November 2020 Issue of Becker's Hospital Review
ON THE COVER
10 ACOs with the most shared savings in 2019
Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs generated a record $1.2 billion in net savings for the Medicare program across 541 ACOs in 2019, CMS Administrator Seema Verma announced Sept. 14 in Health Affairs.
After 'baptism by fire,' hospitals say they're better prepared to treat COVID-19 this fall
Physicians and leaders at many U.S. hospitals say they are feeling better prepared to respond to a potential second wave of COVID-19 cases this fall, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Career impatience: The No. 1 worry hospital CEOs have about the next generation of healthcare leaders
There's good reason to feel optimistic about the next generation of healthcare leadership. But if they have to pinpoint one concern, two chiefs of health systems in California and New York agree: young professionals' unrealistic expectations for promotion and career advancement.
22 hospitals laying off furloughed workers
More than 260 hospitals in the U.S. furloughed workers this spring to help offset financial losses attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
17 best health systems for leadership development
The National Center for Healthcare Leadership awarded 10 health systems its 2020 "Bold" or "Best Organizations for Leadership Development" designation, and honored another seven for their ability to develop leaders.
Rural Georgia hospital to close in October
Financial strain is prompting the Oct. 31 closure of Northridge Medical Center, a 90-bed hospital in Commerce, Ga., according to Georgia Health News.
AHA to HHS: Stop drugmakers' 'abusive tactics' over 340B discounts
The American Hospital Association sent a second letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar Sept. 8, urging him to stop drugmaker's "abusive tactics" to limit 340B discounts.
Bankruptcy trustee fires Missouri hospital's chief strategy officer
Sonny Saggar, MD, the emergency room chief and chief strategy officer at St. Louis-based St. Alexius Hospital was fired Sept. 11, according to the St. Louis Business Journal.
Walmart Health details expansion plans in 3 states: 6 things to know
Walmart plans to open at least 16 more standalone health clinics by the end of 2021, according to a Sept. 17 company blog post.
20 bold predictions for health IT in the next 5 years
The pandemic accelerated adoption of telehealth, remote monitoring and digital health capabilities by nearly a decade for some organizations.
UHS brings hospitals back online after 8-day outage
Universal Health Services, a 26-hospital health system based in King of Prussia, Pa., reported that its IT network has been restored as of Oct. 5, eight days after it fell victim to a cyberattack.
HCA hospital staff link device malfunction, patient death to understaffing
A patient at North Suburban Medical Center died in May after staff members failed to change the battery on the individual's pulse oximeter in a timely manner, according to a state inspection report cited by The Denver Post.
4 clinical chiefs: This is what a high-performing medical team looks like
The COVID-19 pandemic has put unprecedented pressures on the resources and safety of the country's medical teams. Stories of immense challenges have been juxtaposed with stories of bravery, hope and camaraderie among front-line medical workers.
Adrienne Schultz, MSN, RN
Adrienne Schultz, MSN, RN, is relatively new to her position as vice president and CNO of Cudahy, Wis.-based Advocate Aurora St. Luke's South Shore, a role which she began in July. However, she brought with her more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience.
Carolyn Ogland, MD
Carolyn Ogland, MD, learned from an early age how healthcare workers can help patients and their families, and that continues to be her focus as CMO of Robbinsdale, Minn.-based North Memorial Health.
Jasmine Ballard
Jasmine Ballard serves as Administrative Director at Levine Cancer Institute of Atrium Health.
Jeanette Wojtalewicz
Jeanette Wojtalewicz, MHA, serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for CHI Health.
Paul Viviano
"When the pandemic first showed up, I asked our leaders who could do so safely to be present, to be here, be visible and ensure we are leading by example since we are designated as an essential service. There was a lot of pressure to have team members work remotely, but I asked my direct reports to refrain from working from home routinely. I wanted our presence to be felt by the entire team."
James Kravec, MD
As part of an ongoing series, Becker's is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the first Becker's Healthcare Clinical Leadership Virtual Event Sept. 9-10.
John Couris
There is no question that COVID-19 has changed the way we operate day to day. One thing that has remained constant — and should be respected — is the unpredictability of it.
Tina Freese Decker
Tina Freese Decker's nearly two decades of leadership at Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Spectrum Health have allowed her to address healthcare challenges such as access and affordability. Now, as president and CEO, she is also helping drive change in health equity.
Kevin Conroy
Kevin Conroy serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Population Health Officer at CareMount Medical.
Rod Hanners
It has been 25 years since Rod Hanners was a naval officer on a nuclear submarine, but U.S. Navy experience helps him today as interim CEO of Keck Medicine of USC in Los Angeles.
CFO / FINANCE
Hospitals charge private insurers more than 2x what Medicare pays: 6 things to know
Hospitals across the U.S. charge private insurers an average of 247 percent more than what Medicare would pay for the same care, according to a RAND Corp. study published Sept. 18.
UPMC Lock Haven closed indefinitely after fire
UPMC Lock Haven (Pa.) remains closed four days after a fire prompted it to evacuate patients and shut down, according to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.
Outlook remains negative for US for-profit hospitals, Moody's says
Moody's Investors Service maintained its negative outlook for U.S. for-profit hospitals due to waning federal aid, shifting payer mixes and varying volume trends.
Texas regulators approve sale of 2 CHS hospitals under COPA law
Texas regulators have approved Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems' planned divestiture of two hospitals in the state, despite objection from the Federal Trade Commission.
Private equity-backed hospitals receive $2.5B in COVID-19 aid
Hospital chains owned by three private equity firms received a combined $2.5 billion in federal grants and loans to offset financial damage linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Bloomberg.
CEO/STRATEGY
39 health systems declare racism a public health crisis, vow to fight it
Thirty-nine health systems across the U.S. declared racism a public health crisis and committed to address healthcare disparities across the nation.
Trump signs executive orders on healthcare: 6 things to know
President Donald Trump on Sept. 24 signed two executive orders implementing his "America First Healthcare Plan."
Florida Hospital Association names new CEO
The Florida Hospital Association has tapped Mary Mayhew as president and CEO.
Geisinger's food service strategy amid the pandemic: Insights from senior director Steve Cerullo
As the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., hospitals and health systems began rethinking their food service operations to address safety concerns and shifting patient volumes.
CEO: Running Temple Health 'most challenging task I've ever had'
Mike Young, the CEO of Philadelphia-based Temple Health, said managing the system's cash-strapped safety-net hospitals is "the most challenging task I've ever had" in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer.
WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP
Advocate Aurora CNO Adrienne Schultz on her healthcare inspirations, the challenges of being a female leader and striking a work-life balance
Adrienne Schultz, MSN, RN, is relatively new to her position as vice president and CNO of Cudahy, Wis.-based Advocate Aurora St. Luke's South Shore, a role which she began in July. However, she brought with her more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience.
Why North Memorial Health's Dr. Carolyn Ogland ditched career balance for focusing on the moment
Carolyn Ogland, MD, learned from an early age how healthcare workers can help patients and their families, and that continues to be her focus as CMO of Robbinsdale, Minn.-based North Memorial Health.
Campbell County Health welcomes its first female CEO
Campbell County Health in Gillette, Wyo., has welcomed Colleen Heeter, RN, BSN, as its first female CEO, according to the Gillette News Record.
Physician practices with less gender diversity have bigger pay gender gaps, study finds
Medical practices that employ more male physicians also have a larger pay gap between men and women, a study published in The BMJ found.
Women's equality in the US: Where does your state rank?
Hawaii is the No. 1 state in the country when evaluated for equal treatment for men and women in the workplace, education and health, and political empowerment, according to rankings from WalletHub.
INNOVATION
20 bold predictions for health IT in the next 5 years
The pandemic accelerated adoption of telehealth, remote monitoring and digital health capabilities by nearly a decade for some organizations.
7 hospitals, health systems piloting digital transformation programs
Hospitals and health systems across the U.S. are pushing digital transformation efforts forward by creating new tools and launching innovative programs.
Disney exec tapped as Baptist Health South Florida's 1st digital chief
Miami-based Baptist Health South Florida named Walt Disney executive Tony Ambrozie its first senior vice president and chief digital officer.
Jefferson Health CEO Dr. Stephen Klasko joins digital health company board
President of Philadelphia-based Thomas Jefferson University and CEO of Jefferson Health Stephen Klasko, MD, joined the board for digital health company OODA Health.
Mayo ramping Google partnership back up and plans to open AI factory
The pandemic shifted strategic focus and investments for Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic as the system sought to treat patients safely and using resources responsibly during the early days.
CIO/HEALTH IT
10 health systems cut IT jobs in the past year
Some hospitals and health systems have downsized their information technology departments during the past year due to restructuring, lost revenue during the pandemic and outsourcing.
Roper St. Francis employee email hack exposes 6,000 patient medical records
Charleston, S.C.-based Roper St. Francis Hospital began notifying 6,000 patients Sept. 3 that their medical records and information had been exposed after a hospital employee's email account was hacked, according to local ABC affiliate WCIV.
OCR updates HIPAA resources for cloud computing, mobile health apps: 3 details
HHS' Office for Civil Rights on Sept. 1 updated its previous Health App Developer Portal and changed it to a HIPAA resource page for cloud computing, mobile health apps and application programming interfaces.
Waving 'a magic wand' over the EHR: 7 hospital execs share the tools they'd add overnight
Seven chief innovation and digital officers from hospitals and health systems across the U.S. share the tools on their EHR wish lists.
Cerner names new chief strategy officer: 4 things to know
William Mintz will serve as Kansas City, Mo.-based Cerner's new chief strategy officer.
CMO/CARE DELIVERY
HCA hospital staff link device malfunction, patient death to understaffing
A patient at North Suburban Medical Center died in May after staff members failed to change the battery on the individual's pulse oximeter in a timely manner, according to a state inspection report cited by The Denver Post.
Michigan NP sentenced to probation for reusing rectal devices on patients, fraud
A Michigan nurse practitioner received probation after pleading guilty to healthcare fraud and reusing single-use rectal pressure sensors on several patients, according to Booth Newspapers.
COVID-19 response efforts could reduce flu toll, CDC says
Widespread adoption of social distancing and other measures to control the spread of COVID-19 could lead to a less severe flu season in the Northern Hemisphere, a new CDC report found.
Biggest clinical priorities within the next 3-5 years: 3 CCOs weigh in
As clinicians continue to work on the front lines of an ongoing pandemic, policies and protocols promoting efficient care delivery while supporting the well-being of providers and patients is essential.
5 nurse leadership styles to know
All nurses are leaders, regardless of their title, and must identify the leadership style that works best for them, Kimberly Gibbons, DNP, RN, a nurse midwife and clinical instructor at Manchester-based Southern New Hampshire University, wrote in a Sept. 8 blog post.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Living Like a Leader: A day in the life of Paul Viviano, CEO of Children's Hospital Los Angeles
"When the pandemic first showed up, I asked our leaders who could do so safely to be present, to be here, be visible and ensure we are leading by example since we are designated as an essential service. There was a lot of pressure to have team members work remotely, but I asked my direct reports to refrain from working from home routinely. I wanted our presence to be felt by the entire team."
Becker's Clinical Leadership Virtual Event: 5 Qs with Dr. James Kravec, market chief clinical officer at Mercy Health Youngstown
As part of an ongoing series, Becker's is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the first Becker's Healthcare Clinical Leadership Virtual Event Sept. 9-10.
Tampa General CEO John Couris: Taking a step back to reflect amid COVID-19
There is no question that COVID-19 has changed the way we operate day to day. One thing that has remained constant — and should be respected — is the unpredictability of it.
Spectrum Health CEO Tina Freese Decker on accomplishments, history and health equity
Tina Freese Decker's nearly two decades of leadership at Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Spectrum Health have allowed her to address healthcare challenges such as access and affordability. Now, as president and CEO, she is also helping drive change in health equity.
4 questions with Kevin Conroy, CFO and chief population health officer at CareMount Medical
Kevin Conroy serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Population Health Officer at CareMount Medical.