ADRENALINE: New 2013 edition Read Online Free Page B

competitors in the area. “The nuns are running scared. Sister believes that with the increasing market penetration of managed care in Central Pennsylvania, she needs to align or merge with someone to obtain sufficient bargaining clout.”
    Doug was always irritated by the flip manner Marshall and his sidekick, Joe Raskin, would refer to the nuns. By Sister, Marshall meant the head administrator of Our Lady of Mercy Hospital where Keystone Anesthesia was based. She ran the Catholic hospital with the help of a cadre of nuns from the special order, the Sisters of Christian Benevolence.
    Marshall continued. “She’s afraid that as a single entity, the large HMO’s and managed care corporations will dictate her fees and low ball her right out of business. She might be right.” He paused to clear his throat.
    “Those fuckers!” exclaimed Raskin, who smacked his flattened palm on the wooden table. Doug turned and gave Raskin a hard stare. He had never cared much for Raskin. From the day they had met twelve years ago, Doug had quickly put Raskin in the major pain-in-the-butt category. Raskin was a contemporary of Marshall; the two of them had founded the anesthesia department at Mercy back in 1969. Doug knew Raskin could always be counted on to support Marshall’s point of view. However, Raskin rarely added anything of substance. Raskin caught Doug’s stare and returned it, eyes glowering. He then added sourly without dropping his eyes from Doug, “Pardon my French.”
    “General’s better than Osteo,” said Omar Ayash in his Middle-Eastern accent. Ayash was also a member of the old guard. He had emigrated from Lebanon in the late sixties, and after bouncing around New York and Pennsylvania, wound up at Mercy in 1972. Doug was surprised to hear from Ayash; he was usually silent during these meetings.
    “Not nearly so many AIDS cases or Lancaster knife and gun club members,” Ayash continued, referring to Osteo’s inner city location and the patient population this entailed. “Besides, half of Osteo’s patients are medical assistance. No money there.”
    “Bryan,” said Doug, “a lot of the surgeons seem to think we’re going with General.”
    “That’s what I heard as well,” added Mike. Doug turned to look at Mike. Something about him, his tone or expression wasn’t quite right, but he couldn’t put a finger on it. To the rest of the group, Mike probably appeared to be fully engaged in the discussion, but Doug sensed a preoccupation or a faraway look in his friend.
    Bryan Marshall cleared his throat loudly in an effort to silence further interruptions. “Sister called me up to her office for a meeting this afternoon. That’s why this emergency session was necessary. I can shed some light on the merger talks but there’s been some, uh, new developments.” Marshall enunciated the word “developments” peculiarly, imparting an ominous tone. He paused for further emphasis, and a hushed silence fell over the room.
    I can’t wait to hear this, thought Doug. These merger talks were unsettling enough. What now? Everyone leaned forward slightly in their seats.
    “You’re right, Doug,” Marshall said. “Sister
is
favoring General. She likes the administrator over there. He’s willing to make concessions so she can preserve her autonomy at Mercy and keep her precious Catholic mission intact. And you all know bloody well what that means—no abortions or tubals.” Marshall hammered his fist down on the table as he said the word abortions.
    “She’d flush this place down the fucking toilet,” said Raskin angrily, “and us with it before she’d back down on abortions!” His face turned red and Doug couldn’t help but wonder what his blood pressure was.
    Doug fired another look of disgust at Raskin, but Raskin had his eyes on Marshall. Doug realized this was not the main point. He knew Sister’s feelings on abortion were non-negotiable, but it really didn’t matter. Assuming a merger did take place,