May 2020 Issue of Becker's Hospital Review
ON THE COVER
A look back at swine flu: 8 facts about the world's last pandemic in 2009
The World Health Organization on March 11 declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, the first such declaration in 11 years.
61 hospital and health system CISOs to know | 2019
Becker's Hospital Review named 61 hospital and health system chief information security officers to know in 2019.
'Be prepared, not frightened': Scripps Health CEO's memo to staff about coronavirus
Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of San Diego-based Scripps Health, sent a memo to staff March 5 seeking to address any concerns or fear surrounding the novel coronavirus.
Insurer clinic competition 'very worrisome for hospitals'
Clinics run by UnitedHealth Group, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and CVS Health have hospitals worried that patients may be steered away from their doors, according to The Wall Street Journal.
14 thoughts on leadership from women in the healthcare industry
In honor of International Women's Day March 8, Becker's Hospital Review asked women in the healthcare industry to share their insights on leadership. Here are 14 women who offered words of advice for healthcare leaders.
Coronavirus fears enrich some healthcare execs
The leaders of some healthcare companies defied the stock market wipeout last week, growing richer instead of losing money, according to Bloomberg. The executives who saw their fortunes rise all lead businesses that could profit from the coronavirus in some way.
FTC challenge of Philadelphia hospital merger 'myopic,' AHA says
The American Hospital Association is blasting the Federal Trade Commission's challenge of the merger of Jefferson Health and Einstein Healthcare Network, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.
OIG's Report on Hospitals' COVID-19 Challenges, Needs: 5 Takeaways
HHS' Office of Inspector General released a report April 6 that details the challenges hospitals are confronting due to COVID-19, how they are responding, and what they are asking of the government to better meet their needs during the coronavirus crisis.
How 6 Hospital CEOs Are Responding to the Coronavirus
Here is how six hospital CEOs, from large national systems to small community hospitals, are responding to COVID-19:
From swine flu to the coronavirus: How tech is helping to flatten the curve this time around
The last global pandemic was in 2009, when there was an outbreak of H1N1, known as the swine flu, which infected 60.8 million and caused 12,469 deaths in the U.S. Back then there was panic around the best treatment and prevention options and much of the information was input manually.
How Google's deals with Ascension, Mayo Clinic, UCSF compare
There has been controversy around Google's partnerships with major health systems, as government leaders are unsure if patient data is secure.
When checking for fever, remember 98.6 is no longer the norm
As more people check their body temperature amid the coronavirus pandemic, it's important that they understand that the average human body temperature has dropped in the U.S.
Want to Boost Nurse Recruitment and Retention? First, Ask Yourself These Questions
As the demographics of the nursing workforce changes, healthcare organizations must remember to change their hiring practices and job descriptions to fit with the next generation of nurses' needs and wants.
Rod Hochman, MD
"My philosophy is that CEOs do three main things: Communicate, set strategies and hire great people."
Jhaymee Tynan
One of the biggest mistakes I have observed by professionals of all career levels is not investing the time or energy to find and secure a sponsor.
Keri Kaiser
In January, Dallas-based Children's Health announced that it had installed an Amazon Hub Locker kiosk so the families of long-term patients could receive and return packages directly from the Children's Medical Center Dallas campus.
Hans Keil
When it comes to collecting and managing COVID-19 patient data, Beaumont Health relies on its EHR as its "only source of truth," according to CIO Hans Keil.
Audrey Gregory, PhD, RN
Audrey Gregory, PhD, RN, was president of Detroit Medical Center and CEO of the organization's adult central campus. Now she is transitioning into the role of CEO, overseeing the whole medical center.
Rick Evans
As I write this, I am sitting in my office in Manhattan, part of an amazing team of people at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital taking the COVID-19 emergency head on. This morning, we have over 2,000 COVID-19 inpatients in our hospitals in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Westchester. In the corridors I walk through, in the ED just down the hall, and on the floors above me, we are taking care of COVID-19 patients. We are at the center of the storm.
Paul Hiltz
Paul Hiltz joined Naples, Fla.-based NCH Healthcare System on Sept. 3. Although he has only been on the job for six months, he said he's already spent a lot of time listening to NCH employees, community leaders and others to respond to their insights.
CFO / FINANCE
North Carolina health system files for bankruptcy
Randolph Health, a single-hospital system based in Asheboro, N.C., announced March 6 that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
HCA reverses decision to close Florida hospital
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare no longer plans to close Plantation (Fla.) General Hospital when it completes a new hospital in Davie, Fla., according to the South Florida Business Journal.
NewYork-Presbyterian's operating losses could top $450M due to COVID-19
The COVID-19 outbreak could have a negative effect on NewYork-Presbyterian's operating results in 2020, according to a financial disclosure filed March 18.
Woman sued by Alabama hospital over $31K bill: 'I wish you'd have let me die'
An Alabama woman received an emergency appendectomy at Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Ala., in May 2016. Three years later, the hospital sued her for nearly $37,000, which included a $31,000 bill plus interest, according to CBS News.
CMS pitches changes to CJR model: 6 things to know
CMS issued a proposed rule Feb. 20, which includes a three-year extension of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model.
CEO/STRATEGY
5 takeaways: OIG's new report on hospitals' COVID-19 challenges, needs
HHS' Office of Inspector General released a report April 6 that details the challenges hospitals are confronting due to COVID-19, how they are responding, and what they are asking of the government to better meet their needs during the coronavirus crisis.
'Be prepared, not frightened': Scripps Health CEO's memo to staff about coronavirus
Chris Van Gorder, president and CEO of San Diego-based Scripps Health, sent a memo to staff March 5 seeking to address any concerns or fear surrounding the novel coronavirus.
How Warren Buffett would improve boards
Warren Buffett released his annual letter to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway Feb. 22.
No pay raise for CHS CEO in 2019
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems' board recently approved 2019 pay packages for its top executives. CHS Chairman and CEO Wayne T. Smith's base salary is $1.6 million this year. His base pay has remained the same since 2015. The company's CFO, COO and CMO each received a raise this year between 3 percent and 4 percent, according to the Nashville Post.
Cleveland Clinic's strategy in 2020 and beyond: 6 takeaways
In his annual State of the Clinic address, Cleveland Clinic President and CEO Tom Mihaljevic, MD, highlighted several key initiatives the 18-hospital system is implementing to improve care for patients, expand its footprint and provide a better experience for clinicians and other employees.
WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP
Emergency medicine trailblazer Dr. Ethel Weinberg dies at 83
Ethel Schwartz Weinberg, MD, the physician who helped created the specialty of emergency medicine, died March 4 of melanoma at age 83, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Gender pay differences may shrink under transparency laws, study finds
Large-scale adoption of pay transparency laws could reduce persistent pay disparities between men and women, according to a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper.
Female board directors rise to leadership positions faster than men
Women who serve on boards typically rise to a leadership role like chairperson or lead director about 20 months faster than men, according to a study of about 6,000 public companies conducted by Diligent Institute, the research arm of a board management software company.
7 healthcare pioneers on Time's 100 Women of the Year list
In an effort to rectify the 72-year stretch during which Time awarded only a "Man of the Year" honor, before transitioning to the still largely male "Person of the Year" in 1999, the magazine is commemorating 100 women who deserved equal honors throughout the time period.
3 notes on leadership from Harvard Medical School's first black female class president
Boston-based Harvard Medical School's class of 2023 elected LaShyra "Lash" Nolen president last year. Ms. Nolen is the first black woman to be elected class president in Harvard Medical School history. She recently gave interviews to Teen Vogue and The Lily about her role and her thoughts on leadership.
INNOVATION
Hartford HealthCare's Dr. Barry Stein: Innovation isn't an option for hospitals — 'it's an imperative'
At Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare, a robust innovation strategy is led by Barry Stein, MD, vice president and chief clinical innovation officer, and based on five core pillars.
Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente Ventures invest in cybersecurity startup
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic and the venture arm of Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente have contributed funding to Ordr, a developer of security software for internet of things and other unmanaged devices.
AHA launches $100K innovation challenge to improve behavioral health
The American Hospital Association has begun accepting proposals for its 2020 innovation challenge, which calls for ideas and strategies to increase access, reduce costs and improve outcomes in the realm of behavioral health.
U of South Carolina, Prisma partner to bring business ideas to market
The University of South Carolina and Prisma Health have teamed up in an effort to bring more commercially viable ideas to the market, according to The Post and Courier.
Houston Methodist Center for Innovation opens hub to test new tech
A renovated wing of Houston Methodist's flagship hospital will serve as a "laboratory environment" for clinicians and patients to test out new technologies developed and deployed by the health system's Center for Innovation.
CIO/HEALTH IT
HHS finalizes interoperability rules: 7 things to know
HHS on March 9 finalized two interoperability rules that will give patients secure and free access to their health data.
Microsoft rethinks potential of Windows 7 after ending support
Microsoft still sees significant potential profit from users upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10, according to CNBC.
UPMC Susquehanna medical records snooping case continues
A judge refused to dismiss a claim against Williamsport, Pa.-based UPMC Susquehanna that holds the health system liable after an employee went snooping on a co-worker's medical record, according to Pennlive.com.
From swine flu to the coronavirus: How tech is helping to flatten the curve this time around
The last global pandemic was in 2009, when there was an outbreak of H1N1, known as the swine flu, which infected 60.8 million and caused 12,469 deaths in the U.S. Back then there was panic around the best treatment and prevention options and much of the information was input manually.
U of Vermont Health Network blames operating loss on Epic install
Burlington-based University of Vermont Health Network reported a $10 million operating loss in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, which it attributed to an Epic EHR installation that cost more than expected, according to the VTDigger.
CMO/CARE DELIVERY
CMS revamps quality strategy: 5 things to know
CMS Administrator Seema Verma unveiled a new quality strategy that aims to streamline reporting and reduce physician burnout at the agency's 2020 Quality Conference in Baltimore.
Pennsylvania hospital cited over 2nd patient death in 2 months
Health officials cited WellSpan York (Pa.) Hospital over a patient's death in October 2019, which represents the second such citation the hospital received over a two-month period last year, according to a state report cited by the York Dispatch.
14-day quarantine for coronavirus is appropriate, study suggests
Symptoms of the illness caused by the new coronavirus develop between five to 14 days after a person is infected, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
47 practices for safer care from AHRQ
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality outlines 47 practices healthcare providers can adopt or refine to improve patient safety in a new report.
CMS inspections to prioritize infection control amid coronavirus outbreak
CMS on March 4 instructed state agencies and accrediting organizations to almost exclusively focus on infection control compliance during hospital and nursing home inspections to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Living Like a Leader: A day with Providence St. Joseph CEO Dr. Rod Hochman
Between driving growth, meeting clinical objectives and navigating complex payer dynamics, there don't seem to be enough hours in the day for healthcare executives.
Sponsors vs. mentors: How to find them & why both are critical for your career
One of the biggest mistakes I have observed by professionals of all career levels is not investing the time or energy to find and secure a sponsor.
Children's Health CXO on how an Amazon collab is making the patient experience 'as seamless and compassionate as possible'
In January, Dallas-based Children's Health announced that it had installed an Amazon Hub Locker kiosk so the families of long-term patients could receive and return packages directly from the Children's Medical Center Dallas campus.
How Beaumont Health is using patient data, tech to manage COVID-19: 4 Qs with CIO Hans Keil
When it comes to collecting and managing COVID-19 patient data, Beaumont Health relies on its EHR as its "only source of truth," according to CIO Hans Keil.
Detroit Medical Center CEO Dr. Audrey Gregory on the perspective she brings to her role
Audrey Gregory, PhD, RN, was president of Detroit Medical Center and CEO of the organization's adult central campus. Now she is transitioning into the role of CEO, overseeing the whole medical center.