September 2020 Issue of Becker's Hospital Review
ON THE COVER
10 most, least concentrated hospital markets
The hospital market in New York City is the least concentrated in the country, while Springfield, Mo., is home to the most concentrated market, according to an analysis from the Health Care Cost Institute.
Hospital margins could sink to a negative 7% this year: 5 things to know
The COVID-19 pandemic has created financial challenges for hospitals and health systems, and, without additional federal aid, half of US hospitals could be operating in the red in the second half of this year, according to an analysis released by the American Hospital Association on July 21.
Viewpoint: No need to clap for healthcare workers — just wear a mask
Jeremy Rose, MD, remembers what 7 p.m. in April once sounded like in New York: city residents rushing to fire escapes and balconies with pots and pans, clapping and cheering on front-line healthcare workers as they ended their shifts.
Average signing bonuses for 5 recruited medical specialties
Internal medicine physicians saw the greatest average signing bonus offered to recruits this year among the five most requested medical specialties, according to Merritt Hawkins' 2020 Review of Physician and Advanced Practitioner Recruiting Incentives.
7 hospitals buying land for expansions
Below are seven hospitals or health systems that purchased or announced plans to buy land for expansions since Jan. 1, as reported by Becker's Hospital Review.
Hospitals overbilled Medicare $1B by upcoding claims, inspector general finds
Hospitals overbilled Medicare $1 billion by incorrectly assigning severe malnutrition diagnosis codes to inpatient hospital claims, according to a report from HHS' Office of Inspector General.
Fitch: Nonprofit hospital margins unlikely to recover until COVID-19 vaccine
Median financial ratios for nonprofit hospitals and health systems improved before the COVID-19 pandemic, which will provide some financial cushion to withstand financial pressures, according to a report from Fitch Ratings.
Walmart Health expanding to Florida, Illinois
Walmart plans to expand its standalone health clinics to Florida and Illinois, the company said June 22.
10 best healthcare companies for women to advance
Thirty-five companies made Parity.org's 2020 list of the Best Companies for Women to Advance, 10 of which are in the healthcare industry.
Pandemic sped up Mayo's digital transformation by 10 years, Dr. John Halamka says
John Halamka, MD, joined Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic in January to lead the health system's digital transformation as president of Mayo Clinic Platform.
Kaleida cites $25M Cerner EHR expense among reasons for 2019 loss
Buffalo, N.Y.-based Kaleida Health reported a $24 million loss on $1.86 billion revenue in 2019 and partially blamed an EHR investment for the loss, according to a Buffalo Business First report.
Geisinger settles lawsuit over NICU infections that killed 3 infants
Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger has reached a settlement with the families of infants who died or were injured as a result of contracting bacterial infections while in the neonatal intensive care unit at Geisinger Medical Center, according to the Times Leader.
Texas CMO warns about 'COVID parties' occurring in multiple states after patient death
A Texas hospital has reported a patient death linked to a "COVID party," gatherings that have occurred in multiple states, according to The New York Times.
Carl Armato + Pam Oliver, MD
Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health was one of three major health systems competing to expand in North Carolina by securing a deal to partner with or own New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C. Recently, Novant Health received the answer it was hoping for: It was selected as the medical center's ideal partner.
Alexa Kimball, MD
From addressing staff anxiety to retraining physicians to practice in an intensive care unit, unparalleled challenges have confronted physician group leaders amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kelly Hancock, DNP, RN
Kelly Hancock, DNP, RN, became Cleveland Clinic's first chief caregiver officer June 19, bringing 27 years of experience at the organization.
Michael Dowling
I am not exaggerating when I tell people that my organization, Northwell Health, has been through a war. What other metaphor even comes close?
Peter Fine
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.
Cliff Robertson, MD
Cliff Robertson, MD, joined Omaha, Neb.-based CHI Health in 2014. During his tenure, CHI Health has been ranked among IBM Watson Health's 15 top health systems; CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln, Neb., opened a trauma center; and CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island, Neb., achieved Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
CFO / FINANCE
Jackson Health 'on a disastrous course' after missing out on COVID-19 relief aid, CEO says
Jackson Health System, a safety-net system based in Miami, has recorded losses of $78 million this year and has been shut out of federal funding meant to help hospitals hardest hit by the pandemic, according to the Miami Herald.
Quorum exits bankruptcy, names new CEO
Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health has emerged from bankruptcy, about three months after entering the Chapter 11 restructuring process.
For-profit providers must pay taxes on COVID-19 relief funding, IRS says
The IRS clarified that for-profit providers must pay taxes on COVID-19 relief payments.
Hospitals overbilled Medicare $1B by upcoding claims, inspector general finds
Hospitals overbilled Medicare $1 billion by incorrectly assigning severe malnutrition diagnosis codes to inpatient hospital claims, according to a report from HHS' Office of Inspector General.
Hospital margins could sink to a negative 7% this year: 5 things to know
The COVID-19 pandemic has created financial challenges for hospitals and health systems, and, without additional federal aid, half of US hospitals could be operating in the red in the second half of this year, according to an analysis released by the American Hospital Association on July 21.
CEO/STRATEGY
Beaumont Health CEO, CMO target of no confidence petition
A no-confidence petition on Beaumont Health President and CEO John Fox and Executive Vice President and CMO David Wood Jr., MD, is being circulated by some physician leaders at the Southfield, Mich.-based health system, according to Crain's Detroit Business.
Intermountain CEO: 7 things I've learned from the pandemic
Expansion of telehealth. Primary care investments. Unaffordable healthcare costs. None of these topics are new to healthcare, but the COVID-19 pandemic has provided fresh insight into just how important they are in the delivery of care.
CEO coronavirus response swayed by 3 biases
CEOs don't have road maps for unprecedented situations like the coronavirus pandemic, and instead rely heavily on their existing skills and personality traits in their response.
AdventHealth CEO amid Florida COVID-19 surge: 'I wouldn't hesitate to go to Disney'
As Florida recorded more than 15,000 new cases of COVID-19, the CEO of Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth said July 12 he would feel comfortable visiting Walt Disney World Resort, which has opened up two of its parks, according to CBS News.
Quorum is ready to grow after shedding 16 hospitals
Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health recently emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The for-profit hospital operator's new CEO says the company is now set up for growth, according to the Nashville Business Journal.
WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP
Leading a physicians group through COVID-19 challenges: 6 questions with Harvard's Dr. Alexa Kimball
From addressing staff anxiety to retraining physicians to practice in an intensive care unit, unparalleled challenges have confronted physician group leaders amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Female researchers are publishing less than men: 3 ways to help close this gap
Early research shows women in academic science and medicine are publishing less than their male peers, likely due to them shouldering more childcare and household responsibilities during the pandemic, reports STAT.
64% of female physicians cite work-life balance as major career challenge: 4 takeaways
The stress of balancing personal and professional demands is the biggest career challenge among female physicians, according to a new report from Medscape.
10 best healthcare companies for women to advance
Thirty-five companies made Parity.org's 2020 list of the Best Companies for Women to Advance, 10 of which are in the healthcare industry.
28% of men say gender equity gains come at their expense, Pew finds
Nearly three in 10 men say that progress toward gender equity comes at their own expense, according to a recent survey from the Pew Research Center.
INNOVATION
Pandemic sped up Mayo's digital transformation by 10 years, Dr. John Halamka says
John Halamka, MD, joined Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic in January to lead the health system's digital transformation as president of Mayo Clinic Platform.
MIT, Brigham and Women's Hospital design reusable N95 mask
Bioengineers at Cambridge-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology teamed up with clinicians at Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital to design N95 masks that can be sterilized for reuse.
Henry Ford Health System pilots no-touch digital health screening kiosks
Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System launched a pilot of 10 digital health screening kiosks, which can capture and monitor vital signs without touching the individual, according to a July 20 Detroit Free Press report.
CU Anschutz Medical Campus' innovation fund secures $50M
CU Healthcare Innovation Fund secured $50 million in committed capital to invest in early stage healthcare companies.
These 5 healthcare startups have received millions in investments in 2020
Large health systems and venture capital firms nationwide are investing millions in startups whose products could bring critical innovation to healthcare delivery.
CIO/HEALTH IT
Cringeworthy conversations: 5 health IT leaders sound off on language they find most annoying
Health IT leaders have struggled to keep their eyes from rolling at such vague terms as disruption and innovation for years, but new abstract and overused language continues to pop up in their work conversations.
US insurers cutting telehealth coverage as COVID-19 cases surge
After changing policies to cover telehealth more broadly during the pandemic, some insurers are scaling it back even as COVID-19 cases surge in some states, according to USA Today.
Cerner employees told to work from home through end of 2020
Kansas City, Mo.-based Cerner will not reopen its company offices until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Kansas City Business Journal.
The AWS-Cerner collaboration 1 year in: What they've accomplished and where they're headed
Cerner and Amazon Web Services inked an agreement in July 2019 aimed at improving efficiency and lowering costs.
University Health System to begin $170M Epic EHR implementation
San Antonio-based University Health System decided to move forward with its Epic EHR implementation after a two-month delay, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
CMO/CARE DELIVERY
COVID-19 infection control failures at Pennsylvania facility put 128 residents in immediate jeopardy
Conditions at Spring City, Pa.-based Southeastern Veterans' Center placed 128 of 154 residents in immediate jeopardy, a June inspection found, as reported by The Washington Post.
Former VA nursing aide pleads guilty to 7 murder charges
A former nursing aide at a Veterans Affairs hospital in West Virginia pleaded guilty July 14 to seven counts of second-degree murder and one count of assault with the intent to commit murder, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Geisinger settles lawsuit over NICU infections that killed 3 infants
Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger has reached a settlement with the families of infants who died or were injured as a result of contracting bacterial infections while in the neonatal intensive care unit at Geisinger Medical Center, according to the Times Leader.
How researchers' understanding of airborne COVID-19 transmission has evolved: A timeline of key studies, reports
Since March, researchers worldwide have published several studies exploring how the new coronavirus interacts with the air. These findings have evolved as the world continues to learn more about the new virus.
Two-dose COVID-19 vaccines could complicate efforts to immunize billions of people
A COVID-19 vaccine that requires two doses may be more effective at protecting against the disease, but would also make the effort to immunize billions of people much more complicated, Bloomberg reported.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Cleveland Clinic's first chief caregiver officer on supporting 70,000 employees during crisis
Kelly Hancock, DNP, RN, became Cleveland Clinic's first chief caregiver officer June 19, bringing 27 years of experience at the organization.
Michael Dowling: COVID-19 put my system through hell and back
I am not exaggerating when I tell people that my organization, Northwell Health, has been through a war. What other metaphor even comes close?
Living Like a Leader: A day with Banner Health CEO Peter Fine
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.
Corner Office: CHI Health CEO Dr. Cliff Robertson on the 2 questions he answers for employees
Cliff Robertson, MD, joined Omaha, Neb.-based CHI Health in 2014. During his tenure, CHI Health has been ranked among IBM Watson Health's 15 top health systems; CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln, Neb., opened a trauma center; and CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island, Neb., achieved Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.