable", despite the practices of uncaring and ignorant humans. They deserve better. And we humans deserve better that to read LeVaux's column.
Re: “Staffers at Partnership Health Center in Missoula allege harassment, wrongful discharge”
Partnership Health Center is a federally funded community health center. This means your tax money goes to help support its mission. Partnership sees over 1,000 patients per year. These are patients who are underinsured or who have no insurance and would otherwise go without healthcare or end up in our emergency rooms. They also compete for funding, which means doctors and nurses are expected to see 30+ complicated patients each day. It is a very demanding job, thus is difficult to find high quality people to do the job. Most of the professionals there are working there because they are passionate about the mission. Many of the staff there rely on the job to support their family and if they didn’t have the job would be one more of missoula’s uninsured population. You are correct, Steve, nobody is holding a gun to anyone’s head to work there. However, when someone wants to work to help serve the most vulnerable patients in the community they should be treated with utmost respect. When they are not, there is stress and high turn-over, which means incontinuity of care and low quality care. Comments like Steves are what the employees hear from administration, HR and the board over and over and it isn’t right. Mansch is correct in saying the staff work really really hard. What she didn’t say is they are unappreciated and when they can’t keep up with high volume phone calls they are belittled and threatened. Patients who are sick now and need to speak with a doctor have to wait weeks which often puts them in the hospital. Partnership is booked solid until July so new patients can’t get in, patients don’t get their questions answered, their medications on time, or the high quality care they deserve. This is not the fault of Kim’s hard working staff. It is the fault of administration. As a tax payer you should care about what happens. Abused staff know they have to take the abuse because there is no one who cares. Ask Patty Baumgartner from HR how many grievances were filed and shoved under the desk. Ask Tom Todd, the board director, how many professionals who serve patients at partnership have come to the board with these concerns. Thank you Adam, for braving the evil that prevails there. Thank you to the writer of this article. You give us hope that maybe someone will care about the employees and patients at partnership health center. Please consider putting this article in print
Re: “Flash in the Pan”
And now it reappeared??? What is going on with your comment line?
Re: “Flash in the Pan”
Odd! I posted a strong disagreement with your article. It was accepted and then promptly disappeared. Is that how it goes in Missoula?
Re: “Flash in the Pan”
Cattle and sheep ranchers, the BLM and their sympathizers are co-ordinating their talking points and going public. Last week a rancher stated on the Today show that the best solution for the penned up Wild Horses and Burros is to,”Let ‘em go to slaughterhouses”. Then he added, “What good are they now?"
Joan Guilfoyle, BLM head, tried to downplay the cruel and brutal footage of BLM roundups shown on that Today show and reiterated the BLM talking points that horse populations are basically uncontrollable. The BLM works closely with the powerful ranchers and maintains that the WH&Bs are responsible for the overgrazing of lands which are occupied by guest cattle and guest sheep grazing with permission in a ten to one ratio with the wild horses who are designated by law to occupy these lands.
When grazing in equal numbers, sheep, and cattle to a lesser degree, are responsible for over grazing land because they pull the grass out of the ground by the roots whereas a horse cuts or mows the grass. Oddly, the measurement of grazing used by the BLM is referred to as an Aum which equals the grazing of one cow and a calf to one horse but does not include a foal. Having been raised on a dairy farm in Minnesota it was common opinion that cattle overgraze a pasture faster than an equal number of horses.
Tom Gorey,” BLM spokesman, and advocate for the anti-wild horse ranchers, recently said, “The options are limited because we’re not going to put down healthy horses for which there is no adoption demand, even though the law authorizes it.” However, the law does not authorize that WH&Bs can be “put down”. What the law does mandate is minimal interference, free roaming, a natural lifestyle, and a thriving natural ecological balance on land principally devoted to WH&Bs.
Today's article in the Missoula Independent was rife with misinformation and anti-wild horse rhetoric. They declared that wild horses are actually an invasive feral species brought here from Europe. The truth is that wild horses have been in North America for 58 million years according to Craig Downer in “The Wild Horse Conspiracy” available at www.amazon.com/dp/B009XJ64P4
The Missoula article was very pro-slaughter of the WH&Bs who are the historical wild legacy that belongs to all of us Americans. They refer to the "clean" horse meat from wild horses that might find a market in spite of the horse meat scandal throughout the world. In doing so they reveal that the only interest of the anti-wild horse/pro-slaughter elements in the Ranchers/BLM is in money, profit, and motivated by greed. The article referred to the WH&Bs as an "ecological nuisance". They insinuate that the only horses sent to slaughter are used up, old, unwanted, and neglected. This, of course, is not true. Forty percent of horses slaughtered come from over breeders and are under the age of ten in good health, but rejected by those who care more about a few bucks from the killer than the horse.
Madeleine Pickens reacted to a recent article posted by the Star Telegram which depicts how the Wild Horse and Burro Program needs to be reformed and many mustangs are displaced saying, “We have offered a solution to this very problem. When I started this journey I reached out to the BLM and offered to buy enough land to take the then 30,000 wild horses out of federal holding facilities and provide long-term care back on the range. It’s 5 years later, and we don’t have a single horse from the BLM. We sit here waiting while there are homeless horses heading to auctions and the rest spending the remainder of their lives in federal holding facilities. Something needs to change now. We hope the appointment of the New Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell, will get things going in the right direction.”
Polls indicate that over 80% of Americans oppose horse slaughter. Hopefully Secretary Jewell will represent the public.
The true motivation of these anti-wild horse, pro-slaughter fanatics is finally coming out of the shadows and rearing its ugly public head. Cruelty, brutality, hatred, greed, dissemblance, love of killing, and love of profit are the traits of these despicable criminals who care only about money while desecrating the spiritual wonders of the horse and those of us who love them.
Take action against these hypocrites by going below and VOTING IN SUPPORT OF THESE BILLS, SHARE, and then, CALL YOUR SENATORS and REPRESENTATIVE and ask them to co-sponsor S 541 and HR 1094
HOUSE VERSION
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/113/hr1094
SENATE VERSION
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/113/s541
Re: “Staffers at Partnership Health Center in Missoula allege harassment, wrongful discharge”
Mr. JohnSteven, these six courageous individuals did not in fact start this freedom-of-speech blog. Lawsuits are public record and therefore subject to public disclosure. In regards to your assertion that a person should just quit their job, why should any person have to quit their job because they are being treated unjust. It appears by your post and opinion, that you have either been fortunate to have a wonderful job, where you were treated as a human being, or your work history is riddled with job after job. The legal system was founded on the principle of justice....these people are asking for just that. Glad you are not the judge!
Re: “Staffers at Partnership Health Center in Missoula allege harassment, wrongful discharge”
What would you have us do Mr. Steven? Give up? let wrong prevail? Let a couple of bad eggs ruin what would otherwise be a fine institution? Many of us were there before these Incompetent, abusive people. Should dozens of us just continue to clear out so a few rotten apples can ruin the place and continue to waste public money? The turnover rate has been outrageous for a few years, that should be a red alert to any competent leadership. That's whats wrong with America, lack of accountability! And you should inform yourself or shut the hell up!
Re: “Staffers at Partnership Health Center in Missoula allege harassment, wrongful discharge”
I find the treatment of employees and patients by Kim Mansch, Terry Delgadillo, Mary Jane Nealon extremely disturbing. I know some past and present employees of PHC that have had to deal with the wrong doings of these women for years, some of which have had to seek counseling to deal with the issues while others have suffered health issues because of the hostile abusive environment. Patient care should be above and foremost to anything else however Mansch, Delgadillo, and Nealon have made it such a hostile environment that the employees and the patients suffer alike. Some may say "If you don't like your job then quite" and that "these types of lawsuits are the problem with America", however there would be no need for these lawsuits if people like Mansch, Delgadillo, and Nealon did not exploit, harass, blackmail, and plainly just treat people badly. The problem with America is that people like these women are put into positions of power and think they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, to whomever they want. Well they are wrong and there are laws put into place for this very reason to protect the people from such abuse. These employees are not the only ones who suffer from the actions of Mansch and Nealon, the patients suffer as well by losing great medical professionals.
Re: “Appalling testimony”
Mr Moe signed the order to put his mom in hospice. If he was unsatisfied with their care, he could have withdrawn it, but he did not.
Re: “Equine overload”
The Wild horses are an integral part of the ecosystem, especially the grass lands. Scientific research has proven the wild horses are indigenous to this country. Horses help spread native seeds which helps those plants propagate. To the individual who stated slaughter 50,000 horses and send them to africa... horse slaughter is not an altruistic business it's about profit. The largest purveyor of US horse meat is the EU and the only wild equidae eligible to export into the EU is zebra meat. The EU market is closing very soon to US horses of any kind.
The Wild horses are kinder on the water sources than cattle, they will destroy a river bed very quickly. It's amazing that 100,000 acres can only support 100 horses, yet support thousands and thousands of head of cattle.
Re: “Staffers at Partnership Health Center in Missoula allege harassment, wrongful discharge”
This article is just the tip of the iceberg. If anyone wants to investigate there is plenty of information. Although there are only 6 lawsuits, there are plenty of others who have walked away or ended up settling a lawsuit. The board is negligent. When I was at phc I saw harassment on a daily basis. I saw Mary Jane scream at an employee who was a single mother trying to stay home 1 day with her sick child, I heard them talk meanly about women going on maternity leave, I saw them ruin the lives of employees who were passionate about the mission. There were directors of medical, pharmacy and dental who went to the board with concerns and the board looked away..and ended up dismissing them only weeks later. It is time to investigate the treatment of employees there before the medical residents come
Re: “Staffers at Partnership Health Center in Missoula allege harassment, wrongful discharge”
You should all be embarrassed and ashamed, if you don’t like your job or the way your supervisor treats you then quit. Were any of you forced to work at partnership at gunpoint? If there is something you don’t like about your life then change it, don’t file a law suit and then start a pitiful smear campaign on the internet. This is the type of hyper-sensitivity, over entitlement, self-pity and excessive litigation that is becoming a sad standard in America.
Re: “Flash in the Pan”
Mr LeVaux, as a journalist, wouldn't you even minimally research your resources? Tim Sappington? Are you kidding?? If you Googled this guy, you might have written your leading paragraph a little differently. Also of note, the use of "harvest" to replace "slaughter" is passe. People outside of the AQHA realize it's a veiled attempt to make pretty words.
Re: “John Mayer now lives in Montana”
I have lived in Montana my whole life - was born here. My family has been here for 5 generations. We share the same views about Montana for the most part. It's an Amazing place. As Baha'U'allah says "The earth is one but one country and mankind its citizens". Really we are just borrowing this land. Before I was the Native Americans and before them.. well maybe someone else. We should exercise kindness to all that come to live or visit. Wouldn't we expect the same back if we were in their shoes?
~Nathan Johnson - Missoula MT
Re: “Responsible meat”
Poor Eddie whose only crime was to have been born a "food animal". And sadly his only flaw was to be delivered into the hands of someone who would "respect" him in the most twisted, vengeful kind of ways. With "friends" like this - Who needs enemies?
Oh - And that mention of a vegetarian menu not likely in an male dominated household... It's a joke right? As if compassion and the ability to appreciate plant foods was strictly a female attribute. With "logic" like this - No wonder why Eddie met the fate he did. Lori has a tough time thinking beyond the platitudes, myths and stereo-types. How tragic that sentient beings are left in the "care" of such narrow-minded, gluttonous, speciesist, non-thinkers.
Re: “Flash in the Pan”
Seems like Roswell is dead set on becoming the economic and ecological disaster that befell Kaufman TX during the years the Crown Dallas plant was active there. Striking New Mexico off the "visit" list. There goes your tourism.
Re: “Responsible meat”
Dear Lori,
May I respectfully say that you sound like someone straight out of this book: http://www.the-ultimate-betrayal.com
Re: “Flash in the Pan”
I have three comments :
1) Of the 3 posts (so far) commenting on this article, all are by people adamantly opposed to horse slaughter, yet from the comments, none seem willing to do anything about the FERAL (they aren't "wild") horses overpopulating and seriously degrading western public lands.
2) At least one of the comments bemoans the inhumane conditions and treatment in shipping and at the slaughter houses (I certainly agree with him on that point).
Do you protest as loudly and emotionally the same conditions and treatment for other livestock -- such as cattle, sheep, hogs, goats and poultry -- headed for the same fate ?
3) I'm mostly a vegetarian now, but being of German and French ancestry, I ate horsemeat regularly as child, which, at the time was readily available in many butcher shops around Portland, where I grew up in the 1940s and '50s. I must say that as finicky an eater as I was then, I thought horsemeat was pretty darn good!
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Re: “Flash in the Pan”
check out how many horses are being held in pens by the BLM after the roundups
attempts at sterilisation have not been very successful is it humane to keep these "wild horses in pens"? and the slaughterhouses do need to be regulated but since there is a stigma around the subject the only people willing to operate them are unsavory types
i see lots of complaints but no real solutions to the problems the system is facing and those problems are getting worse since the economic downturn and the price of feed many people that owned horses are having trouble feeding them