July 2020 Issue of Becker's Hospital Review
ON THE COVER
Highest-paid CEOs in 2019: Who made the list from healthcare
Nineteen healthcare CEOs made Equilar's annual list of the 100 highest-paid CEOs at the largest U.S. companies.
'Mass amnesia' of Spanish flu left world unprepared for COVID-19, scholars say
The Spanish flu upended the world in the early 20th century, yet the pandemic was largely absent from public discourse, literature, art or research in the coming decades, according to The New York Times.
The hospital room of the future: Dr. Alistair Erskine's 5 predictions
Alistair Erskine, MD, chief digital health officer of Mass General Brigham in Boston, outlined how he sees hospital rooms changing in the future as part of the World Medical Innovation Forum, a virtual event held on May 11.
How to support employees during, after furloughs: 3 imperatives
Dozens of hospitals nationwide have decided to furlough employees as a result of lost revenue from suspending nonemergent procedures and other pandemic-related expenses.
How CHS, Tenet, HCA and UHS fared in Q1
The COVID-19 pandemic affected major for-profit hospital networks' financial and operating performance in the first quarter of 2020.
10 physician specialties that generate the most revenue for hospitals
The average amount of revenue physicians generate for hospitals has jumped significantly in recent years, and a decline in patient volumes and elective procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic is putting hospitals and physicians in a fragile financial position.
Hospitals blast CMS decision to double down on price transparency
CMS is moving forward with price transparency efforts despite a pending legal challenge from the American Hospital Association.
Denver Health CEO apologizes for timing of exec bonuses
Denver Health Medical Center CEO Robin Wittenstein has apologized to the hospital's employees for the timing of incentive bonuses that were paid to executives a week after front-line staff were asked to take unpaid leave or cut their hours to help the hospital overcome a financial hit caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CBS4.
8 common missteps women face in negotiations
More than 80 percent of CEOs and other executives leave money on the table when negotiating. Women have an even greater challenge: Research indicates a backlash effect causes them to hold back.
Lurie Children's sued for medical records privacy breach
The mother of a former patient of Ann and Robert Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago filed a lawsuit on May 8 against the hospital over a medical records privacy breach, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.
The IT projects 12 health system execs will put on hold due to the pandemic
As hospitals and health systems across the country grapple with revenue declines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, executives are mapping out which IT projects they can delay amid potential financial constraints.
OSHA investigates suburban Atlanta hospital after nurse's death
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death of a nurse who worked at Stockbridge, Ga.-based Piedmont Henry Hospital and may have contracted COVID-19 while caring for patients, according to a report by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The backbone of healthcare: 3 CNOs on what COVID-19 has taught us about nursing
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the crucial role nurses play in the U.S. healthcare system, bringing a spirit of strength, ingenuity and courage to their work.
Peter Mohler, PhD
Peter Mohler, PhD, is the new chief scientific officer for Columbus-based Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center and health sciences colleges, and he is a healthcare veteran with COVID-19 research experience.
Lisa Oldham
Lisa Oldham, CNO and Vice President of Patient Care Services at Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown, N.Y., has tenure in nurse leadership and witnessed how the Covid-19 pandemic brought her teams of nurses together during a time of critical need.
Rick Evans
It's definitely spring in New York City. All the signs are there. Days are longer and trees have bloomed. Central Park is arrayed in all its glory. But, it's also a spring like no other.
Nancy Howell Agee
Pre-COVID, health providers across the country were working to redesign care delivery. Yet, progress was inhibited by regulations more reflective of yesterday’s technology and outdated provider reimbursement policies. The COVID-19 crisis can change that.
Stephen Meth
The COVID-19 pandemic may result in lasting changes to public and private healthcare, including changes to the patient and caregiver experience arenas. Amid the crisis, healthcare organizations have had to be quick on their feet to overcome myriad clinical and operational challenges thrown at them, all while ensuring the well-being of their patients and clinicians.
Roxanna Gapstur, PhD, RN
As president and CEO of York, Pa.-based WellSpan Health, Roxanna Gapstur, PhD, RN, is able to make a difference in improving healthcare access and reducing health disparities, which she is passionate about.
CFO / FINANCE
University of Rochester Medical Center furloughs 3,400 workers
University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center is furloughing 3,474 employees, more than 19 percent of its 17,885-person workforce.
214-bed Kentucky hospital closes
Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health has closed Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Ashland, Ky.
'We are planning for a new normal': Providence Oregon to furlough staff, cut exec pay
Providence Oregon will implement staff furloughs and leadership pay cuts to help offset financial losses attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Portland-based health system announced May 12.
10 physician specialties that generate the most revenue for hospitals
The average amount of revenue physicians generate for hospitals has jumped significantly in recent years, and a decline in patient volumes and elective procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic is putting hospitals and physicians in a fragile financial position.
Kaiser sees $1.1B loss in Q1
Citing hefty investment losses, Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente saw its net loss reach $1.1 billion in the first quarter of 2020, according to recently released financial results. In the same period one year earlier, Kaiser reported net income of $3.2 billion.
CEO/STRATEGY
Highest-paid CEOs in 2019: Who made the list from healthcare
Nineteen healthcare CEOs made Equilar's annual list of the 100 highest-paid CEOs at the largest U.S. companies.
2 Mercy execs retire early to help address financial fallout
Two Mercy executives have volunteered to retire early to help the St. Louis-based health system navigate financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Springfield News-Leader.
9 most diverse health systems
DiversityInc honored nine health systems as among the most diverse healthcare organizations in the U.S. in the company's 2020 rankings.
Teamsters union targets Tenet CEO's pay package
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has sent a letter to other Tenet Healthcare shareholders urging them to reject a $24 million pay package for Tenet Chairman and CEO Ronald Rittenmeyer.
How to support employees during, after furloughs: 3 imperatives
Dozens of hospitals nationwide have decided to furlough employees as a result of lost revenue from suspending nonemergent procedures and other pandemic-related expenses.
WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP
8 common missteps women face in negotiations
More than 80 percent of CEOs and other executives leave money on the table when negotiating. Women have an even greater challenge: Research indicates a backlash effect causes them to hold back.
4 tips to ensure female talent stays amid the pandemic
As many companies have moved employees toward working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains to be seen how the trend will ultimately affect their ability to keep female talent.
This just in: Male physicians continue to outearn female counterparts
Medscape released its annual Physician Compensation Report May 14, noting that in line with the past decade of its analysis, male physicians continue to earn more money than female physicians — 25 percent more in primary care and 33 percent more in specialty care, to be precise.
Layoffs already hitting women, minorities harder
Recent workforce reductions are already compromising diversity, numbers show.
Women's research activity takes a hit
Women shoulder more household labor than men, and it shows in how much work female researchers have been able to complete during the coronavirus pandemic, according to analysis reviewed in Nature.
INNOVATION
Mass General Brigham: 12 disruptive innovations in healthcare
Boston-based Mass General Brigham named 12 technologies and innovations that will have the most significant effect on healthcare through the end of 2021 based on interviews with Harvard faculty.
Mayo to become investor in COVID-19 remote patient management platform: 4 details
Mayo Clinic will become an investor in Current Health, which has a remote patient management platform that can help identify and assess treatment for COVID-19 patients.
Banner Health launches virtual waiting rooms: 4 things to know
Phoenix-based Banner Health launched virtual waiting rooms in its 300 clinics May 14, expanding its use of telehealth technology amid the pandemic.
The hospital room of the future: Dr. Alistair Erskine's 5 predictions
Alistair Erskine, MD, chief digital health officer of Mass General Brigham in Boston, outlined how he sees hospital rooms changing in the future as part of the World Medical Innovation Forum, a virtual event held on May 11.
8 most innovative hospitals, according to 550+ hospital leaders
One-fifth of hospital leaders consider Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic as the most innovative hospital in the U.S., according to a recent Reaction Data report.
CIO/HEALTH IT
VA hasn't included all critical stakeholders in $16B EHR modernization, GAO report finds: 7 notes
The U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report June 5 claiming that while the Department of Veterans Affairs' decision-making procedures for its $16 billion Cerner EHR rollout have generally been effective, it has sometimes failed to include the input of key stakeholders.
Permanently higher telehealth pay rates under review, CMS says
CMS Administrator Seema Verma discussed the prospects for extending telehealth coverage and pay rates permanently during a recent STAT virtual event.
More than one-third of physicians experience EHR fatigue within first minute of use: study
Click-heavy interfaces, multiscreen workflows and scrolling through pages of notes for information are some of the characteristics of EHR systems associated with burnout and fatigue, according to a study published June 9 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
'The genie's out of the bottle on this one': Seema Verma hints at the future of telehealth for CMS beneficiaries
When the COVID-19 pandemic began and it became clear telehealth would be necessary for physicians and nurses to treat patients remotely, CMS boosted rates for telehealth visits so they matched rates for in-clinic visits and would sustain providers during the pandemic.
Adventist Health to launch 150-bed virtual hospital: 5 things to know
Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health will begin admitting up to 150 patients to its first virtual hospital on May 11, according to NBC affiliate KGET.
CMO/CARE DELIVERY
OSHA investigates suburban Atlanta hospital after nurse's death
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death of a nurse who worked at Stockbridge, Ga.-based Piedmont Henry Hospital and may have contracted COVID-19 while caring for patients, according to a report by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Michael Dowling on COVID-19's resurgence: It's 'foolish' to assume prevention efforts will work perfectly
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are falling in New York City, giving hard-hit hospitals time to reflect on their processes and solidify plans for a potential resurgence this fall, Northwell Health President and CEO Michael Dowling told The Wall Street Journal.
Seattle Children's closes ORs after another mold discovery
Seattle Children's Hospital has closed some of its operating rooms after again detecting mold, detailed in a May 12 self-report to the state Department of Health, according to The Seattle Times.
5 COVID-19 related medication errors reported to ISMP
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a nonprofit watchdog for prescription drug safety, on May 14 published a list of medication errors reported by hospitals related to treating COVID-19 patients.
Steward Health Care nurses slam gown donations while they're reusing PPE
Steward Health Care's donation of 50,000 medical gowns to Massachusetts drew major criticism from nurses who say they've been forced to rewear gowns at some of Steward's hospitals, according to Boston 25 News.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
OSU medical center is expanding COVID-19 testing through team approach, chief scientific officer says
Peter Mohler, PhD, is the new chief scientific officer for Columbus-based Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center and health sciences colleges, and he is a healthcare veteran with COVID-19 research experience.
What it takes to be a clinical leader during the pandemic: Key insights from CNO Lisa Oldham
Lisa Oldham, CNO and Vice President of Patient Care Services at Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown, N.Y., has tenure in nurse leadership and witnessed how the Covid-19 pandemic brought her teams of nurses together during a time of critical need.
NewYork-Presbyterian CXO: Leading through a spring like no other
It's definitely spring in New York City. All the signs are there. Days are longer and trees have bloomed. Central Park is arrayed in all its glory. But, it's also a spring like no other.
Carilion Clinic’s Nancy Agee: COVID-19 pandemic gives new sense of urgency to the need for regulatory reform
Pre-COVID, health providers across the country were working to redesign care delivery. Yet, progress was inhibited by regulations more reflective of yesterday’s technology and outdated provider reimbursement policies. The COVID-19 crisis can change that.
‘COVID-19 doesn’t respect silos and neither should we’: Nuvance Health’s CXO on patient experience during the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic may result in lasting changes to public and private healthcare, including changes to the patient and caregiver experience arenas. Amid the crisis, healthcare organizations have had to be quick on their feet to overcome myriad clinical and operational challenges thrown at them, all while ensuring the well-being of their patients and clinicians.