January 2021 Issue of Becker's Hospital Review
ON THE COVER
CMS fines 2,545 hospitals for high readmissions: 5 things to know
In fiscal year 2021, CMS will penalize 2,545 hospitals for having too many Medicare patients readmitted within 30 days, according to federal data cited by Kaiser Health News.
CIOs are taking on 'COO by proxy' role
A new set of responsibilities and expectations are emerging for many CIOs as organizations accelerate digital transformations while coordinating activities and managing risks for the entire organization, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Dr. Atul Gawande on why COVID-19 vaccinations will test American society
The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in America will test a deeply divided society, and not just because of mistrust in vaccinations, Atul Gawande, MD, told New Yorker Editor David Remnick.
What to do when a hospital leader resigns: A checklist
Hospital and health system leaders resign for various reasons. Sometimes the resignation is involuntary and other times the executive steps down to take another job. A departure may also come without a stated reason.
How 12 CEOs revitalize themselves
The Becker's Hospital Review Corner Office series asks hospital and health system CEOs to share how they revitalize themselves.
ER physicians accuse UnitedHealth of illegally underpaying claims
Several emergency room physician practices in New York have filed a federal lawsuit alleging UnitedHealth Group and MultiPlan conspired to underpay out-of-network ER providers.
'COVID' fee showing up on medical bills across the country
Healthcare providers across the U.S. are adding "COVID" fees to patient bills to deal with their financial difficulties linked to the pandemic, according to The New York Times.
'Corporate leadership must go. All of them': Physician urges Beaumont to oust top execs
Robert Safian, MD, a cardiologist at Southfield, Mich.-based Beaumont Health and a professor at Oakland University Beaumont School of Medicine, has sent a letter to the health system's board of trustees urging them to oust Beaumont's top executives.
5 steps to address pay inequity in your hospital
Hospital leaders have a choice: Act now to resolve pay inequity in your organization, or wait for employees to create a shared spreadsheet that shows just how wide the pay gaps are under your watch. (You may only learn about the latter when it's published in the newspaper.)
Why Kaiser chose Best Buy Health as a tech partner
Chris Stenzel, vice president of national business development and innovation at Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente, played an integral role in the health system's partnership with Best Buy Health to develop remote patient-monitoring tools for older adults. He describes how the partnership came about in a recent episode of the Becker's Healthcare podcast.
11 medical record snooping cases in 2020
Eleven hospitals and health systems reported instances of EHR snooping by their employees this year, resulting in terminations and other disciplinary actions.
7 patient safety goals for 2021 from Joint Commission
The Joint Commission recently shared seven patient safety goals for hospitals to focus on in 2021.
Chicago nurses placed on leave after delivering dead flowers to management
Five nurses at Chicago-based Cook County Health remained on paid administrative leave Nov. 10 after participating in what they called a Halloween-themed union march at the health system's John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital.
Annabella Salvador-Kelly, MD
When the pandemic surged in New York this spring, Northwell Health was hit especially hard, treating more than 41,000 COVID-19 patients between March and May. Annabella Salvador-Kelly, MD, who serves as senior vice president of medical affairs and associate CMO at the New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based health system, had a front row view of this initial surge and has since played a critical role in Northwell Health's pandemic response.
Sameer Badlani, MD
The strategic vision cycle has shortened significantly during the pandemic, said Minneapolis-based Fairview CIO Sameer Badlani, but he still sees great opportunity for digital transformation and more equitable healthcare delivery.
Rich Silveria
Rich Silveria has spent the last three years as executive vice president and CFO of the University of Chicago Medical Center and more than 30 years in healthcare, but his road to the C-suite has been anything but traditional.
Angela Shippy, MD
Angela Shippy, MD, is a veteran of Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, and she took on her expanded role as senior vice president, chief medical and quality officer, in February.
Philip Ozuah, MD, PhD
Philip Ozuah, MD, PhD, began as president and CEO of Montefiore Medicine in November 2019, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic slammed New York City.
Michael Dowling
Too often, we come to appreciate decency only in light of its absence. When someone or something violates the social code of decency, or lacks a sincere desire to do the right thing, we are reminded of this unsung virtue's significance.
Kevin Mahoney
A tractor accident in college got Kevin Mahoney interested in healthcare. That interest grew as he witnessed the ins and outs of hospital operations as a patient. Nearly four decades later, that experience sticks with him as he helms Philadelphia's six-hospital University of Pennsylvania Health System.
CFO / FINANCE
CMS fines 2,545 hospitals for high readmissions: 5 things to know
In fiscal year 2021, CMS will penalize 2,545 hospitals for having too many Medicare patients readmitted within 30 days, according to federal data cited by Kaiser Health News.
Tenet to lay off workers in Detroit, shed 4 urgent care centers
Detroit Medical Center is laying off employees, and its parent company, Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, is planning to sell or close four urgent care centers in the Detroit area, according to Crain's Detroit Business.
Chinese billionaire sells additional $40M of CHS stock
Chinese investor Tianqiao Chen and his group of companies have a 14.96 percent stake in Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems after recently selling nearly 4.6 million shares of the company, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
39 hospitals face maximum Medicare readmission penalties
As part of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, Medicare will cut payments to 83 percent of the 3,080 hospitals evaluated for the program by anywhere from 0.01 percent to the maximum of 3 percent in fiscal year 2021.
Thousands of medical practices close under stress from pandemic
Physicians and nurses across the country are retiring early, and thousands of medical practices are closing due to the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The New York Times.
CEO/STRATEGY
Sanford Health CEO is out
Kelby Krabbenhoft is no longer president and CEO of Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health. The development comes after 24 years of Mr. Krabbenhoft's leadership in the top position of the 46-hospital system and days after he wrote an email to 50,000 employees explaining his stance on face coverings amid the most severe COVID-19 surge in the U.S. to date.
CEO, chief nursing officer no longer with Prisma Health hospital
The CEO and chief nursing officer of Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital in Sumter, S.C., are no longer in their positions, Columbia, S.C.-based Prisma Health confirmed in a statement shared with Becker's Nov. 17.
Tom Nickels to retire from American Hospital Association: 5 notes
Tom Nickels, executive vice president for government relations and public policy at the American Hospital Association, will retire in 2021, the association said Dec. 3.
How 12 CEOs revitalize themselves
The Becker's Hospital Review Corner Office series asks hospital and health system CEOs to share how they revitalize themselves.
Walmart Health opens in Chicago
Two Walmart Health centers opened in Chicago Nov. 20 adjacent to newly remodeled Walmart supercenters.
WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP
'We needed to think differently': Northwell Health's Dr. Annabella Salvador-Kelly on sharpening leadership skills during the pandemic
When the pandemic surged in New York this spring, Northwell Health was hit especially hard, treating more than 41,000 COVID-19 patients between March and May. Annabella Salvador-Kelly, MD, who serves as senior vice president of medical affairs and associate CMO at the New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based health system, had a front row view of this initial surge and has since played a critical role in Northwell Health's pandemic response.
Female PAs were paid $9,010 less than male peers, research shows
A gender wage gap among physician assistants continues to persist, with female PAs earning $9,010 less than their male counterparts in 2018, according to new research.
Physician viewpoint: We need to work on gender equity in cardiology
While progress has been made to address the sex inequities that exist within the field of cardiology, there's still a long path ahead, according to Michelle O'Donoghue, MD.
Female representation on hospital boards: 4 research findings
While diversity benefits the boards of nonprofit hospitals and health systems, barriers to joining these governing bodies remain substantial for women, according to joint research from the Women's Nonprofit Leadership Initiative and Nonprofit Issues.
10 cities with highest, lowest pay for female physicians
The gender wage gap was 28 percent for physicians in 2020, up from 25.2 percent last year, according to Doximity's 2020 Physician Compensation Report.
INNOVATION
Dr. Anita Gupta: 5 technologies that will drive patient experience improvements and future of digital health
While digital transformation has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, key factors to keep the momentum going are trust, a focus on the patient experience and ensuring safety and efficiency, according to Anita Gupta, DO, PharmD.
Tampa General develops venture capital fund, names VP for innovation: 5 things to know
Tampa General Hospital created a venture capital fund to support early-stage startups and make direct investments in healthcare companies.
Why Kaiser chose Best Buy Health as a tech partner
Chris Stenzel, vice president of national business development and innovation at Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente, played an integral role in the health system's partnership with Best Buy Health to develop remote patient-monitoring tools for older adults. He describes how the partnership came about in a recent episode of the Becker's Healthcare podcast.
Amazon launches online pharmacy
Amazon has launched Amazon Pharmacy, a new online pharmacy allowing patients to purchase their prescriptions through the retail giant's website.
Fitbit gets $2.5M to test wearable tech COVID-19 early detection algorithm on Northwell Health employees
The U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command awarded Fitbit $2.5 million to develop wearable tech capabilities that can detect COVID-19 before symptoms start and test the devices with Northwell Health, according to an Oct. 29 news release.
CIO/HEALTH IT
20 most common US passwords
Healthcare providers are required to have several passwords to access their computers, EHR and other sensitive information.
CIOs are taking on 'COO by proxy' role
A new set of responsibilities and expectations are emerging for many CIOs as organizations accelerate digital transformations while coordinating activities and managing risks for the entire organization, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Epic's CEO says hospitals should have a 'chief imitation officer' and its new initiative will help
Forbes Chair Steve Forbes interviewed Epic Systems CEO Judy Faulkner for his podcast titled "What's Ahead."
11 medical record snooping cases in 2020
Eleven hospitals and health systems reported instances of EHR snooping by their employees this year, resulting in terminations and other disciplinary actions.
5 tips for a smooth EHR-to-EHR transition
As EHRs continue to age out from first and second generation software, hospitals and health systems will increasingly look to transition their current systems to a new platform.
CMO/CARE DELIVERY
Newark Beth Israel breaks ties with director of troubled heart transplant program
Mark Zucker, MD, director of Newark (N.J.) Beth Israel Medical Center's heart transplant program left his role Oct. 30 after being on administrative leave for the last year, reports ProPublica.
Utah hospital stops conspiracy theorists attempting to sneak in, disprove ICU capacity claims
Provo-based Utah Valley Hospital is implementing new precautions after several conspiracy theorists attempted to sneak into the intensive care unit, reports NBC affiliate KSL-TV.
7 patient safety goals for 2021 from Joint Commission
The Joint Commission recently shared seven patient safety goals for hospitals to focus on in 2021.
Dr. Atul Gawande on why COVID-19 vaccinations will test American society
The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in America will test a deeply divided society, and not just because of mistrust in vaccinations, Atul Gawande, MD, told New Yorker Editor David Remnick.
Hospitals saw drop in some HAIs last year: 4 CDC findings
U.S. hospitals saw improvement fighting bloodstream and urinary tract infections rates last year, according to the CDC's 2019 National and State HAI Progress Report.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
'You can't cut or shrink your way to greatness': University of Chicago Medical Center CFO on managing finances amid the pandemic
Rich Silveria has spent the last three years as executive vice president and CFO of the University of Chicago Medical Center and more than 30 years in healthcare, but his road to the C-suite has been anything but traditional.
Memorial Hermann's Dr. Angela Shippy on why she keeps an album of thank-you notes on her desk
Angela Shippy, MD, is a veteran of Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston, and she took on her expanded role as senior vice president, chief medical and quality officer, in February.
Montefiore CEO Dr. Philip Ozuah on why he refused to ration a 1-day supply of N95 masks
Philip Ozuah, MD, PhD, began as president and CEO of Montefiore Medicine in November 2019, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic slammed New York City.
Michael Dowling: Look to healthcare to remember what decency means
Too often, we come to appreciate decency only in light of its absence. When someone or something violates the social code of decency, or lacks a sincere desire to do the right thing, we are reminded of this unsung virtue's significance.
Corner Office: U of Pennsylvania Health System CEO Kevin Mahoney on how a tractor accident shaped his career
A tractor accident in college got Kevin Mahoney interested in healthcare. That interest grew as he witnessed the ins and outs of hospital operations as a patient. Nearly four decades later, that experience sticks with him as he helms Philadelphia's six-hospital University of Pennsylvania Health System.