February 2020 Issue of Becker's Hospital Review
ON THE COVER
Why Anthem doesn't want to own physician practices
As major health insurance companies are getting into the business of owning primary care practices, Anthem is pursuing a different strategy, according to Business Insider.
100 hospital and health system CIOs to know | 2020
Becker’s Hospital Review is pleased to release the 2020 edition of the “100 hospital and health system CIOs to know” annual list.
An equitable way to pay physicians? Structured salaries only, Mayo suggests
Mayo Clinic's review of 2,845 physicians' pay suggests a structured, salary-only compensation model, which the system has used for more than 40 years, effectively eliminates pay disparities.
Rural hospital closures hit record high in 2019 — here's why
About 60 million people — nearly one in five Americans — live in rural areas and depend on their local hospitals for care.
How 7 hospitals are spending innovation investment dollars: Partners, Kaiser Permanente & more
Several hospitals and health systems have launched innovation funds and used existing funds to invest in innovative startups in recent months.
Antitrust settlement pushes Sutter Health to $613M operating loss
Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health reported a year-over-year increase in revenues in the third quarter of 2019, but the system ended the period with an operating loss, according to unaudited financial documents.
'Venmo it to me': The emerging generational payment gap
The emerging popularity of mobile payment services to transfer money, such as Venmo and Cash App, has created a generational disconnect, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Hospital rebrands: 22 name changes in 2019
Below are 21 hospitals that have announced or completed name changes or other rebranding efforts in 2019, reported by Becker's Hospital Review:
Amazon is pumping out CEOs — A look at the 'business gospel of Jeff Bezos'
Amazon has unseated General Electric as the unofficial feeder program for America's top corporate leaders, The Wall Street Journal's Dana Mattioli declared in a Nov. 20 column.
Cerner CEO unveils next layer of Amazon partnership
As part of its collaboration with Amazon Web Services, Cerner is developing technology to target healthcare issues including high hospital readmission rates and clinical documentation burdens, according to the EHR vendor's CEO and Chairman Brent Shafer.
6 hospitals in the spotlight for medical errors in 2019 — and how they're fixing them
Several hospitals are working to improve patient safety and curb medical errors after reports this year found lapses in patient care that ultimately led to patient deaths.
Nurse sues Pennsylvania hospital, says it fired her for refusing flu shot
A nurse filed a lawsuit against Penn Medicine Lancaster (Pa.) General Health Dec. 5, alleging religious discrimination after she was fired for not getting a flu shot, CBS 21 reports.
Letter to the editor: Nurse practitioners are not 'mid-level' providers
Fifteen physicians are expected to be let go from the suburban Edward-Elmhurst Hospital in the next year, as reported by Becker's Hospital Review.
Why storytelling is a key part of Sutter Health's safety work
William Isenberg, MD, PhD, vice president of patient safety at Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health, credits some of the system's success with its safety work to what some might see as an unconventional workplace practice: storytelling.
I'm a chief experience officer: Here's what keeps me up at night
Optimism is important to a chief experience officer. While this ideally should be true for all healthcare leaders, it's especially a core competency for CXOs.
It's in the details: How a fitted sheet spurred hospitalwide change at Tampa General
I spend several hours each month working on the frontlines of Tampa General Hospital.
Living Like a Leader: A day with Cleveland Clinic Florida CEO Dr. Wael Barsoum
Great organizations are not really led by a single person.
How CIO Myra Davis defined a culture of innovation at Texas Children's Hospital
Since assuming dual responsibilities of CIO and chief innovation officer earlier this year, Texas Children's Hospital's Myra Davis has streamlined innovation efforts at the Houston-based health system.
CFO / FINANCE
Rural hospital closures hit record high in 2019 — here's why
About 60 million people — nearly one in five Americans — live in rural areas and depend on their local hospitals for care. This year, 18 of those hospitals have closed, making 2019 a record year for rural hospital closures.
Hospital chain files for bankruptcy
Americore Health and its four affiliated hospitals in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Dec. 30.
Mayo Clinic Health System to close hospital in 2020
Mayo Clinic Health System will close its hospital and clinic in Springfield, Minn., and its clinic in Lamberton, Minn., on March 1, 2020, according to Minneapolis TV station KARE.
Texas health system closes hospital, lays off 972
Nix Medical Center, a 208-bed hospital in San Antonio has closed, and its medical equipment will be sold at auction.
M Health Fairview to cut 500 jobs, consider hospital closures amid $80M shortfall
Minneapolis-based M Health Fairview plans to cut about 500 jobs to address a looming budget crisis, according to the Star Tribune. The system also is considering scaling back or ending services at some hospitals.
CEO / STRATEGY
Hospital rebrands: 22 name changes in 2019
Below are 21 hospitals that have announced or completed name changes or other rebranding efforts in 2019, reported by Becker's Hospital Review:
AdventHealth faces blowback from resident's controversial social media posts
Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth continues to field criticism online for the social media posts of resident Jay Feldman, DO, weeks after an Orlando Sentinel report shed light on the story.
Cook County Health board votes out CEO Dr. John Jay Shannon
The Cook County Health board voted Nov. 22 to remove CEO John Jay Shannon as it seeks to address major challenges, including a ballooning charity care budget.
Amazon is pumping out CEOs — A look at the 'business gospel of Jeff Bezos'
Amazon has unseated General Electric as the unofficial feeder program for America's top corporate leaders, The Wall Street Journal's Dana Mattioli declared in a Nov. 20 column.
Why Anthem doesn't want to own physician practices
As major health insurance companies are getting into the business of owning primary care practices, Anthem is pursuing a different strategy, according to Business Insider.
INNOVATION
How CIO Myra Davis defined a culture of innovation at Texas Children's Hospital
Since assuming dual responsibilities of CIO and chief innovation officer earlier this year, Texas Children's Hospital's Myra Davis has streamlined innovation efforts at the Houston-based health system.
Innovationeering: Creativity is dead ... long live innovation
It is equally fascinating and frustrating that one of the most important characteristics increasingly valued by healthcare and business leaders alike is also one of the hardest to define.
How 7 hospitals are spending innovation investment dollars: Partners, Kaiser Permanente & more
Several hospitals and health systems have launched innovation funds and used existing funds to invest in innovative startups in recent months.
90% of US 'innovation sector' growth centered in 5 cities
The vast majority of high-tech job growth in the U.S. took place in just five metro areas — all but one of them on the West Coast — between 2005 and 2017, according to a new report.
U of Texas to offer graduate degree for human-centered healthcare design
Beginning in August 2020, the University of Texas at Austin will offer a master's degree in Design in Health, the first of its kind in the U.S., according to a Dec. 10 news release.
CIO/HEALTH IT
Dr. David Feinberg responds to criticism of Ascension, Google project
The head of Google Health, David Feinberg, MD, has responded with more clarity on what the tech giant and St. Louis-based Ascension are doing with Project Nightingale in a Nov. 20 blog post.
Mayo Clinic taps UnitedHealthcare exec as 1st chief digital officer
Mayo Clinic appointed Rita Khan to serve as the Rochester, Minn.-based health system's chief digital officer, a newly created role in which she will lead the launch of a new center for digital health, according to a Dec. 23 news release.
NYU cardiologist sues Apple over smartwatch AFib detection
A lawsuit filed in federal court in New York City on Dec. 27 by Joseph Wiesel, MD, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Health, claims the Apple Watch's irregular heartbeat monitoring tool infringes on a patent he holds for similar technology, Bloomberg reports.
Cerner CEO unveils next layer of Amazon partnership
As part of its collaboration with Amazon Web Services, Cerner is developing technology to target healthcare issues including high hospital readmission rates and clinical documentation burdens, according to the EHR vendor's CEO and Chairman Brent Shafer.
Older IT workers passed over despite job surplus, workforce shortage
Regardless of the record-high numbers of IT job openings and a shrinking pool of qualified applicants, workers over the age of 45 are commonly passed over for IT jobs, The Wall Street Journal reports.
CMO/CARE DELIVERY
6 hospitals in the spotlight for medical errors in 2019 — and how they're fixing them
Several hospitals are working to improve patient safety and curb medical errors after reports this year found lapses in patient care that ultimately led to patient deaths.
San Francisco hospital failed CMS reinspection after patient abuse scandal
Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center received additional penalties from CMS, including payment denial for new admissions, after failing a follow-up inspection in September, reports the San Francisco Examiner.
28 states with full practice authority for NPs
While states like California continue to debate the scope of practice for nurse practitioners, many others have opted to allow NPs to practice without physician supervision.
Nurse sues Pennsylvania hospital, says it fired her for refusing flu shot
A nurse filed a lawsuit against Penn Medicine Lancaster (Pa.) General Health Dec. 5, alleging religious discrimination after she was fired for not getting a flu shot, CBS 21 reports.
Neurologist sues patient family member for bad Yelp review
Nandigam Neurology in Murfreesboro, Tenn., filed a $25,000 lawsuit against a patient's family member after she posted a negative review of neurologist Kaveer Nandigam, MD, local news station WTVF reported.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Why storytelling is a key part of Sutter Health's safety work
William Isenberg, MD, PhD, vice president of patient safety at Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health, credits some of the system's success with its safety work to what some might see as an unconventional workplace practice: storytelling.
I'm a chief experience officer: Here's what keeps me up at night
Optimism is important to a chief experience officer. While this ideally should be true for all healthcare leaders, it's especially a core competency for CXOs.
It's in the details: How a fitted sheet spurred hospitalwide change at Tampa General
I spend several hours each month working on the frontlines of Tampa General Hospital.
Living Like a Leader: A day with Cleveland Clinic Florida CEO Dr. Wael Barsoum
Great organizations are not really led by a single person.