October 2018 Issue of Beckers Hospital Review
ON THE COVER
100 great community hospitals | 2018
Becker's Healthcare is pleased to releasethe 2018 edition of its 100 Great Community Hospitals. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
10 MDs to FOLLOW on TWITTER
With 335 million users, Twitter can feel overwhelming. Here are 10 physician accounts that stand out from the crowd, presented in alphabetical order. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
What to do if You're Laid Off: 3 Tips From 2 Ex-Hospital Executives
No one, from the starry-eyed engineer at a health IT startup to the tenured hospital administrator, is immune from the risk of layoffs. While layoffs are tough to endure, employees can make the experience less painful by preparing for the worst. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
8 Healthcare Leaders Share Their Physician Alignment Strategies
Hospital and health system executives realize collaboration with their physician partners is crucial for operational and financial success. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
143 ACOs to KNOW IN 2018
There are 649 ACOs across the U.S., according to the National Association of ACOs, including Medicare ACO program participants and independent ACOs. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Why 3 Health Systems Changed Their Names
A health system's name and branding are becoming even more important amid the rise in healthcare consumerism and other industry trends. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CFO / FINANCE
CMS miscalculated MIPS payment adjustments: 4 things to know
CMS recently disclosed it made an error when processing quality scores for physicians participating in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Vanderbilt University Medical Center points to Epic rollout for 68% drop in operating income
Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center saw revenues increase in fiscal year 2018, but the hospital ended the period with lower operating income, according to recently released unaudited financial documents. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Healthcare finance leaders share 7 cost-cutting strategies
Hospitals and health systems increasingly face financial pressures from dwindling reimbursement, increasing competition, deteriorating payer mix and other factors. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Cleveland Clinic’s operating income plunges 80% in Q2
Cleveland Clinic ended the second quarter of 2018 with operating income of $25.1 million, down 80 percent from $130.5 million in the same period a year earlier, according to unaudited financial document
released in August. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Michigan hospital blames ‘aggressive, direct competitor’ for financial troubles
Dickinson County Healthcare System in Iron Mountain, Mich., continues to face financial stress even after laying off about 10 percent of its staff in the past year, according to The Daily News. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Massive billing scheme spread to 10-hospital group, lawsuit alleges
Dickinson County Healthcare System in Iron Mountain, Mich., continues to face financial stress even after laying off about 10 percent of its staff in the past year, according to The Daily News. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
California health system’s bankruptcy challenged by employee union
El Segundo, Calif.-based Verity Health System, the nonprofit operator of six hospitals, filed for bankruptcy protection Aug. 31. The bankruptcy proceedings are being challenged by SEIU-UHW, a union representing 2,000 workers at Verity Health hospitals. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Nashville General has no documentation for $400K in credit card purchases by leaders, audit finds
Three Nashville (Tenn.) General Hospital leaders spent $401,419 in credit card purchases over two years, but the hospital does not have documentation for 85 percent of the transactions, The Tennessean reported, citing a new city internal audit. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Comcast is reinventing employee healthcare: 4 things to know
America's largest cable company, Comcast, is bypassing health insurers to tackle its medical costs directly — and has kept its healthcare costs nearly flat while other large employers watch their costs rise an average 3 percent each year, according to The New York Times. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
BCBS of Texas to stop reimbursing nonemergent ER visits
Starting Aug. 6, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will no longer pay for out-of-network emergency room visits in which the insurer determines the patient should have sought treatment elsewhere, according to the Houston Chronicle. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Vermont board won't weigh in on hospital CEO compensation after request to freeze pay
After a Vermont mental health advocate urged healthcare regulators to establish a one-year freeze on hospital administrators' salaries if they make more than $500,000 a year, regulators said they won't get directly involved in executive pay, VTDigger reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
57% of Americans have been surprised by a medical bill,most blame insurers
Fifty-seven percent of Americans say they've received a surprise medical bill they thought would be covered by insurance, according to a recent survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Why massive CEO, employee pay discrepancies aren't drawing much backlash
After a Securities and Exchange Commission rule required public companies to disclose the pay ratio of their CEOs and median employees for the first time this year, corporate leaders prepared for backlash—but discussion on CEO pay appears to be overshadowed by conversation about gender pay gaps, Bloomberg reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
The healthcare job most likely to get a pay raise
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics were the only healthcare positions named on a list of jobs most likely to provide a pay raise, according to a report from comparison platform and information service website finder.com. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
29 statistics on annual physician compensation by specialty
The average overall physician salary is $299,000, including primary care and specialties, with plastic surgeons earning the highest average annual compensation at $501,000, according to Medscape's annual Physician Compensation Report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
New $8B health system: Bon Secours, Mercy Health finalize merger
Marriottsville, Md.-based Bon Secours Health System and Cincinnati-based Mercy Health finalized their merger Sept. 5, establishing one of the largest Catholic healthcare systems in the nation. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Tenet exits UK market after 3 years
Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare announced on Aug. 20 it has completed the sale of London-based Aspen Healthcare to NMC Healthcare, which is based in the United Arab Emirates. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Gundersen Health’s $50K knee replacement list price is 5 times what it costs
In 2016, a La Crosse, Wis.-based Gundersen Health System hospital's average list price for knee replacement surgery was more than $50,000. After an 18-month review, Gundersen found the procedure actually cost a fifth of the list price — $10,550 at most, according to The Wall Street Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Pennsylvania man receives 2 echocardiograms at same hospital — one cost $170, the other $3,101
A Pennsylvania man received two echocardiograms at Paoli (Pa.) Hospital: the first diagnosed a heart defect, and the second was to confirm a procedure was successful. The price was $339 for the first and $3,484 for the latter, according to the The Philadelphia Inquirer. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Partners Q3 operating income nearly doubles
Boston-based Partners HealthCare saw its operating income rise in the third quarter of fiscal year 2018 despite a decline in revenues, according to recently released financial documents. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Hospitals are investing in housing — Here's why
Several factors, including changes in reimbursement, have motivated some hospitals to invest in community housing projects, according to NPR. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Academic medical centers generally behind counterparts in cost, quality, study finds
Academic medical centers do not necessarily achieve better cost and quality metrics compared to non-academic medical centers, suggests a new Navigant study. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Medicare is driving ACO growth: 4 report findings
ACOs continued to grow in size and count in 2017 and early 2018, according to an analysis from Leavitt Partners and the Accountable Care Learning Collaborative. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Tennessee health system files for bankruptcy, says it owes CHS $28M
Knoxville, Tenn.-based Curae Health and its three hospitals in Mississippi filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Aug. 24. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Steward to close Ohio hospital, lay off 388
Dallas-based Steward Health Care plans to close Northside Regional Medical Center in Youngstown, Ohio, Sept. 20. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
NYU makes medical school tuition free for all students
New York University in New York City is covering tuition for all its medical students regardless of their economic background in an effort to alleviate the nationwide shortage of medical researchers and primary care physicians, the Wall Street Journal reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
450 hospitals at risk of potential closure, Morgan Stanley analysis finds
More than 15 percent of U.S. hospitals have weak financial metrics or are at risk of potential closure, according to Business Insider, which cited a recent report from Morgan Stanley. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CHS, Quorum say investors weren't duped into buying stock at inflated prices
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems and Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health urged a federal judge not to grant class certification in a shareholder lawsuit alleging Quorum's stock was trading at an inflated price after its spinoff from CHS. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Oklahoma hospital, Aetna accuse management company of billing fraud
Shattuck, Okla.-based Newman Memorial Hospital and Aetna filed lawsuits against People's Choice Hospital, an Oak Brook, Ill.-based management company, alleging People's Choice committed billing fraud, according to News OK. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
South Carolina hospital to close: 4 things to know
Fairfield Memorial Hospital in Winnsboro, S.C., the only hospital in its county, will close by the end of this year, according to The State. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Mississippi hospital files for bankruptcy
Magee (Miss.) General Hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Aug. 24. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Proposed payment changes likely to ding hospital margins
Proposed hospital reimbursement changes included in CMS' Outpatient Prospective Payment System rule for 2019 would generally be credit negative for nonprofit and for-profit hospitals, according to a Moody's Investors Service report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Houston hospital appeals loss of federal funding for heart transplants
Houston-based Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center filed an administrative appeal with CMS on Sept. 14, about a month after the agency terminated Medicare and Medicaid funding for the hospital's heart transplant program, according to the Houston Chronicle. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Moody's: Margin contraction puts nonprofit hospitals on unsustainable path
Annual expense growth for nonprofit and public hospitals outpaced annual revenue growth in fiscal year 2017, according to Moody's Investors Service. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Texas hospital lays off 40% of administrative staff amid financial troubles
Huntsville (Texas) Memorial Hospital is facing financial troubles, but the hospital is taking steps to shore up its finances, according to The Huntsville Item. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Kaiser's net income dips 35% to $653M
Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente reported higher revenue for its nonprofit hospital and health plan units in the second quarter of 2018, but the system ended the period with lower net income.CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
6-hospital Verity Health files for bankruptcy
El Segundo, Calif.-based Verity Health, which operates six hospitals in Northern and Southern California and maintains ties to billionaire former surgeon Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD, filed for bankruptcy Aug. 31, Reuters reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Illinois hospital closes: 4 things to know
Mishawaka, Ind.-based Franciscan Health closed its hospital in Chicago Heights, Ill., on Sept. 7 as part of a restructuring plan that involved consolidating services at Franciscan's hospital in Olympia Fields, Ill. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Texas microhospital forced to close due to sharp decline in reimbursement
Dallas-based Complete Care closed its microhospital in El Paso, Texas, Aug. 12, just six months after the facility opened, according to the El Paso Times. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Texas Children's operating income soars 448% in first 9 months of fiscal year
Houston-based Texas Children's saw revenues and operating income increase in the first nine months of fiscal year 2018, according to recently released unaudited financial documents. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Highmark to pay ambulance companies for treating patients outside hospital
Highmark and Allegheny Health Network, both in Pittsburgh, launched a pilot program under which Highmark will reimburse ambulance companies for some calls where patients are not taken to a hospital, according to Trib Live. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
AMA releases 335 coding changes for 2019
The American Medical Association has released the 2019 Current Procedural Terminology code set. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Oscar Health to get $375M infusion from Alphabet
Google parent company Alphabet is planning to invest $375 million in Oscar Health, according to Wired. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Molina posts $202M profit after major restructure
Molina Healthcare saw its finances turn around in the three months ended June 30, after the health insurer recorded a $230 million net loss in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
8 things to know about CNO salary
The median annual salary for chief nursing officers in the U.S. is $125,857, according to data from Payscale. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Operator of 22 freestanding ERs files for bankruptcy
Houston-based Neighbors Emergency Center, which operates 22 freestanding emergency rooms, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to the Texarkana Gazette. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Americans rigging own medical safety nets as health plan costs climb
High health insurance prices have led a growing number of Americans to bypass commercial health plans and make their own medical safety nets, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Sharp, Providence Health, MemorialCare collaborate with Aetna for regional health plan
Three Southern California health systems — San Diego-based Sharp HealthCare, Mountain Valley-based MemorialCare and Renton, Wash.-based Providence Health and Services' Los Angeles County facilities — introduced a regional health plan with Aetna Aug. 13. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
The 2 work-from-home healthcare jobs with $85K-plus salaries
Nurse practitioners and radiologists were the two healthcare jobs listed among high-paying remote jobs, with radiologists having the highest median salary on the list at $260,604, according to a report from job seeker website FlexJobs. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Orlando Health's operating income rises 51% in Q3
Orlando (Fla.) Health saw its financial picture improve in the third quarter of fiscal year 2018, according to recently released bondholder documents. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
How Cleveland Clinic has been boxed out of Palm Beach
Despite a desire to expand its hospital presence in Palm Beach County, Fla., Cleveland Clinic largely has been shut out, according to My Palm Beach Post. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
HCA now owns 53 hospitals in Texas
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare expanded its Gulf Coast Division with the addition of North Cypress Medical Center, a 139-bed hospital in Houston. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-transactions-and-valuation/hca-now-owns-53-hospitals-in-texas.html
Ascension sells Washington hospital to for-profit chain
St. Louis-based Ascension has completed the sale of Lourdes Health Network in Pasco, Wash., to Brentwood, Tenn.-based RCCH HealthCare Partners, which is owned by private equity firm Apollo Global Management, according to the Tri-City Herald. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Northwestern, Centegra complete 10-hospital merger
Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and Crystal Lake, Ill.-based Centegra Health System closed their merger deal Sept. 1. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
For-profit hospital chain closes $78M deal for Washington health system
Brentwood, Tenn.-based RCCH Healthcare Partners has acquired Kennewick, Wash.-based Trios Health through a joint venture with Seattle-based University of Washington Medicine, according to the Tri-City Herald. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
UMMC withdraws offer to affiliate with 208-bed hospital
The Jackson-based University of Mississippi Medical Center rescinded its offer to affiliate with the financially struggling Greenwood (Miss.) Leflore Hospital, according to the Delta Daily News. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Sanford CEO aims to announce merger plans with $1B Chicago system by year's end
Kelby Krabbenhoft, president and CEO of Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health, said the health system is on track to expand into several areas — including Chicago and Minnesota — and aims to announce certain merger plans by the end of 2018, according to SiouxFalls.Business. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Brown University joins Partners, Care New England deal
Boston-based Partners HealthCare, Care New England and Brown University, both in Providence, R.I., signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize their commitment to improving care and bringing biomedical innovation to Rhode Island, the organizations announced Aug. 7. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
93% of metropolitan hospital markets will be highly concentrated by 2019: 5 things to know
One of the biggest inflators of medical costs in 2019 will be hospital megamergers, a new analysis by PwC's Health Research Institute suggests. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Hospitals close at 30-a-year pace: 3 things to know
Hospitals have been closing at a rate of about 30 a year, and the pace of closures is poised to accelerate, according to Bloomberg. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Texas hospital reduces patient's $109K balance bill to $332 after media coverage
Austin, Texas-based St. David's HealthCare resolved a patient's $108,951 balance shortly after Kaiser Health News and NPR published a story about the patient's out-of-network medical bill. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
West Virginia University Health System looks to add 9th hospital
Braxton County Memorial Hospital in Gassaway, W.Va., has signed a letter of intent to joint Morgantown-based West Virginia University Health System. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
University of Kansas Health System acquires competing hospital
Kansas City-based University of Kansas Health System completed the purchase of Great Bend (Kan.) Regional Hospital and its affiliated clinics. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Shuttered Texas hospital strikes lease deal
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has entered into a letter of intent to lease Bay Area Regional Medical Center in Webster, Texas, which closed in May. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Texas Health Resources' net income sinks 63% in first half of 2018
Arlington-based Texas Health Resources saw revenues increase in the first six months of this year, but the system ended the period with lower operating income and net income than in the first half of 2017, according to recently released financial documents. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
IU Health sees operating income jump 48% in first half of 2018
Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health reported a year-over-year increase in revenue and operating income in the first six months of 2018. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
UPMC sees net income dip 69% as operating margin improves
Pittsburgh-based UPMC reported higher revenues and operating income in the first half of 2018, but saw a significant drop in net income. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Mission Health pledges $90M to rural communities if HCA deal closes
Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health will distribute a combined $90 million to hospital foundations in six rural communities if its proposed sale to Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare closes. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Private equity firms pouring millions into physician offices: 3 things to know
Several private equity firms are investing in primary care clinic operators, driven in part by greater employer pressure to lower medical costs, according to Bloomberg. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Hospital-led ACOs perform worse than those led by physicians, study finds
Physician-led ACOs saved Medicare $256.4 million in 2015, but hospital-led ACOs actually cost the program money that same year, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CJR shows early success
Hospitals in the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model reduced average Medicare payments for episodes of care by 3.3 percent or more while maintaining quality during the first performance year, according to an analysis conducted by the Lewin Group, a Falls Church, Va.-based healthcare consulting firm and subsidiary of Optum. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CEO / STRATEGY
US News’ Best Hospitals 2018-19 Honor Roll
U.S. News & World Report released its Best Hospitals rankings for 2018-19 on Aug. 14. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Georgia hospital CEO asks for buyout amid physician firings backlash
The CEO of Valdosta-based South Georgia Medical Center sent a letter to the hospital's governing body asking them to end his contract after just 15 months, according to the Valdosta Daily Times. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Ascension fires 75% of DC-based Providence Health System’s board
Nine of Washington, D.C.-based Providence Health System's 12 board members were abruptly fired Aug. 30, according to emails obtained by the Washington City Paper. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
12 healthcare leaders share their daily mantras
Becker's Hospital Review asked readers to share their daily mantras. Readers shared messages they live by, as well as their own ways of approaching each day. Read about their daily mantras below. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Central Maine Healthcare CEO speaks out amid EHR woes, physician backlash
Jeff Brickman, CEO of Lewiston-based Central Maine Healthcare, said a breakdown in communication led staff at the system's three hospitals to openly oppose leadership and their decision-making, including the transition to a new EHR, according to the Bangor Daily News. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
‘Mayo magic’: How Mayo Clinic built its reputation as a leading hospital
During a recent appearance at the 22nd annual Wharton Leadership Conference in Philadelphia in June, Jeffrey Bolton, vice president of administration and chief administrative officer at the Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, discussed the "Mayo magic" that has helped raised the institution's profile as one of the nation's top hospitals, Knowledge@Wharton reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
What Amazon’s success can teach healthcare execs: 4 takeaways
Amazon saw its market valuation top $1 trillion Sept. 4, making it the second U.S. company to do so. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
11 healthcare leaders on the best, most efficient way to recognize employees
Becker's Hospital Review asked readers to share the best or most efficient way to recognize employees. Readers shared various methods, from handwritten notes to award ceremonies. Read their responses below. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Cleveland Clinic taps permanent chief strategy officer: 5 things to know
Cleveland Clinic selected Josette M. Beran to serve as its permanent chief strategy officer, effective immediately. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Indeed: 25 best hospitals to work for in 2018
Job search engine Indeed has released its annual ranking of top-rated workplaces among hospitals and healthcare employers July 31. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
HCA Healthcare CEO to retire at end of the year: 7 things to know
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare CEO R. Milton Johnson is retiring effective Dec. 31. Sam Hazen, the hospital giant's president and COO, will succeed Mr. Johnson Jan 1. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Amazon's newest hire is a top cardiologist from Mass General
Renowned cardiologist Maulik Majmudar, MD, is joining Amazon as the tech giant continues its push into the health sector, CNBC reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
47-hospital Adventist Health System changes name
Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based Adventist Health System revealed plans Aug. 14 to rebrand its nearly 50 hospitals to become a single consumer-centric, identifiable organization. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Intermountain cuts 396 jobs, adds 107 in reorganization
Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare said its reorganization of operations affected hundreds of positions, according to a Deseret News report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
UnitedHealthcare's CMO out weeks after taking role
Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, one of the nation's leading patient safety experts, left UnitedHealthcare weeks after being named CMO in summer 2018, according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Optum co-creator named COO of Amazon, Berkshire, JPMorgan venture
The healthcare venture launched by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase picked a former Comcast and Optum executive to be its COO. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Why COO hire is a 'bold statement' for Amazon-JPMorgan-Berkshire venture
The Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase health venture appointed a second individual to its executive team Sept. 4. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Geisinger, Dignity + 15 health systems join forces to improve Medicaid care
Seventeen health systems comprising 280 hospitals launched an initiative to improve care for Medicaid patients through financially sustainable solutions. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Healthcare – no easy answers: A quick commentary from Scott Becker
One of the few things I find astounding is the constant criticism by new people that join the healthcare world, and how they immediately criticize hospital and health system leadership. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Healthcare turns to outside sources to lead marketing efforts
A record number of chief marketing officer job shifts have taken place during the first half of 2018, according to data gathered by global executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates cited by Forbes. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Mount Sinai launches its own TV show in NY
New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System is launching its own television series on a local cable channel run by The City University of New York. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Healthcare job growth continues; hospitals added 8K jobs in August
Healthcare added 33,200 jobs in August, with hospitals contributing 8,200 to that total, according to the latest jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
ProMedica lays off 100 employees to cut costs
Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica laid off about 100 employees this week, the majority of whom held positions in "leadership roles and corporate functions," according to The Blade. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Drucker Institute: 22 most effectively managed healthcare companies
Twenty-two healthcare companies made the Management Top 250, a ranking compiled by the Drucker Institute. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
How Allina Health's CEO launched a fight against mental health stigma
After watching a friend struggle to get mental health services for a child, Minneapolis-based Allina Health President and CEO Penny Wheeler, MD, helped launch an initiative to make employees more aware of the stigma surrounding mental health, a news post from the American Hospital Association reveals. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Ex-Lutheran Health CEO seeks investors for private venture
The former CEO of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Lutheran Health Network is searching for investors for his private venture, which could become the city's third full-service health system, according to The Journal Gazette. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
California health systems form alliance to advise on climate change laws, regulations
As deadly fires and record-breaking heat waves ravage California, four of the state's largest health systems joined to form the California Health Care Climate Alliance ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit in September to call for greater coordinated action to address climate change. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Steward Health Care moves headquarters to Dallas
Steward Health Care, the largest private hospital operator in the nation, has officially moved its headquarters from Boston to Dallas, according to The Boston Business Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CIO / HEALTH IT
Google turns 20: Here are 7 ways it’s changing healthcare
It's been two decades since Google launched on Sept. 4, 1998. Since then, the company has become prolific in the tech space. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
All of US News’ top 20 hospitals use Epic
U.S. News & World Report released its Best Hospitals rankings for 2018-19 on Aug. 14, and Becker's Hospital Review looked into which EHRs the top 20 institutions are using — across the board, the answer was Epic. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Hospitals with ‘basic’ EHRs keep physicians longer than those with ‘advanced’ EHRs, study finds
Although many reports have attributed physicians leaving medicine to frustration with EHRs, a recent study in the forthcoming issue of Information Systems Research shows basic EHRs have increased the tenure of physicians' hospital-based careers. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Apple is hiring for its health business
Apple is seeking an engineering manager to support its health business. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Northwestern lays off 60 IT workers after Epic EHR rollout
Northwestern Medicine is laying off 60 IT staffers after it launched a new health records system in March, according to the Chicago Tribune. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Epic, athenahealth & more offer app stores — Here’s how many apps they offer
Although consumer app stores — such as Google Play or Apple's App Store — are widely known among the general public, the healthcare industry has been slow to adopt its own app stores, according to a report by market research firm Chilmark Research. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Pew, AMA: 6 components to consider when assessing EHR safety, usability
The Pew Charitable Trusts, MedStar Health's National Center for Human Factors in Healthcare in Washington, D.C., and the American Medical Association released a report outlining ways to improve EHR safety and usability Aug. 28. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Into the wild with health IT: 6 highlights from Judy Faulkner’s Epic UGM address
Epic CEO and Founder Judy Faulkner equated surviving in nature to staying afloat in the today's health technology industry in her 2018 executive address at the company's annual Users Group Meeting Aug. 28, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Central Maine Healthcare CEO says EHR woes contributed to high physician turnover
Eighty of Central Maine Healthcare's 300 physicians have left the Lewistown-based organization this past fiscal year, which ended in June, one month after its three hospitals issued votes of no confidence in system CEO Jeff Brickman. But, Mr. Brickman thinks the staffing issues stem from something other than leadership: the health system's new EHR, the Portland Press Herald reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Dr. John Halamka cites 4 major barriers to healthcare interoperability
John D. Halamka, MD, CIO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and dean of technology for Harvard Medical School, both based in Boston, discussed his thoughts on healthcare interoperability during a recent interview with athenaInsight. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Data governance: 4 considerations for hospitals to balance
The eHealth Initiative Foundation, a healthcare collaborative focused on quality and safety improvement, and the healthcare division of LexisNexis Risk Solutions released a report on the importance of data governance in healthcare Aug. 20. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
To address the physician shortage, Japan plans 10 ‘AI hospitals’ — Here’s what they will look like
The Japanese government thinks it found a way to curb the physician shortage, Nikkei Asian Review reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
IBM Watson Health refutes media reports that its product is failing: 8 things to know
IBM said it is "setting the record straight" on its work with Watson Health after several recent media reports claimed the division's products recommend flawed advice and aren't based on real patient data. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
DOJ charges North Korean programmer in WannaCry ransomware attacks
The Department of Justice on Sept. 6 said it was charging a North Korean programmer in the 2017 "WannaCry" ransomware attack and two other high-profile hacks dating as far back as 2014, The Hill reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CISOs from 6 leading hospitals to create cybersecurity guidelines for vendors
Chief information security officers from six leading hospitals and health systems in the U.S. have teamed up to form the Provider Third Party Risk Management Council. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
258K individuals affected in 5-year Wisconsin hack, possibly by elected official
For nearly five years, data contained within the computer systems and networks of Adams County in Wisconsin — including personally identifiable information, protected health information and tax information — of 258,120 individuals had been inappropriately accessed, possibly by an elected official, Healthcare Info Security reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Hospitals aren’t buying cybersecurity insurance, FICO survey finds
Nearly 70 percent of U.S. healthcare providers haven't purchased cyber insurance, according to a recent survey. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Philips issues another cybersecurity alert for some of its medical devices
Philips released a security alert Aug. 21 about "resource exhaustion" flaws that put some of its central patient monitoring systems at risk for denial-of-service attacks, HealthcareInfoSecurity reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CVS, Teladoc team up to bring telehealth to MinuteClinics
CVS Health is taking its walk-in MinuteClinics virtual through a new partnership with Teladoc Health, the company said Aug. 8. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
How to improve patients’ satisfaction with telehealth? Pair it with in-person care, survey suggests
Patients who had an in-person medical visit before speaking with their physician via telehealth were more likely to report satisfaction with their remote care experience, according to a Rock Health report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
5 ways all generations — from millennials to seniors — are adopting virtual care
Millennials, generation Xers, baby boomers and seniors vary in how they're using virtual care, according to a Deloitte report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CHS faces investigation related to EHR incentive program
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems has received a civil investigative demand related to the company's adoption of EHRs and adherence to the meaningful use program, according to CHS' latest financial filing. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Cerner beats Epic on Forbes' best employers list: 9 health IT companies that made the cut
Forbes recently published its 2018 ranking of America's Best Employers, and several health IT companies made the cut this year. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Most hospital, clinic execs agree Amazon will 'disrupt' healthcare more than Apple, Google
Fifty-nine percent of executives from healthcare providers agree Amazon will be the most "disruptive" tech giant to enter the industry, according to a Reaction Data report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUECLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Bezos backs startup aimed at delaying age-related diseases
Among the investors backing Unity Biotechnology, a startup that aims to develop drugs to extend the human lifespan, is Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, CNBC reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Mayo, GE, Deloitte join to expand personalized medicine
Vineti, a cell and gene therapy platform, and Deloitte, an audit and consulting firm, are collaborating to bring personalized medicine solutions to life sciences companies, healthcare providers and patients. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Cerner to take over IT department at Texas hospital
Cerner will take over the IT department at Medical Center Health System in Odessa, Texas, under an agreement the Ector County Hospital District board of directors approved Aug. 16, according to OA online. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Cerner President Zane Burke to step down
Cerner President Zane Burke will step down from his post at the company Nov. 2.Allscripts Q2 revenue up 23%: 5 things to know
Allscripts Q2 revenue up 23%: 5 things to know
Allscripts reported $526 million in revenue for the second quarter of 2018, a 23 percent increase year-over-year, according to earnings results posted Aug. 2. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
23andMe explores $749 'premium' service
23andMe is reportedly looking to offer a new, more expensive premium service for users who want more information about their health, CNBC reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Google is working to improve EHR note taking for physicians
Google has a idea it thinks will improve physicians' EHR documentation processes, according to a research paper cited in the Politico Morning eHealth newsletter. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Meditech's Q2 revenue up 7% from last year: 5 things to know
Meditech released its earnings results for the second quarter of 2018 on July 31. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Ancestry, 23andMe draft privacy rules for sharing DNA data with third parties
Direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies have agreed to a new set of guidelines that govern how they obtain customers' consent to share their DNA with other companies and researchers, according to Forbes. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Dr. Toby Cosgrove: AI is essential for healthcare
Technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality are necessary tools for hospitals to stay up to date with advancements in medicine, former Cleveland Clinic President and CEO Toby Cosgrove, MD, told Fortune. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Healthcare facilities aren't implementing ONC's EHR safety guidelines, study finds
Less than 20 percent of the ONC's guidelines for EHR safety are fully implemented across healthcare organizations, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Cerner's bookings up 9% in Q2: 4 things to know
Cerner reported its bookings were up 9 percent during the second quarter of 2018, hitting $1.78 billion, according to earnings results posted Aug. 2. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
NIH awards consortium $6.5M to create predictive models for precision medicine
The National Institutes of Health awarded a consortium of universities $6.5 million to establish a technology resource center, dubbed the Center for Reproducible Biomedical Modeling. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Vanderbilt researchers think this AI solution will help hospitals flag suicide risk
Data scientists from Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center created a machine-learning algorithm to identify which patients may be at risk of suicide, according to Quartz. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Defense Department hires 1st chief data officer
The U.S. Defense Department snagged former DXC Technology CTO Michael Conlin as its first-ever chief data officer, a role he assumed July 30, according to FedScoop. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
New ransomware strain masquerades as Barack Obama
A new strain of ransomware, dubbed "Barack Obama's Everlasting Blue Blackmail Virus," uses a photograph of former President Barack Obama as part of its extortion scam, Bleeping Computer reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Intel sold $1B in AI chips last year
Intel Corp. said it sold at least $1 billion in artificial intelligence processor chips during 2017, according to Reuters. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
New York City boasts highest concentration of AI jobs, Indeed.com finds
New York City, not San Francisco, may be the capital of the artificial intelligence space, according to an Indeed.com report cited by Bloomberg. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Google's newest sister company to tackle cybersecurity: 5 things to know
Google's parent company Alphabet launched Chronicle, a cybersecurity company, in January. Since then, the company has largely been silent about its work, until CNBC spoke with Chronicle CEO Stephen Gillett. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Analytics startups cinched $911M in funding in the first half of 2018
There were 383 venture capital deals in the digital health space during the first half of 2018, totaling $4.9 billion, according to a report by market research firm Mercom Capital Group. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
HIPAA through the years: 5 biggest fines since 2008
Two key laws govern patient privacy in the U.S. — HIPAA and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
IBM takes steps to prevent algorithmic bias in AI
IBM scientists have developed a new safeguard aimed at reducing algorithmic bias in artificial intelligence, Futurism reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Here's why fax machines may be hackers' next big target
Researchers at Israeli IT security company Check Point Software Technologies have identified a major vulnerability in fax machines that could allow hackers to tap into a company's network and steal sensitive files, CNBC reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Intel finds another major security flaw in its microchips
Intel Corp. has identified three more possible flaws to some of its microprocessors that could enable hackers to gain access to certain data from computer memory, Reuters reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
3M patient records breached in Q2: 6 things to know
Nearly 3.14 million patient records were breached during 142 incidents disclosed during the second quarter of 2018, according to a Protenus report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Most medical device cybersecurity issues attributed to user authentication, report finds
The most common cybersecurity vulnerability among medical devices relates to user authentication, which is often the first line of defense against a hacker, according to a MedCrypt report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
FCC advances work on $100M telehealth pilot program
The Federal Communications Commission took another step toward establishing a new telehealth pilot program, which the agency has referred to as "experimental," by opening the project to public comment Aug. 2. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
'Internet of medical things' to propel home healthcare market, report suggests
The rise in internet-connected medical devices, commonly referred to as the "internet of medical things," will spur growth in the home healthcare market, according to a report by the market research firm Frost & Sullivan. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Which IT trend is most promising? 29% of provider execs say telemedicine
Twenty-nine percent of executives from healthcare providers agree telemedicine is the most promising emerging technology trend in the healthcare industry, according to a Reaction Data report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Silicon Valley telehealth conference asks hospitals, vendors: 'What would Amazon do?'
This year's VSee Telehealth Secrets conference, slated for Oct. 2-4 in California's Silicon Valley, will focus on keeping physicians happy as hospitals implement new revenue and care delivery models. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
St. Luke's Health System opens 35K-square-foot 'virtual hospital'
Boise, Idaho-based St. Luke's Health System opened what it calls the region's first "virtual hospital" in August. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CMO / CARE DELIVERY
Famed Baylor St. Luke’s surgeon linked to 2015 heart transplant patient deaths
Newly released federal documents obtained by ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle connect famed heart transplant surgeon O.H. "Bud" Frazier, MD, of Houston-based Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, to a rash of patient deaths at the hospital in 2015. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Poor healthcare kills 8 million people a year
Between 5.7 million and 8.4 million people die each year in low- and middle-income countries from poor quality of care, a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
New York VA hospital physician misreported patients’ surgical outcomes, investigation reveals
A federal investigation found a surgeon at Albany (N.Y.) Stratton VA Medical Center misreported the surgical outcomes of three cancer patients who later required additional procedures to remove their tumors, according to Times Union. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Last OHSU heart surgeon resigns days after program suspension
The last heart failure transplant cardiologist on Portland, Ore.-based OHSU's heart transplant team revealed plans to leave the instituion, just days after OHSU said it plans to suspend the program, according to The Oregonian. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Social media hospital ratings don’t reliably predict clinical care quality, study finds
Although patients can visit various social media sites for crowdsourced insight on other patients' hospital experience, they shouldn't expect reliable guidance on the care quality they will receive, according to research from Bloomington-based Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CMS survey reveals serious deficiencies at South Dakota hospital
CMS has placed the Indian Health Service hospital on the Rosebud (S.D.) Sioux Indian Reservation on "immediate jeopardy" status and will terminate the hospital's Medicare provider agreement Aug. 30 unless the deficiencies are corrected. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CHOP sued after 23 infants contract, 1 dies from eye infection in 2016 sterilization breach
At least one infant died after contracting a viral eye infection while in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in the fall of 2016, according to a lawsuit filed earlier this month, The Inquirer reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
50 states ranked by sepsis care quality
Twenty-seven states fall below the national average for appropriate sepsis care, according to sepsis performance data added to CMS' Hospital Compare website in July. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Viewpoint: Why discrimination against female physicians threatens patient safety
After Tokyo Medical University admitted to changing medical school admission test scores to disadvantage female applicants, healthcare leaders should know the potential patient safety threat discrimination against female physicians creates, two authors contend in a Harvard Business Review op-ed. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
20 US states with most & least female physicians
Here are the 20 states that have the most and the least primary care physicians, including the fields of internal medicine, family medicine and general practice, obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
New York hospital severs 24-year tie with anesthesiology provider
Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital, part of Buffalo, N.Y.-based Kaleida Health, will shift to a new anesthesiology provider Jan. 1, 2019, ending a 24-year relationship with its current provider, according to Buffalo Business First. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Opinion: Why NYU ‘got it wrong’ with free med school tuition
The New York City-based NYU School of Medicine announced last week it would eliminate tuition for all current and prospective medical students to eliminate any potential financial barriers applicants may face and help address the nationwide physician shortage. However, Elisabeth Rosenthal, MD, editor-in-chief of Kaiser Health News, explains why NYU got it wrong. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Why physician burnout jumped to 54% over 3 years
Physician burnout increased from 45.5 percent to 54.4 percent between 2011 and 2014, according to an article in the American Journal of Medicine. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
What hospitals can learn from California EDs treating addiction on demand
Oakland, Calif.-based Highland Hospital is among a small number of U.S. emergency departments that give patients withdrawal medicine, an effort to change a healthcare system that often fails to give on-demand addiction treatment, The New York Times reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Opioid epidemic does not influence unemployment levels, researchers find
Despite conflicting information about the relationship between opioid use and national workforce levels, the opioid epidemic does not directly affect U.S. employment, according to research published in The Harvard Business Review. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Cities pushing for safe injection sites face federal pushback
The U.S. Department of Justice plans to crack down on U.S. cities that are considering opening medically-supervised drug injection sites to curb increasing rates of fatal drug overdoses, according to NPR. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
‘Post-hospital syndrome’ could be increasing readmissions for older patients
After discharge, the stress of hospitalization can leave patients unsettled and weakened, a state called "post-hospital syndrome" that researchers say can contribute to readmissions in elderly patients, The New York Times reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
8 ways hospitals are cutting readmissions
As hospitals work to reduce readmissions, healthcare experts are looking at why patients return to the hospital and strategizing ways to keep discharged patients from becoming inpatients again, according to U.S. News & World Report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Bacterial contamination of 6 frequently touched hospital objects
A study, published in Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, examined the bacterial contamination of common objects frequently touched by patients, visitors and healthcare workers in a hospital in Nepal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
New Hampshire hospital evacuated after 10 staffers mysteriously fall ill
Epping (N.H.) Regional Health Center was evacuated Aug. 9 after at least 10 staff members began feeling sick, WMUR-9 News reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
US hospital birth complications jumped 45% from 2006 through 2015
From 2006 to 2015, the U.S. saw a significant increase in the number of women who had serious complications while giving birth in hospitals, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Physician burnout doubles risk of patient safety incidents, study finds
Physician burnout is associated with a higher risk of patient safety incidents, poorer care and lower patient satisfaction, according to a study covered in an American Journal of Managed Care blog post. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Texas Children's Hospital fires nurse over Facebook post
A nurse at Houston-based Texas Children's Hospital was fired after she posted a patient's condition on an anti-vaccination Facebook page, hospital officials confirmed to Becker's Hospital Review. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Why the latest Ebola outbreak is worrying health officials
The most recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is proving extremely difficult for the World Health Organization to contain, according to STAT. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
4 ways hospitals can lower maternal mortality rates
To lower maternal mortality rates, hospitals can develop a standard approach to healthcare, Kelly Conklin, MSN, RN, vice president of quality and safety advisory services at healthcare improvement company Premier, writes in a blog post. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Denver hospital closes residency program after nearly 50 years
Denver-based Rose Medical Center ended its family medicine residency program after almost 50 years after the hospital's parent company and the Aurora-based University of Colorado School of Medicine, which runs the program, disagreed over how it should be operated, according to the Denver Business Journal. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Hospitals test whether dogs can sniff out C. diff
After infection control teams in the Netherlands and Vancouver, Canada, reported success in using dogs to sniff out patients with Clostridium difficile, Toronto researchers want to know whether canines can detect the dangerous infection in hospitals, STAT reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
State OKs university's plan to build medical school in Texas
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved Huntsville, Texas-based Sam Houston State University's plans to construct a medical school Aug. 14, according to the Houston-Chronicle. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
#DocsWithDisabilities campaign highlights diversity among healthcare professionals
Physicians are often stereotypically depicted as pillars of health, superheroes able to respond to emergencies at a moment's notice or even miracle workers, but a growing movement of healthcare professionals with disabilities is challenging this script, according to NPR. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Future physicians are cutting class: 4 takeaways
Medical students are ditching traditional classroom lectures in favor of learning through online resources, reports STAT. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
1 in 4 residents say they're bullied during residency, survey finds
Although most medical residents said they look forward to their first job, many said they experience bullying and depression during residency and blamed work for failed relationships, according to Medscape's 2018 residents lifestyle and happiness report. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Almost 80% of med students are burned out, study finds
Nearly 80 percent of medical school students indicated they have experienced burnout at least some of the time during their education, a recent report by Medscape found. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
General surgeon shortage projected to worsen, study finds
The U.S. will see an increased shortage of general surgeons unless there are more resident graduates, according to a study published in Surgery. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
California nurse practitioners face challenges in filling primary care gap, study shows
California's growing nurse practitioner workforce is essential to filling shortages of primary care physicians, but nurse practitioners are not located where they're needed most, according to a study published in Health Affairs. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
NYU makes medical school tuition free for all students
New York University in New York City is covering tuition for all its medical students regardless of their economic background in an effort to alleviate the nationwide shortage of medical researchers and primary care physicians, the Wall Street Journal reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
CMS targets children affected by opioid epidemic in new care model
CMS created a new payment and service delivery model to improve care quality for children under age 21 affected by the opioid epidemic, the agency announced Aug 23. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Opioid prescriptions static since 2007 despite increased awareness of misuse
A study, published in The BMJ, examined trends in the rate and daily dose of opioids used among commercial and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries over a nine-year period. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Postsurgery opioid overdose is 'rare'
A study published in JAMA examined the frequency of opioid overdoses after discharge from surgery. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Drug companies race to make opioid alternatives: 4 things to know
Many companies and scientists are stepping up developmental efforts to make less addictive pain medications amid the ongoing opioid epidemic, according to Science. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
72K Americans died from drug overdoses in 2017, CDC estimates
Fatal drug overdoses killed more Americans than HIV, car crashes or guns in 2017, claiming 72,000 lives, according to a preliminary estimation from the CDC. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Massachusetts sees spike in HIV cases among opioid users
Federal public health officials are joining Lawrence and Lowell, Mass., health officials with their investigation of a large increase in reported HIV cases, according to NECN. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
South Carolina bolsters rural care access by letting NPs travel farther
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster recently signed a law to address the state's primary care physician shortage in rural areas by letting nurse practitioners travel farther to provide care, WSPA reports. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Why it's so difficult for hospitals to address active shooter threatsWhy it's so difficult for hospitals to address active shooter threats
The apparent murder suicide at Valhalla, N.Y.-based Westchester Medical Center Aug. 8 illustrates the complexity of protecting hospitals filled with the most sick and vulnerable individuals in the nation, according to Iohud. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Viewpoint: Mainstream media reports on disease outbreaks lack crucial information
Health organizations are obligated to contribute accurate and timely information to the general public, but the bulk of this information comes from social media and does not help people make informed health decisions, wrote Yotam Ophir, PhD, the Joan Bossert Postdoctoral Fellow in Science Communication at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School of Communication in Philadelphia, in an op-ed for Science Alert. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Patients say Googling health symptoms improves communication with their physician
Adults who search for health information on the internet before visiting the hospital say it improves communication with their physician, according to a study published in The Medical Journal of Australia. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Nurses less likely than physicians to speak up to colleagues with poor hand hygiene
A study published in American Journal of Infection Control examined the likelihood of healthcare professionals speaking up about breaches in infection control, such as nonadherence to hand hygiene protocols. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
A new narrative for behavioral healthcare
The case for urgently transforming behavioral healthcare in the U.S. is clear. Suicide rates are up 25 percent in two decades, the nation’s opioid crisis claims 175 Americans a day with no sign of waning, and our emergency departments are crowded with patients struggling with mental illness and addiction, too sick to go home but nowhere else to turn. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
UT Medical Center CEO Joe Landsman: Standardization is the answer to some of healthcare's biggest problems
The delivery and payment of healthcare in this country is fragmented among multiple players operating in individual silos. The disconnect between various clinicians involved in a health episode results in patients navigating a complicated and inefficient industry. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
America’s opioid problem is overwhelming. Here’s how I keep hope and urgency to act.
Walk down the hall on 2 East at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, and the magnitude of the opioid epidemic will hit you. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
What if Jeff Bezos ran Sentara Healthcare?
Amazon's increased presence in healthcare has caught the attention of many hospital and health system leaders who are vested in a healthcare model that is at risk of being disrupted. So far the company has considered a number of patient-centered initiatives, but what would it look like if Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos took the helm of a major integrated delivery system? CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Why Catholic Health Initiatives’ CISO says awareness training is pivotal in hospital cybersecurity
Sheryl Rose, chief information security officer and senior vice president at Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives, discusses the evolution of the CISO role and how hospital systems can implement the best practices for data protection. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Living like a leader: A day with Cleveland Clinic CEO Dr. Tomislav Mihaljevic
Between clinical objectives, financial concerns, patient needs and complex payer dynamics, there don't seem to be enough hours in the day for healthcare executives to address the diverse set of organizational goals they are tasked with accomplishing. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
3 most undervalued elements of care delivery
Understandably, all of us are constantly consumed by such pressing issues as our uncertain regulatory landscape, evolving reimbursement models and technological advancements, all of which have a significant impact on the way care is delivered and paid for. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE
Corner Office: CHI Franciscan Health CEO Ketul J. Patel on connecting your mission to every level of the organization
As CEO of Tacoma, Wash.-based CHI Franciscan Health, Ketul J. Patel works with an eye to the future while keeping the inclusive mission of the health system' 19th century founders top of mind. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE