July 2018 Issue of Beckers Hospital Review
ON THE COVER
For-profit hospital operator M&A update: 13 latest deals involving CHS, Tenet, HCA and LifePoint
Four of the largest for-profit hospital operators have each entered into several transactions this year. Some of the companies are selling off facilities to strengthen their hospital portfolios, while others are exploring ways to expand their reach. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
NYC Health + Hospitals embarks on inaugural physician recruitment initiative
New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals seeks to fill 75 new and open primary care physician positions through a new recruitment campaign. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
FBI wants everyone to reboot their routers to avoid Russian-linked malware
The FBI issued a warning May 25 that Russian hackers infected hundreds of thousands of home and office routers with malware, which could collect user information or shut down network access, according to Reuters. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Epic managers, consultants and trainers share 10 tips for a successful go-live
Epic installations require months of prep work before a go-live, and even with plenty of training hours, organizations can still face unforeseen challenges during and after the implementation, according to a blog post by Arron Fu on uniprint.net. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CFO / FINANCE
Cleveland Clinic looks to rein in costs as Q1 operating income dips 22%
Cleveland Clinic ended the first quarter of 2018 with operating income of $47.6 million, down 22 percent from $60.7 million in the same period a year earlier, according to bondholder documents. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Pennsylvania hospital accused of overbilling state by $9M
Bethlehem, Pa.-based St. Luke's University Health Network filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital on May 22, alleging Lancaster General submitted hundreds of inaccurate and overstated claims to the state's Extraordinary Expense Fund, which compensates hospitals for their charity care. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Aetna whistle-blower put on leave after accusing CVS Caremark of $1B billing scheme
Aenta's former chief Medicare actuary was placed on administrative leave after filing a whistle-blower lawsuit alleging pharmacy benefits manager CVS Caremark overbilled Medicaid and Medicare for prescription drugs, according to The Columbus Dispatch. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CBO: Trump’s 2019 budget will reduce federal healthcare spending by $1.3T
A $1.3 trillion reduction in healthcare spending under President Donald Trump’s 2019 budget will help shrink the federal debt and deficit over the next decade, according to a May 2018 analysis from the Congressional Budget. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Senator calls for federal investigation into Missouri hospital’s billing practices
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., has asked HHS to examine questionable billing practices and a possible kickback scheme operated by Putnam County Memorial Hospital, a 15-bed hospital in Unionville, Mo. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
23-hospital system enters $14M settlement with feds over improper physician payments
Mercy Health, a 23-hospital system based in Cincinnati, agreed to pay the federal government $14.25 million to resolve allegations the system violated the False Claims Act, according to the Department of Justice. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Partners HealthCare, 1.2M-member health plan considering merger
Boston-based Partners HealthCare and Wellesley, Mass.-based health insurer Harvard Pilgrim Health Care are negotiating a possible merger behind closed doors, The Boston Globe reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Northwestern, Centegra seek to finalize 10-hospital merger
Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and Crystal Lake, Ill.-based Centegra Health System could close their merger deal by Sept. 1, according to a recent filing with the Illinois Facilities & Services Review Board. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Advocate Children's, NorthShore University HealthSystem to partner: 3 takeaways
Oak Lawn, Ill.-based Advocate Children's Hospital and Evanston, Ill.-based NorthShore University HealthSystem announced their intent to form a strategic partnership to expand pediatric care statewide May 16. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Blue Cross denied appeal in suit alleging it sank $40M hospital deal
In April, a federal judge denied Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island's motion for summary judgment in an antitrust suit filed by Boston-based Steward Health Care. Last week, the judge denied the insurer's request to immediately appeal the April ruling, meaning BCBS of Rhode Island will have to face the antitrust suit, according to Law360. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
104-bed Alabama hospital to close
RMC Jacksonville (Ala.), the city's only hospital, will shutter June 30, with its property gifted to nearby Jacksonville State University, according to AL.com. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Banner Health's net income plunges 55% in Q1
Banner Health, a 28-hospital nonprofit system based in Phoenix, saw its operating income rise in the first quarter of 2018, but the system's net income plummeted year over year. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Alaska hospital faces closure over $964k telecommunications bill
Cordova (Alaska) Community Medical Center, a 23-bed critical access hospital, may close due to cuts to a federal program that subsidizes the hospital's telecommunications costs, according to KTVA. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
8 things to know about Sutter Health's legal battles over prices
An antitrust lawsuit against Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health over prices could have a national effect, according to a Kaiser Health News report published by the LA Times. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Vanderbilt University Medical Center points to Epic rollout for 60% drop in operating income
Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center saw revenues increase in the first nine months of fiscal year 2018, but the hospital ended the period with lower operating income. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
$1.6B in Medicare payment cuts likely to cripple struggling hospitals, S&P says
Medicare payment cuts under the 340B Drug Pricing Program pose a potential financial threat to nonprofit hospitals serving vulnerable patients, according to a report from S&P Global Ratings. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Dartmouth-Hitchcock records $58.1M turnaround in operating results
Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth-Hitchcock saw operating results improve in the first nine months of fiscal year 2018 after implementing a cost-reduction plan. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Houston surgical hospital abruptly closes after discovering accounting errors
Houston-based U.S. Pain and Spine Hospital closed unexpectedly this week, leaving 63 employees without jobs, according to KTRK-TV. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Rising ER prices, more high severity cases spurred greater healthcare spending: 7 takeaways
Among the commercially insured, national emergency room use remained unchanged from 2009 to 2016, but ER price hikes and greater use of high-severity codes resulted in more ER spending, according to updated data from the Health Care Cost Institute. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Medicare readmission rates vary widely among BPCI Advanced conditions: 4 takeaways
The 90-day Medicare readmission rates for certain conditions in the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced Model are as high as 43 percent and as low as 7 percent, according to a new analysis from health care consultant Avalere. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Walmart names its latest bundled payment partner: New England Baptist Hospital
Walmart selected Boston-based New England Baptist Hospital, which specializes in orthopedic care, as a center of excellence for Walmart employees needing hip and knee replacement procedures.CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
17 of 120 hospitals couldn't provide price for hip replacement in 2012. That number more than tripled to 53 in 2016
Sixty-plus state healthcare pricing websites existed in 2012.CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Massachusetts businesses unite to cut healthcare costs: 6 things to know
A group of Massachusetts employers have formed a coalition with the goal of reducing healthcare costs by $100 million over two years, according to a WBUR report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
New Hampshire officials, hospitals arrange 7-year deal over uncompensated care: 5 things to know
New Hampshire officials and the state's hospitals have worked out a deal on uncompensated care payments, according to a Concord Monitor report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Cone Health, Randolph Health merger is off
Randolph Health, a 145-bed facility in Asheboro, N.C., and Greensboro, N.C.-based Cone Health no longer plan to merge. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Utah TV station raises donations to pay off $2.5M worth of medical debt
A charity campaign launched by KUTV, a Salt Lake City television station, will help pay off medical debt owed by hundreds of people in Utah. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Healthcare antitrust enforcement remains a top priority for DOJ
The Department of Justice's Antitrust Division is still laser-focused on rooting out anticompetitive practices in the healthcare industry, according to remarks from Barry Nigro, deputy assistant attorney general, at an American Bar Association conference May 17 in Arlington, Va. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
St. Luke's Health Care swings to black in Q1
Duluth, Minn.-based St. Luke's Health Care recorded net income of $6.6 million in the three months ended March 31, turning around a $98,000 deficit recorded in the same period a year prior. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CHS divests 3 Tennessee hospitals
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems sold three hospitals in Tennessee to Jackson-based West Tennessee Healthcare on June 1. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Bellin Health Systems nixes deal with Michigan system: 4 notes
Green Bay, Wis.-based Bellin Health Systems and Iron Mountain, Mich.-based Dickinson County Healthcare System terminated their asset purchase agreement May 21, according to TV NBC 6.CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
5 reasons fed-up physicians are dropping their health insurance
No one knows the pitfalls of going without health insurance better than the physicians who treat uninsured patients, but some of those very doctors are so frustrated with America's healthcare system that they're abandoning their own insurance coverage, according to a Bloomberg report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
UnitedHealth CEO: 150M members will be in value-based care arrangements by 2025
UnitedHealth Group expects to provide 150 million members health insurance through value-based arrangements by 2025, the company's CEO David Wichmann said May 31 at Bernstein's 34th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
5 things to know about Kaiser's health plan
Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente, which comprises 39 hospitals across the U.S., operates a successful health plan — a venture few providers have found prosperity in. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
For-profit hospital operator M&A update: 13 latest deals involving CHS, Tenet, HCA and LifePoint
Four of the largest for-profit hospital operators have each entered into several transactions this year. Some of the companies are selling off facilities to strengthen their hospital portfolios, while others are exploring ways to expand their reach. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Private equity firm KKR inks $9.9B deal for Envision: 4 things to know
New York City-based private equity firm KKR & Co. has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Envision Healthcare, a Nashville, Tenn.-based physician services provider, in an all-cash transaction for approximately $9.9 billion, including the assumption of debt. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Essentia Health plans $800M expansion
Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health will invest $800 million to build a consolidated medical campus in Duluth, which will include a replacement hospital and outpatient surgery center, according to the Star Tribune. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
World's 10 most expensive places to be hospitalized
Monaco is one of the most expensive places in the world for an uninsured person to be in the hospital for one day, according to research cited in an article on au.finance.yahoo.com. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Oscar Health quietly built its own claims processor to simplify physician payments
Health insurance startup Oscar Health said it finally has the claims processing infrastructure to provide clearer physician payments — and turn a profit, according to CNBC. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Louisiana health officials send Medicaid termination warnings to 37k beneficiaries
The Louisiana Health Department sent letters to 37,000 Medicaid recipients May 10 warning they are at risk of losing coverage because of the proposed budget cuts, reports Nola.com CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CEO / STRATEGY
Tenet, Detroit Medical Center to sever ties with 300 physicians
Detroit Medical Center, part of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, will end its longtime affiliation with Troy, Mich.-based Wayne State University Physician Group on May 15 when the current contract for clinical and administrative services expires.CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CEO, CFO of Missouri hospital resign over inappropriate reimbursements
The CEO and CFO of Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in Maryland Heights, Mo., have resigned after the hospital board discovered the executives violated the hospital's paid time off policy, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Klasko only healthcare exec among Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business for 2018
Stephen Klasko, MD, president and CEO of Philadelphia-based Jefferson Health, was the only hospital executive to be named among Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business for 2018. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
New York hospital reportedly pays CEO $660k to 'disappear'
The former CEO of Syracuse-based SUNY Upstate Medical University reportedly entered into an agreement with the hospital to resign and continue earning his chief executive $660,500 annual salary for one year, according to syracuse.com. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
San Francisco nurses demonstrate at hospital renamed after Mark Zuckerberg
A group of nurses seeks to have the Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center renamed in the wake of recent privacy scandals surrounding Facebook, according to The New York Times. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Kindred, Massachusetts General Hospital to lay off 152 workers
Louisville, Ky.-based Kindred Healthcare and Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital will lay off 152 workers later this year with the closure of Clark House Nursing Center at Fox Hill Village in Westwood, Mass., which the two organizations jointly own, according to the Boston Business Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Whistle-blower: Steward Health Care restricted referrals, compromised care to keep patients in network
A physician filed a whistle-blower lawsuit against Boston-based Steward Health Care, alleging the health system put significant personal pressure on him and other physicians to refer patients only to Steward hospitals and specialists, according to The Boston Globe. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Ex-employees sue shuttered Texas hospital for abrupt closure
Two former Webster, Texas-based Bay Area Regional Medical Center employees filed a class-action lawsuit against the hospital and its parent company May 7, claiming the institutions violated the law by failing to provide sufficient notice of the hospital's closure, which occured May 10. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Tenet continues leadership shakeup by appointing 2 new board directors
Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare announced May 29 the company appointed two new independent directors to its board. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Erlanger CEO sued by physician claiming he ignored discrimination issues for 5 years
A longtime Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Erlanger Health System physician filed an amended complaint against President and CEO Kevin Spiegel May 14, claiming Mr. Spiegel and other administrators were aware of discrimination issues at the hospital but did not act, according to the Times Free Press. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Market share trumps operational efficiency for teaching hospitals, study finds
Many hospital leaders focus their time and energy on optimizing operational efficiency, but they may be better served focusing on enhancing their market share as a way to improve financial performance, according to a study published by Taylor & Francis. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
HCA, Geisinger CMOs among MedPAC's new members
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission appointed five new members May 29 and reappointed a current member. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
More executives may face timed, standardized tests in job interviews
Gauging an applicant's preparedness for the rigors of an executive-level position can be difficult, and many firms are turning to standardized competency exams for help, according to The Atlantic. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
6 ways hospitals can improve the workplace for female physicians
With a looming physician shortage and a rising number of women entering medical schools, hospitals will need to plan ways to recruit, hire and engage new physicians — particularly women, according to a report from Jordan Search Consultants. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
5 ways CEOs can improve their chances for success
All CEOs want to lead their organizations to short-term success and long-term sustainability, but there are five key factors that determine a leader's success, according to a new study from the Boston Consulting group. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Best place for interns? Kaiser Permanente, poll shows
Internships offer critical workplace experience for students and those starting their careers, but not all internships are created equal, according to a recent study from job search website Indeed.com. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Physicians at CHI St. Alexius Williston join Bismarck colleagues in call for Fargo leadership change
Physicians at CHI St. Alexius Williston (N.D.) Medical Center have joined colleagues at CHI St. Alexius Bismarck (N.D.) Medical Center in calls for a leadership shakeup in CHI's Fargo Division, according to The Bismarck Tribune. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
What barbershops can teach hospitals about healthcare delivery
Hospitals and providers can learn a thing or two about healthcare delivery from unlikely community sources, Aaron E. Carroll, MD, associate dean for research mentoring at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis and a New York Times contributor, writes in a recent op-ed. The first place healthcare officials should look for guidance? Barbershops. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CEO pay, performance rarely align
Though company boards attempt to attract high-performing CEOs with high salaries and hope to determine compensation based on results, the performance of many high-level CEOs does not correlate with their salary, according to The Wall Street Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
40 healthcare companies in the 2018 Fortune 500
Fortune released its 64th annual list of the 500 most profitable American companies May 21, with 40 healthcare companies making the cut. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
5 components of great workplace culture
Organizational leaders may think offering employee perks or flexible work schedules is the key to cultivating a positive workplace culture, but there are actually a number of more fundamental building blocks they must first address, according to the Harvard Business Review. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Healthcare job growth continues; hospitals add 6.2K jobs in May
Healthcare added 28,900 jobs in May, with hospitals contributing 6,200 to that total, according to the latest jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
25 hospitals, health systems among 'America's Best Employers' 2018
Forbes named Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine and Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic among the top U.S. companies in its annual "America's Best Employers" list for 2018. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Supreme Court says employers can force workers to use arbitration: 7 things to know
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of employers May 21 in a case involving workplace arbitration contracts. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
12 healthcare jobs with most growth since 2007
The healthcare industry boasts 12 of the jobs across all industries that saw the most growth from 2007-17, with home health aides having the highest growth rate, according to online job finder platform CareerBuilder. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Nurse awarded $28M in retaliation suit against Brigham and Women’s Hospital
A jury awarded a Haitian-American nurse $28 million May 23 in a lawsuit against Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital alleging discrimination and retaliation, according to The Boston Globe. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CIO / HEALTH IT
Cerner fraudster dies in custody hours after conviction
Hours after a federal jury convicted Suresh Mitta for his role in an elaborate fraud scheme that involved selling fake MRI equipment to Dallas Medical Center, he died in U.S. Marshals custody, Dallas News reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
KLAS: Which health IT consulting firms exceed hospitals' expectations?
Fifty-nine percent of provider organizations indicate the IT assessment and strategic planning firm they worked with exceeded their expectations, according to a KLAS Research report released in May. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Meditech posts 4% rise in revenue for Q1 2018: 4 things to know
Meditech filed its earnings results for the first quarter of 2018 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission April 30. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
IBM lays off at least 40 Watson Health employees, reports say
IBM laid off an undisclosed number of employees from its Watson Health group, with at least 40 workers cut from its Cleveland office, according to cleveland.com. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Health IT consulting firm touts success of Mayo Clinic's completed Epic go-live
Mayo Clinic's main campus in Rochester, Minn., successfully completed one of the nation's largest Epic EHR implementations to date, according to a news release emailed to Becker's Hospital Review May 23 by HCI Group, a health IT consulting and technology solutions firm that aided Mayo Clinic in the go-live. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Meet Epic's newly registered lobbying firm, Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas
Epic registered with a new lobbying firm, Mehlman Castagnetti Rosen & Thomas, according to a disclosure registered in April and reported May 15 by Politico Morning eHealth newsletter. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Nurses rank Cerner No. 1: 7 survey findings on nurses' EHR satisfaction
Nurses ranked Cerner the top inpatient EHR for the third year in a row in Black Book Research's annual nursing satisfaction surveys. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Contractors bash firm hired to help with Mayo's Epic implementation
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic contracted with a health IT consulting firm to provide expert Epic trainers who would help with its massive EHR overhaul. However, a number of the temporary employees have left the project, citing mismanaged assignments, housing troubles and harsh treatment from the firm, HCI Group, according to Minnesota Public Radio. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
DOD's EHR isn't 'operationally suitable,' Pentagon report finds
The Department of Defense hoped to complete its $4.3 billion EHR modernization project by 2022, but an April 30 report evaluating of the system's first pilot sites shows the EHR is "neither operationally effective nor operationally suitable." CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Cerner president blames unnamed competitor for 'fake news' about DOD's EHR rollout
In a shareholders meeting one day after Cerner signed a $10 billion, 10-year deal to be the Veterans Affairs Department's new EHR vendor, Cerner President Zane Burke suggested reports that disparaged its work for the U.S. Defense Department were "fake news" that may have involved "one of our competitors," The Kansas City Star reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
23andMe sues Ancestry.com: 5 things to know
23andMe, the second largest direct-to-consumer genetic testing company, filed a lawsuit against its top competitor in a California federal district court May 11. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
ONC's latest challenge offers $80k prize to making EHR safety reporting easier
The latest challenge from HHS' ONC — dubbed Easy EHR Issue Reporting Challenge — asks developers to build tools that help end users easily report potential health IT safety issues. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Epic, Cerner maintain largest EMR market share among small hospitals
Epic and Cerner dominated the EMR market for small acute-care hospitals in 2017, according to a KLAS Research report released in May. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
VA, Cerner strike $10B, 10-year deal on EHR overhaul
The U.S. Veterans Affairs Department finalized a contract with Cerner May 17, awarding the EHR vendor $10 billion over the next 10 years to put the VA on the same records system as the U.S. Defense Department. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
FBI wants everyone to reboot their routers to avoid Russian-linked malware
The FBI issued a warning May 25 that Russian hackers infected hundreds of thousands of home and office routers with malware, which could collect user information or shut down network access, according to Reuters. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
IBM bans employees from using flash drives, SD cards: 4 things to know
IBM released an advisory to employees worldwide banning the use of removable storage devices, The Register reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Epic managers, consultants and trainers share 10 tips for a successful go-live
Epic installations require months of prep work before a go-live, and even with plenty of training hours, organizations can still face unforeseen challenges during and after the implementation, according to a blog post by Arron Fu on uniprint.net. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
The 4 types of AI Google says it won't develop
Google CEO Sundar Pichai has outlined seven principles guiding the company's work related to artificial intelligence. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
'Stigmatizing' language in EHRs may negatively affect patient care for years
Including nonessential, "stigmatizing" notes in a patient's health record may lead them to receive inadequate care in the future, according to a study out of Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
1 in 3 healthcare organizations have suffered a cyberattack, 1 in 10 paid ransom: 6 things to know
The vast majority (77 percent) of healthcare IT professionals are very concerned about a cyberattack striking their organization, according to a recent survey commissioned by Imperva, a cybersecurity firm. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Physicians were burnt out long before EHRs, according to this 2002 report
Even before EHRs became physicians' No. 1 frustration, physicians were just as burnt out as they are today, according to a comparison of contemporary studies with one from The Kaiser Family Foundation in 2002. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
7k patients file HIPAA violations in the past 5 years: 5 things to know
There have been almost 7,100 patient and employee complaints of HIPAA violations in the past five years, which have forced organizations to change their operations and pay substantial fines, according to an analysis by Health Information Privacy/Security Alert. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Sanford Health to offer genetic tests in primary care clinics
Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health will soon offer a new type of laboratory test at its primary care clinics, according to The Bismarck Tribune. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Data breach may have affected 500k+ patients, LifeBridge Health says
Baltimore, Md.-based LifeBridge Health notified more than 500,000 patients last week that their personal information may have been compromised during a privacy breach in September 2016. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Minnesota mental health facility pays ransom to restore 6.5k patients' data
Rochester, Minn.-based Associates in Psychiatry and Psychology discovered March 31 ts files had been locked with a variant of ransomware that also disabled affected computers' system restore functions and reformatted the network storage device where the practice kept local backups. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Geisinger to integrate DNA sequencing into routine clinical care
Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger plans to extend its genomics efforts beyond research and into routine clinical care, Geisinger President and CEO David T. Feinberg, MD, announced May 6 during the HLTH Conference in Las Vegas. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
For first time, AI beats experienced dermatologists in detecting skin cancer
An international team of researchers say they have developed an artificial intelligence system that diagnoses skin cancer more accurately than trained dermatologists. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Intermountain expands precision genomics DNA test to all providers
Providers across Intermountain Healthcare now have access to RxMatch, the Salt Lake City-based health system's precision genomics service. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Global telemedicine market to hit $48.8B by 2023
The global telemedicine market is expected to experience rapid growth over the next five years, according to a P&S Market Research report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Emory Healthcare teams up with Australian hospital on remote ICU
Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare will continue to offer its patients remote intensive care unit services as part of a telehealth partnership with Royal Perth Hospital in Australia. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
SamSam strikes Indiana physician practice's computer network
South Bend, Ind.-based Allied Physicians of Michiana is recovering from a May 17 ransomware attack involving the SamSam variant. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
EpicMD launches new mobile platform
EpicMD introduced Carie, a third-generation mobile telehealth platform. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Why Google renamed its research division 'Google AI'
Google rebranded its Google Research division to "Google AI" in a move to reflect the company's growing focus on artificial intelligence research. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CMO / CARE DELIVERY
New York City physician sues former patient for $1M over negative Yelp review
Joon Song, MD, an OB-GYN in New York City, has filed a $1 million lawsuit against a former patient who posted negative reviews of the physician online, according to CBS New York. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CMS gives 213 hospitals 5 stars for patient experience
CMS updated its Hospital Compare website April 25, revealing new HCAHPS summary star ratings for 3,466 hospitals, with 213 hospitals earning five stars, according to a notification from the Advisory Board. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Porter Adventist surgeon calls off spine surgery after discovering dirty instruments
A patient at Denver-based Porter Adventist Hospital says a surgeon halted his spine surgery partway through the procedure after finding an unknown contaminant on several surgical instruments, reports 9News. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Physician assistants organization considers revamping profession's title
Members of the American Academy of Physician Assistants have called on the organization to investigate the feasibility of changing the discipline's professional title, the AAPA said in a statement released May 22. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Direct primary care group files for bankruptcy after abruptly closing clinics
Seattle-based Qliance Medical Group of Washington and Qliance Management filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy May 17, nearly a year after Qliance closed its primary care clinics, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Anesthesiology group files restraining order against Atrium Health, system's new service provider
Charlotte, N.C.-based Southeast Anesthesiology Consultants filed a temporary restraining order and injunction against Charlotte-based Atrium Health and its new anesthesiology provider in North Carolina Business Court May 11, claiming the health system and its new provider are attempting to recruit physicians from SAC. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
NYC Health + Hospitals embarks on inaugural physician recruitment initiative
New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals seeks to fill 75 new and open primary care physician positions through a new recruitment campaign. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Kaiser Permanente to invest $2M in gun-violence research
Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente will put $2 million toward gun-violence research within the health system, The Washington Post reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
4 ways nurses can fight alarm fatigue
The American Association of Critical Care Nurses recently released a practice alert to help hospitals manage the clinical alarms that notify providers when patients' conditions change. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Inspection report faults Boston Children's for medication errors linked to patient death
In 2017, three patients suffered from medication errors at Boston Children's Hospital, including one patient who waited 14 hours for an antibiotic and later died, according to a state and federal inspection report cited by The Boston Globe. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
FDA greenlights first nonopioid drug for opioid withdrawal
The FDA approved Lucemyra, the first nonopioid treatment for adults managing opioid withdrawal symptoms, the agency announced May 16. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Researchers are working on tech to monitor handwashing in hospitals 24/7
Physicians and computer scientists are installing depth sensors and various monitors in hospital hallways, near patients' bedsides and in operating rooms to monitor staff 24/7 and improve hand hygiene compliance, The Wall Street Journal reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
AAMC: DO school enrollment up 163% since 2002
First-year medical school enrollment has increased 29 percent since the 2002-03 school year, according to a recent report released by the Association of American Medical Colleges. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Congress 'too scared to take on the AMA' in fighting opioid crisis, senator says
As legislators search for ways to curb the opioid crisis, advocates for further restricting the drugs claim the American Medical Association is lobbying against several CDC recommendations and that members of Congress are afraid to take on the lobby, The Daily Beast reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Kaiser to invest $200M in community efforts to reduce homelessness
Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente is committing up to $200 million to address housing stability, homelessness and other community needs, the health system announced May 18. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Georgia health system to pay $4.1M settlement over thousands of unaccounted opioids
Springfield, Ga.-based Effingham Health System has agreed to pay $4.1 million to resolve allegations that it failed to provide procedures to protect against theft and loss of controlled substances, leading to opioid diversion, according to a statement released from the health system May 16. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Nearly 9 in 10 physicians feel unable to address chronic care patients' needs, study finds
Most primary care physicians said they do not have the necessary time or tools to address the needs of patients with multiple chronic conditions — leaving those patients to face health-related social and behavioral issues alone, according to research conducted by Quest Diagnostics. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
A physician strategy that changed 5 times in 8 years left one health system losing $100M+ annually: 7 ideas to prevent this at your organization
When rationale for hiring physicians is a moving target, health systems find themselves employing seas of physicians with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual losses. The way around this dilemma? Leaders with Navigant Consulting propose a few ideas in Harvard Business Review. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Infection prevention programs may need up to 66% more staffing than current levels
A study, published in American Journal of Infection Control, examines a nonprofit health system's approach at quantifying the actual number of infection preventionists and support staff needed for a successful infection prevention program. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CMS investigating Florida hospital where surgeons left needle in baby's heart
CMS has opened an investigation into St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital days after the state's healthcare agency cited the hospital for not reporting two medical errors in which needles were left in patients' hearts after surgery, according to the Tampa Bay Times. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Why airlines hope physicians aren't on board during medical emergencies
Physicians and other clinicians are called upon to help passengers during in-flight medical emergencies, but airlines often prefer the guidance of on-the-ground consultants in order to avoid diversions, according to Bloomberg. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Report: Majority of physicians trending toward independent, physician-led group practice
While hospital-employed physician rates climbed to 32.6 percent in 2016, physicians are seemingly transitioning back to independent practice — 72 percent of physicians identified as practitioners at independent or physician-led group practices in 2017, according to a recent Black Book Market Research report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Penn State Health to acquire 112-member cardiology group
Hershey, Pa.-based Penn State Health revealed plans May 3 to acquire Berks Cardiologists, which maintains locations in Wyomissing, Pa., and Pottsville, Pa. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Decline in number of African-American male physicians called a crisis
The proportion of male African-American medical school graduates reached 57 percent in 1986, but the rate had dropped to 35 percent by 2015, according to the science journal Nature. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
What matters most to patients about their primary care physician: 10 findings
Forty-one percent of patients identified the quality of care they receive as the most important factor in selecting a primary care physician, according to recent report by business management and consulting firm McKinsey & Co. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Online physician review websites may be offering distorted data
A study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, found data from online third-party physician review websites may be misleading for patients. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
U of Buffalo medical school reintroduces radiology residency program after 12 years
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education approved the University of Buffalo (N.Y.) Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences' plan to reintroduce a medical residency program in radiology, according to Buffalo Business First. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
UHS CEO Alan B. Miller on how George Washington influenced his leadership style
When King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health Services was founded in 1979 by Alan B. Miller, it had six employees and one telephone. Now, thanks to the paramount leadership of Mr. Miller, it has expanded into one of the nation's largest for-profit hospital operators with more than 83,000 employees providing care across 350 behavioral health and acute care facilities. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Innovative care models are new catalysts to transforming healthcare
To keep our communities healthy, the healthcare industry continues to drive toward a value-based system that provides care when, where and how it is needed. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
5 strategies that will define mergers of the future
Mergers are the defining characteristic of the contemporary healthcare landscape, but the mergers of today bear little resemblance to ones in decades past. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
The lone creative CEO in healthcare wants company: Dr. Stephen Klasko on the industry's underrated skill
Stephen Klasko, MD, president and CEO of Philadelphia-based Jefferson Health was the only hospital executive named among Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business for 2018, which he attributes to a fundamental problem in the healthcare leadership pipeline. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Technology is the best prescription for advancing rural care
As urbanization has dramatically altered the demographics of our national landscape, the health and well-being of many rural Americans have suffered significantly from poor access to much-needed care. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Michael Dowling: How a 'Shark Tank' approach can help organizations find the next big healthcare innovation
Every health care organization relies on its senior leaders for ideas that will help set them apart from their competitors, but it’s often the people on the front lines of clinical care, research or day-to-day operations who are the true innovators. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Corner Office: Dana-Farber CEO Dr. Laurie Glimcher on the issues facing academic medical centers and the joys of being a physician-scientist
Laurie Glimcher, MD, has dedicated her life to both medial research and clinical care, which uniquely positions her to lead an institution such as the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE