June 2018 Issue of Beckers Hospital Review
ON THE COVER
10 Things to Know About the 2019 IPPS Proposed Rule
CMS filed its annual Medicare inpatient payment update April 24, which would increase payments to hospitals next year and follow through on some of the administration's top healthcare promises, including more price transparency for patients, reduced administrative burden on providers and a greater emphasis on interoperability. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
How IU Health Sets Its Systemwide Price Estimator Tool Apart
Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health had one primary goal when it launched a price estimator tool in 2015: greater cost transparency for patients. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Fitch finds the biggest issues for nonprofit hospitals: 3 Takeaways
U.S. nonprofit hospital and health systems face a myriad of challenges as they try to reduce costs and improve quality. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CFO / FINANCE
CMS terminates Kansas hospital’s Medicare billing privileges: 5 things to know
CMS revoked Overland Park, Kan.-based Blue Valley Hospital's Medicare billing privileges April 11, and the hospital is now suing HHS and CMS over the decision. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Tenet offers nurses up to $25k sign- on bonuses to solve shortage
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the U.S. nursing field will have over one million vacancies by 2022, leaving health systems to implement strategies to recruit and retain nurses. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Henry Ford's operating gains partially offset by Epic implementation costs, wage rate increases
Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System saw revenues increase in 2017, but the health system ended the period with lower net income than in the year prior. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CMS releases 2019 IPPS proposed rule: 10 things to know
CMS filed its annual Medicare inpatient payment update April 24, which would increase payments to hospitals next year and follow through on some of the administration's top healthcare promises, including more price transparency for patients, reduced administrative burden on providers and a greater emphasis on interoperability. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Georgia hospital to close: 4 things to know
Gainesville-based Northeast Georgia Health System has reached a conditional agreement with DL Investment Holdings to buy Chestatee Regional Hospital in Dahlonega, Ga. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Tenet posts surprise $99M profit after expanding cost-cutting plan
Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, which operates 69 hospitals, saw its financial picture significantly improve in the first quarter of 2018. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Erlanger’s Q3 earnings set back from Epic rollout
Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Erlanger Health System fell short of its budgeted earnings in the third quarter following the system's Epic implementation, according to the Times Free Press. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Idaho hospital faces cash crunch after software glitch causes billing problems
Benewah Community Hospital in St. Maries, Idaho, faces a cash shortage after it implemented new Cerner software that caused billing problems, according to the St. Maries Gazette Record. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Physicians: Is CHS 'a slow-motion train wreck?'
It has been nearly one year since Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems rejected a group of physicians' takeover bid for Lutheran Health Network in Fort Wayne, Ind. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
California hospital to close by mid-June, lay off 200 employees
Coalinga (Calif.) Regional Medical Center, which was established in 1928, will close on or before June 15, according to The Fresno Bee. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
A royal baby is cheaper to deliver than the average US baby
Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth to a baby boy April 23. Surprisingly, delivering the new prince, who is now fifth in line to the British throne, likely cost less than the average U.S. delivery, according to The Economist. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
How IU Health sets its systemwide price estimator tool apart
Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health had one primary goal when it launched a price estimator tool in 2015: greater cost transparency for patients. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
HCA sees quarterly profit nearly double to $1.1B
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, which operates 178 hospitals, saw revenues and net income rise year over year in the first quarter of 2018. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Moody's: Preliminary nonprofit healthcare profitability margins at 10-year low
The nonprofit hospital median operating cash flow margin decreased to 8.1 percent in fiscal year 2017, marking the lowest level seen since the 2008-09 recession, according to preliminary financial data from Moody's Investors Service. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Texas church forgives $10.5M in medical debt
Covenant Church in Carrollton, Texas, donated $100,000 to RIP Medical Debt, a charity that buys and forgives medical debt for needy patients, which was used to pay off $10.55 million in medical debt, according to NBC 5. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
New York oncology practice files for bankruptcy following FBI raid
CCS Oncology in Amherst, N.Y., a private oncology practice that is under federal investigation, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection April 2, according to The Buffalo News. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
How some rural hospitals score huge paydays from insurance companies
Many rural hospitals across the nation are facing financial challenges, causing some facilities to seek bankruptcy protection or close their doors for good. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Memorial Regional Health outsources billing and coding, 24 jobs cut: 5 things to know
Craig, Colo.-based Memorial Regional Health will no longer manage billing and coding in-house, according to a Craig Daily Press report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Fitch identifies biggest issues facing nonprofit hospitals: 3 takeaways
U.S. nonprofit hospital and health systems face a myriad of challenges as they try to reduce costs and improve quality. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
UHS' net income up 8.6% in Q1: 4 things to know
King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health Services saw revenues and net income increase in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period of the year prior. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
HHS asks Supreme Court to review Medicare payments ruling: 7 things to know
HHS is calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to review a District of Columbia appeals court ruling that Medicare was inappropriate when it altered its methods for calculating uncompensated care reimbursements six years ago, according to Law360. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Presbyterian Healthcare Services' net income nearly doubles
Albuquerque, N.M.-based Presbyterian Healthcare Services saw revenues decrease in 2017, but ended the year with a significant increase in net income, according to recently released bondholder documents. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Texas hospital locks in 5-year deal with consulting firm after UHS backs out
Community Hospital Consulting, part of Plano, Texas-based Community Hospital Corp., is poised to begin operating North Texas Medical Center in Gainesville. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Viewpoint: US can't trim healthcare costs without moderating job growth
Efforts to lower healthcare costs are not likely to succeed as long as job growth in the sector remains strong, according to a viewpoint article published in JAMA. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Sentara Healthcare's annual net income nearly doubles
Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Healthcare saw its financial picture improve in 2017, according to recently released bondholder documents.CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Fairview Health Services' annual net income more than doubles
Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services saw its financial picture improve in 2017 following its acquisition of two health systems. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CMS axes a Medicare Advantage star rating measure: 5 things to know
CMS is removing a star rating unit for Medicare Advantage plans, according to its 2019 Rate Announcement and Call Letter. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
California hospital looks to boost finances after losing lucrative toxicology revenue
Leaders at Sonoma West Medical Center in Sebastopol, Calif., are exploring ways to increase revenue after the hospital shut down its lucrative toxicology program in late February, according to The Press Democrat. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
HCA TriStar, BCBS dispute generates $14M in balance bills
A network dispute between Brentwood, Tenn.-based TriStar Health, a subsidiary of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee produced $14 million in patient balance bills, according to an article submitted to the Tennessean by Alex Tolbert, founder of consulting group Bernard Health. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
UnitedHealth's Optum completes acquisition of Reliant Medical Group for $28M
UnitedHealth Group's Optum unit closed its $28 million purchase of Worcester, Mass.-based Reliant Medical Group, telegram.com reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
ProMedica eyes expansion into China
In an effort to offset weak revenue growth in the states, Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica is looking to expand into China, reports The Wall Street Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Ascension to sell Connecticut hospital to Hartford HealthCare
St. Louis-based Ascension signed a nonbinding letter of intent to transfer ownership of one of its Connecticut-based assets to Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare, Ascension announced March 27. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Quorum Health's net loss more than triples
Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health ended the first quarter of 2018 with a net loss, but the company hopes to improve its financial position by restructuring its portfolio. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Tenet defeats class-action lawsuit alleging overpayments: 8 things to know
A Florida federal judge dismissed a putative class-action lawsuit against Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare's Florida Region and one of its hospitals filed by a Medicare Advantage assignee trying to recoup insurance payments under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act, according to the Daily Business Review. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CEO / STRATEGY
With 8k more physicians than Kaiser, Optum is 'scaring the crap out of hospitals'
Since its acquisition of 250 Las Vegas-area physicians in 2008, UnitedHealth Group has steadily expanded its physician workforce to shield itself from competitors and hospitals, according to a Bloomberg report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Colorado health system appoints interim CFO 2 months after ousting CEO, 2 execs
Cortez, Colo.-based Southwest Health System appointed Sam Radke interim CFO, according to a hospital news release obtained by The Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Express Scripts to lay off 456 employees: 3 things to know
St. Louis-based Express Scripts, the nation's largest pharmacy benefits manager, will lay off 456 workers when it closes its pharmacy site in Columbus, Ohio, later this year, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice filed April 10. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
17 of the highest-paid CEOs in healthcare
The CEOs of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare and Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens Boots Alliance received some of the highest compensation rates among chief executives of larger U.S. companies, according to a recent survey by Equilar. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CHS lays off more than 70 corporate employees
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems laid off more than 70 corporate employees this week, sources inside the company told the Nashville Business Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Ex-Best Buy CEO quits Mayo Clinic board: 4 things to know
Former Best Buy CEO Brad Anderson resigned from the board of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., after he confirmed he donated $25,000 in 2016 to Secure America Now, a conservative group that circulated inflammatory anti-Muslim ads before the 2016 election, according to Minnesota Public Radio News. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Amazon vs. Walmart: Who has more power to change healthcare's landscape?
Amazon and Walmart are both aiming to redesign how healthcare works in the U.S., but Walmart may be better positioned to make significant changes in the healthcare industry, according to CNBC. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Lafayette General Health issues termination warning letters to 800 employees
Lafayette (La.) General Health issued letters to nearly 800 employees April 30 warning them of termination if the state doesn't provide sufficient funding to its subsidiary Lafayette-based University Hospitals and Clinics by June 30, according to the Daily Advertiser. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Ascension charts new strategic direction: 4 things to know
St. Louis-based Ascension is changing its strategic direction to better meet the needs of patients who are seeking more care in outpatient settings, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
The 9 men and 1 woman on CHS' board
There has been no shortage of headlines about Community Health Systems in the past year. Who are the men and woman sitting on the corporate board who have influenced CHS' strategy, restructuring, divestments, executive compensation and layoffs? CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Ballad Health to cut 150 positions
Ballad Health, a new health system formed by the merger of Kingsport, Tenn.-based Wellmont Health System and Johnson City, Tenn.-based Mountain States Health Alliance, will lay off 150 employees by April 20, according to the Times-News. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Ascension suspends controversial plan to scale back services at Milwaukee hospital
After receiving feedback from concerned Milwaukee officials, Ascension Wisconsin decided to pause its plan to scale back services at Milwaukee-based Wheaton Franciscan-St. Joseph Hospital, a hospital spokesperson confirmed to Becker's Hospital Review. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Virginia Mason launches hospital consulting company with rural emphasis
Seattle-based Virginia Mason Medical Center developed an affiliated consulting group specifically focused on addressing the challenges facing rural and community healthcare organizations CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Kaiser Permanente among top 5 companies for work-life balance
Out of the top 15 companies for work-life balance, Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente snagged the No. 4 spot, according to an analysis by Indeed. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Dignity Health chief HR officer on system's plan to create a self-funded HR department
San Francisco-based Dignity Health Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Darryl Robinson spoke with Gallup about the health system's initiatives to increase its HR department's revenue without asking for a budget increase. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
FBI raids home of former CEO of Tulare Regional Medical Center, seizes items related to management of hospital
FBI agents and the Tulare County district attorney's office seized several electronic devices and documents during a recent raid of the former Tulare Regional Medical Center CEO's home, according to the Visalia Times Delta. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Plans ongoing for Pennsylvania microhospital after leaders terminated: 7 things to know
Leaders of a $45 million specialty hospital under construction in Lancaster, Pa., were terminated, according to a report on Lancaster Online. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Viewpoint: This is how you mentor millennials in medicine
Millennials are driven by ethics, expectations and ethos that are "perceived as substantially different" than their older counterparts in the workplace, and therefore may require different mentoring strategies, three physicians from Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine wrote for JAMA. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Partners, Mayo Clinic leaders are quietly advising Trump on VA care: 7 things to know
Leaders from several large health systems, including Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, Boston-based Partners HealthCare and Cleveland Clinic, have been working behind the scenes to advise the Trump administration on how to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs, reports The Boston Globe. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Kaiser CEO Bernard J. Tyson on mental health issues: 'Nobody wants to talk about it'
In response to increased conversations around teen suicide and mental health, Bernard J. Tyson, chairman and CEO of Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente, argues a significant portion of America's mental health problems is due to the fact that no one talks about these issues. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Time's '100 Most Influential People 2018' featured 4 healthcare individuals — here's who they are
Time released its annual "100 Most Influential People of 2018" April 19, and four healthcare individuals made the cut. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
The lesson hospitals may be able to teach police officers
American police officers have come under fire for public displays of excessive force and escalated responses to situations that did not seem to call for them. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
2 nurses allege race a factor in firing from Brigham and Women's
Back-to-back trials will begin this week in Boston for two Haitian-American nurses who filed lawsuits against Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital in 2014, claiming they were racially discriminated against by the hospital, according to The Boston Globe. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Indicted Broward Health board chairman resigns: 5 things to know
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health Board Chairman Rocky Rodriguez resigned this week to reportedly attend to "medical family issues and his business." CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
60% of organizations think burnout will be worse in 2-3 years: 5 survey insights
Clinician burnout is one of the most important issues facing healthcare leaders today, though executives are more optimistic than clinicians that burnout conditions will improve, according to a recent survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
AMGA: 8 statistics on medical group executive compensation
For leaders of U.S. medical groups, compensation driven by performance incentives beyond base salary rose for several top C-suite positions over 2016, according to a survey distributed by the American Medical Group Association. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CIO / HEALTH IT
CMS renames ‘meaningful use’ to ‘promoting interoperability’ and changes ensue
In its latest Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System rule changes announced April 24, CMS renamed its "meaningful use" program again in an attempt to reflect its emphasis on achieving interoperability. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Goldman Sachs leads $74M funding round for Doctor on Demand
Virtual care provider Doctor on Demand secured a $74 million round of Series C funding April 25, led by Princeville Global and Goldman Sachs Investment Partners. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Lawsuit: Apple under fire over its smartwatch’s heart sensor -6 things to know
In a lawsuit filed April 6, health technology startup Omni MedSci alleges Apple infringed on four of its patents to develop the Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor, apple insider reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Fitbit and Google team up to bring user data to the EMR
Fitbit and Google are putting their heads together to develop new consumer and enterprise digital health solutions, including using Google’s cloud healthcare application programming interface to help merge user-generated data with EMRs. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
UnitedHealth’s Optum, Humana + 3 others launch pilot blockchain project to improve physician directories
UnitedHealth Group’s Optum, Humana and three other healthcare organizations intend to launch a pilot program using blockchain technology to improve data quality and reduce administrative costs associated with updating and maintaining provider data. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Disease detection, insurance & more — 8 ways Google may enter healthcare
Market research firm CB Insights outlined eight potential initiatives Google and its parent company Alphabet may take to enter the healthcare industry in a recent report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Athenahealth posts $329.4M revenue in Q1: 3 things to know
Using a new revenue recognition standard, athenahealth posted financial results April 27 for its first quarter of 2018 ended March 31. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
GE to sell health IT assets to Veritas Capital in $1.05B deal
Veritas Capital entered into a definitive agreement April 2 with General Electric Healthcare to purchase its value-based care division for $1.05 billion in cash. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Survey: 90% of hospitals investing in smartphones for clinical communication
Nearly all (90 percent) of hospitals have made or are planning significant investments in smartphones and secure mobile communications platforms, according to a survey conducted by Spyglass Consulting Group. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
KLAS: What EMR vendors are community hospitals looking to replace?
KLAS Research released a report in April on health IT vendors in the community hospital market segment. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
MultiCare switches to Epic to sync EHR with other area hospitals
MultiCare Spokane (Wash.) invested more than $25 million in a new Epic EHR, which will go live on June 1, according to The Spokesman-Review CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Apple’s health records beta feature now available at 39 health systems
Apple expanded its Health Records pilot to nearly 40 health systems across the U.S., including New York Citybased NYU Langone Health, Stanford (Calif.) Medicine and San Diego-based Scripps Health, the company announced March 29 CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Coast Guard picks Cerner, which matches the DOD’s EHR
After funneling nearly $60 million into a failed EHR overhaul, the U.S. Coast Guard has chosen to implement the same Cerner EHR the Department of Defense is in the middle of transitioning to, FCW reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Trinity Health chooses Epic as its next enterprisewide EHR
Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health will transition all of its hospitals, ambulatory care centers, physician offices and continuing care programs to Epic’s EHR and revenue cycle management system as part of its People-Centered 2020 strategic plan, the 94-hospital system announced May 2. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
The top 3 reasons hospitals switch EHR vendors
Issues related to productivity, interoperability and cost are among the most-cited reasons providers plan to switch EHR vendors, despite the costs associated with a new purchase and implementation, according to a study published in the journal Perspectives in Health Information Management. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Illinois state board finds conflict of interest in U of Illinois’ Epic contract
An Illinois state board determined April 17 there is evidence of a conflict of interest regarding an EHR implementation contract between Epic and Chicago-based University of Illinois Hospitals, according to NBC 5. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Ranked: Top EHR vendors for 15 specialties
Black Book Research released its 2018 EHR rankings for physician specialty practices. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Typical mHealth app costs $425k to develop, report finds
The average cost to develop a mobile health app from conception to launch is $425,000, according to a Research2Guidance report.CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Viewpoint: 4 ways the EMR is an ethical disaster
EMRs are an expensive clerical burden that haven’t fulfilled their promise to use meaningful data to inform better patient care, and EMR vendors have profited at the expense of the physician-patient relationship, Jamie Wells, MD, wrote in an op-ed for the American Council on Science and Health. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Study: Hospital data breaches tied to thousands of additional patient deaths
A researcher at Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management claims more than 2,100 patient deaths each year can be attributed to hospital data breaches, according to The Wall Street Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Allina Health restores computer network after outage affects all 14 hospitals in the system
Minneapolis-based Allina Health was back online April 5 after it ost access to its computer network in an outage that began April 4. Patient care has not been affected, according to Fox 9. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Symantec: A hacking group is targeting the health sector to steal intellectual property — 6 things to know
Symantec identified a hacker group known as Orangeworm that is breaking into U.S. healthcare organizations’ X-Ray, MRI and other medical machines as part of an ongoing corporate espionage operation, according to a Symantec report released April 23. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Teladoc sees revenue jump 109%, but posts net loss of $23.9M: 5 things to know
Teladoc posted $89.6 million in revenue in its first quarter ended March 31, which is up 109 percent from the same period in 2017, according to first quarter 2018 fiscal year earnings results posted May 1. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
St. Jude launches public pediatric cancer genomics platform on the cloud
Memphis, Tenn.-based St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital launched St. Jude Cloud, an online data-sharing platform for pediatric cancer researchers, April 12. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
More hospitals use Cerner than Epic to attest to Medicare’s EHR Incentive Program
Hospitals and health systems were slightly more likely to use Cerner’s 2015 Certified EHR Technology than Epic’s when attesting to Medicare’s EHR Incentive Program between 2011 and 2016, according to recently released data from HHS’ ONC. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
3 cities that recently suffered cyberattacks
U.S. cities and states are falling victim to ransomware and other attacks, which typically target businesses and other organizations, Fox News reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Cerner’s Q1 earnings hurt by delayed VA contract: 4 things to know
Cerner reported $1.3 billion in revenue for its first quarter ended March 31, which represents a 3 percent increase from one year prior — less than it expected. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Here’s how Allscripts recovered from its January ransomware attack: 12 takeaways
In January, Allscripts clients were locked out of their cloud-based EHRs for days when the security operations center was crippled by a ransomware variant known as SamSam — a favorite among hackers targeting healthcare organizations. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
The cost of a data breach in healthcare averages $717k: 5 report findings
Healthcare cyber insurance claims comprised 18 percent of all cyber claims submitted in 2017, but they represented 28 percent of total breach costs, according to the annual NetDiligence Cyber Claims Study. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
OIG: Practitioners billed $3.7M for telehealth services that did not meet Medicare requirements
Areport from HHS’ Office of Inspector General found nearly 31 percent of claims submitted between 2014 and 2015 did not meet the Medicare conditions for pay ment for telehealth services, which resulted in $3.7 million in excess payments. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Finger Lakes Health pays hackers’ demand, recovers from ransomware attack
Email, internet, the majority of phone lines and several other electronic systems at Geneva, N.Y.-based Finger Lakes Health were restored after a ransomware attack shut them down March 18, a FLH spokesperson told Becker’s Hospital Review. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
MDLive nabs former Cerner exec for leadership role: 4 points
MDLive selected Michael Farrell to serve as senior vice president and general manager of its hospitals and health systems business. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
OCR considers compensating victims of healthcare breaches: 4 things to know
The HHS’ Office for Civil Rights is considering a policy initiative to financially compensate victims of healthcare breaches, OCR Director Roger Severino said during a HIPAA summit presentation in Arlington, Va., March 27, BankInfoSecurity reported CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Lancaster General Health partners with private equity firm to launch $300M precision medicine fund
Penn Medicine’s Lancaster (Pa.) General Health and private equity firm and venture company Aspire Universal will collaborate as general partners on a $300 million precision medicine fund that the organizations launched April 24. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
VA rolls out telehealth program to address PTSD in veterans
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently launched a pilot program to provide veterans suffering from PTSD with remote access to mental health services, the agency wrote in an April 5 blog post. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Telehealth tips, torn from the playbook of Intermountain’s massive virtual hospital
Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare launched a virtual hospital services program late February, comprised of 35 telehealth programs and more than 500 caregivers, to address rural Utah’s care needs. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Telehealth grows up: 5 key trends in hospital-based telehealth programs
A growing number of hospitals are recognizing the value of implementing a hospital-based telehealth program, with nearly 94 percent of respondents of a Teladoc survey rating it a top strategic priority. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CMS makes Medicare Advantage encounter data available for first time ever CMS makes Medicare Advantage encounter data available for first time ever
CMS is making Medicare Advantage encounter data available to researchers to better understand care trends for seniors, Administrator Seema Verma announced April 26. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Mayo Clinic uses ‘ambient intelligence’ to find actionable EHR data in ICUs: 5 things to know
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic rolled out an application to flag actionable data for clinicians working in intensive care units, three of the health system’s physicians wrote in an article for Harvard Business Review. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Up to 40% of positive results in direct-toconsumer genetic tests are wrong, study suggests
Direct-to-consumer genetic tests may have a tendency to provide patients with false-positive results, according to a study published in the journal Genetics in Medicine March 22. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative awards genomics grant to Mount Sinai, UC Berkeley researchers
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative awarded a grant to develop genomic analysis tools to a team of researchers from New York City-based Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and UC Berkeley, Mount Sinai announced April 19. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Intermountain Healthcare launches long-term Precise study to collect genomic data
Researchers at Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare will collect fresh-tissue and blood samples from across the health system under a new long-term prospective study dubbed “Precise.” CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CMO / CARE DELIVERY
Atrium Health releases 90 physicians looking to break away
Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health said April 25 it will grant the request of a group of physicians looking to separate and end their employment agreementsith the health system Sept. 1, according to The Charlotte Observer. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Where are the 22 Leapfrog ‘F’ hospitals?
The Leapfrog Group gave 22 hospitals failing grades in its spring 2018 Hospital Safety Grades released April 24. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Where are the 49 Leapfrog straight-’A’ hospitals?
The Leapfrog Group has assigned letter grades to hospitals based on their patient safety performance twice annually since spring 2012. Forty-nine hospitals have earned an A in every update, including the spring 2018 update released April 24. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Jury awards $28M+ to 77-year-old former Cleveland Clinic physician alleging age discrimination led to firing
A Cuyahoga County (Ohio) jury awarded a 77-year-old former Cleveland Clinic physician more than $28 million April 27 following his claims the institution fired him because of his age, according to cleveland.com. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Here are IBM Watson Health’s top 15 health systems
IBM Watson Health released its 15 Top Health Systems annual study April 22, which highlights the top-performing health systems in the U.S. based on their overall organizational performance. CLICK HERE TO COUNTINE
Police investigate nurse accused of infecting patients with hepatitis C at Washington hospital; up 2.6k patients urged toundergo testing
A nurse at Puyallup, Wash.-based MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital may have infected two patients with hepatitis C, and the hospital is suggesting 2,600 patients who were treated during an eight-month period in 2017 and 2018 receive testing for the infection, according to The News Tribune. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
25 teaching hospitals with the most safety violations
The next generation of U.S. physicians might be picking up bad habits at teaching hospitals nationwide that have received numerous safety violations, according to a STAT analysis. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
NYC Health + Hospitals creates employee wellness program to combat emotional stress, burnout
Employees of New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals experiencing workplace stress and burnout will have access to additional resources for emotional support. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
27 women at South Carolina hospital develop bacterial infection after surgery: 8 things to know
After undergoing surgery at Charleston, S.C.-based Roper Hospital in 2016 and 2017, 27 women developed a waterborne bacterial infection that required a string of antibiotic treatments and additional surgeries, reported The Post and Courier. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Penn State Hershey drops 2,100 neurology patients
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center sent letters to roughly 2,100 patients mid-April stating the hospital could no longer provide them with adequate neurology care, ABC-27 News reported. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
5 Joint Commission hospital requirements most commonly cited as 'not compliant' in 2017
The Joint Commission identified the requirements most commonly cited as “not compliant” during surveys for various types of accreditation and certification for calendar year 2017. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Johns Hopkins All Children’s scales back on surgeries, pauses complicated procedures after baby discharged with needle in heart
St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital is significantly cutting the number of operations performed at the facility and halting certain complicated surgeries after physicians discharged a baby in 2016 with a suture needle in her heart, according to the Tampa Bay Times. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
10 medical schools with the lowest acceptance rates
The average acceptance rate for 2017-18 medical school candidates was 7 percent, according to data gathered by U.S. News & World Report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Study: Only 37% of physician care quality measures are valid
Although U.S. physicians are evaluated on over 2,500 performance measures, less than 40 percent of these metrics are considered valid, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
1 in 3 CNOs admit nursing shortages are harming patient care
As nursing shortages continue to challenge hospitals and health systems, over one-third of chief nursing officers said these shortages negatively affect patient care, with more CNOs viewing shortages as detrimental to patient satisfaction, according to a survey conducted by nursing care facilities company AMN Healthcare. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
New Jersey court rules physician board, hospital can be sued separately: 4 notes
A U.S. District Court of New Jersey judge issued a ruling April 27 noting a hospital’s medical executive committee can be sued separately from the hospital it serves, according to the New Jersey Law Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Study: 71% of endoscopes still contain bacterial growth after reprocessing
Current reprocessing methods do not effectively sterilize flexible endoscopes, which may pose an infection risk to patients, suggest the findings of two new studies. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Nursing schools reject thousands amid shortage
Despite the nationwide nursing shortage, colleges across the U.S. are turning away qualified applicants as they struggle to hire teachers for nursing programs and expand class sizes, CNNMoney reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Healthcare mega-mergers push primary care clinics ‘closer to extinction’: 5 takeaways
Primary care physicians saw office visits fall 18 percent from 2012 to 2016, according to Health Care Cost Institute data, despite an incline in specialist visits. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
US sees largest drop in opioid prescriptions in 25 years
U.S. prescription opioid dosage volume decreased 12 percent in 2017, representing the largest drop in more than 25 years, according to a report from the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Poll: 52% of medical practices satisfied with their organization’s culture
Most medical groups are at least somewhat satisfied with their organization’s culture, according to Medical Group Management Association’s most recent Stat poll. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Johns Hopkins ends tradition of short white lab coats for first-year residents: 5 things to know
The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore will retire short white coats traditionally worn by interns amid growing complaints from younger residents, according to The Baltimore Sun. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Why men are considered a ‘diversity pick’ for some OB-GYN residency programs
While the majority of OB-GYN physician residents are women, the ratio was significantly different 50 years ago, when 90 percent OB-GYNs were men, according to WFAE News. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Poll: 80% of New Yorkers blame physicians for opioid crisis
The majority of New Yorkers (80 percent) believe physicians over-prescribing opioids contributes most to opioid misuse, with nearly two-thirds expressing state governmental entities do not do enough to address it, according to a poll conducted by Albany, N.Y.-based Siena College. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Why America’s physician shortage could top 120k by 2030: 5 things to know
The U.S. could face a shortage of more than 121,000 physicians by 2030, according to updated data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. The estimate is higher than AAMC’s 2030 projections published last year. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
California’s new rules for workplace violence prevention in hospitals take effect: 4 things to know
California’s workplace violence prevention rules, whichare designed to improve safety at healthcare facilities across the state, went into effect in 2017 and were followed in 2018 by proposed federal legislation. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
ACGME strips California hospital’saccreditation for surgical residency program
Bakersfield, Calif.-based Kern Medical CEO Russell Judd said April 12 the hospital will suspend its surgery residency program June 30 after the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education stripped the program of its accreditation status, according to Bakersfield.com. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Medical group publishes 8-step charter to address physician burnout Medical group publishes 8-step charter to address physician burnout
The Collaborative for Healing and Renewalin Medicine published an eightstep framework in JAMA March 29 to help healthcare organizations develop policies and regulations that address physician burnout. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
65% of ED physicians prescribe more opioids than they think they do
A majority of emergency department physicians — 65 percent — underestimated how often they prescribed opioids to patients, a study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Survey: More than 80% of CNOs report difficulty in nurse recruitment
CNOs believe current nurse shortages are negatively affecting patient care and staff morale, and project the shortages will worsen in the future, according to a the results of nurse leaders survey released April 5. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
5 hospitals jump from ‘F’ to ‘A’ rating on Leapfrog 5 hospitals jump from ‘F’ to ‘A’ rating on Leapfrog
Five acute care hospitals that received an “A” safety grade rating from The Leapfrog Group received “F” ratings in past years, the organization announced April 24. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
McKesson creates foundation for opioid crisis with $100M donation
McKesson Corp. on March 29 committed $100 million to form a nonprofit foundation dedicated to addressing the nation’s ongoing opioid epidemic. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
How Geisinger cut opioid prescriptions in half: 3 things to know
Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger reduced opioid prescriptions by more than 50 percent systemwide since 2012, according to a report from WHYY. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Scientists aredeveloping a vaccine to endaddiction:5 things to know
In the midst of the nation’s opioid crisis, scientists are developing an experimental vaccine that aims to treat addicted patients who would be at risk of death if they detoxified and then relapsed, according to The New York Times. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
JAMA: More practices rely on NPs, PAs
The number of physician specialty practices employing nurse practitioners and physician assistants rose 22 percent from 2008 to 2016, according to a study published April 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
How young physicians find their first job and why they leave: 5 findings
Most young physicians are generally satisfied with their first job, but when they decide to leave, compensation is the biggest reason, according to a study from CompHealth. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Healthgrades, MGMA release analysis of 7M patient reviews:5 takeaways
Nonclinical factors are among the most important factors patients take into consideration when rating their providers, according to a new analysis conducted by Healthgrades and the nonprofit Medical Group Management Association released March 28. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Ex-Swedish Health surgeon sues Seattle Times over investigation published prior to resignation
Johnny B. Delashaw Jr., MD, the former chairman of the Seattle-based Swedish Neuroscience Institute, filed a lawsuit against The Seattle Times and a physician at the institute April 11, accusing the publication of reporting libelous and defamatory information about him and engaging in a conspiracy to undermine his reputation, according to The Seattle Times. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Former Sparrow Carson executive claims she was fired for reporting substandard medical care
Carson City, Mich.-based Sparrow Carson Hospital officials announced the departure of the hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer and COO Barb McQuillan, BSN, RN, in March, but declined to say why. In a whistle-blower lawsuit filed April 25, Ms. McQuillan claims she was fired for reporting quality of care issues at the hospital, according to the Lansing State Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Banner Health CFO Dennis Laraway’s top piece of advice: Give back
Phoenix-based Banner Health saw its financial profile drastically improve in 2017, reporting a net income more than double the year prior — a feat picked up and followed through by its CFO Dennis Laraway. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
The 56-second fix to reduce patient suffering: 5 questions with Press Ganey’s CNO Christy Dempsey
Health -care providersoften overlook healthcare’s fundamental goal— to alleviate suffering — amid the stress of increasing regulation, decreasing reimbursement and heightened attention to quality ratings. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
‘It’s about gathering all the essential data so we can make qualified decisions’: Q&A with Porter Health Care System CFO Jeff Daneff
Jeff Daneff is familiar with the evolving CFO role. He currently serves as CFO of Valparaiso, Ind.-based Porter Health Care System, where he oversees more than 2,200 employees across two hospital campuses, seven outpatient facilities and an in-house ambulance company. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
5 questions with Mona Chadha, Dignity Health's Bay Area market chief strategy officer
Mona Chadha has primarily spent her career focused on life sciences and biotechnology. But on April 23, she began a new kind of role at San Francisco-based Dignity Health, one of the nation's largest health systems, as chief strategy officer of the Bay Area market. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
7 reasons organizations should be cultivating future nurse leaders
During their day-to-day work, nurses gain unparalleled knowledge of the nuances of patient care, making them ideal candidates for leadership positions. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Corner Office: Debra Canales, Providence St. Joseph's chief administrative officer, on the rejuvenating powers of laser tag
Debra Canales spent more than a decade establishing a successful career with some of the nation's most high-profile corporations, but felt a yearning to incorporate the compassionate principles of her personal life into her work. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE