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Editor's Picks
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Healthcare System Wastes $850 Billion Annually
A new independent study released on Monday appears to support President Barack Obama's claims that the nation's $2.3 trillion healthcare system is fraught with waste. The study by Thomson Reuters estimates that between $505 billion and $850 billion—about one-third of the nation's total healthcare bill—is wasted each year through a combination of fraud, administrative inefficiency, unnecessary or redundant care, avoidable complications, errors, and lack of care coordination. [Read More]
Five Easy Ways to Protect Staff from Violent Patients
When a professional fighter allegedly went haywire in a Nevada hospital and attacked nurses, it briefly brought some national attention to a long-standing problem: violence against healthcare workers. Of course, it's not just famous people or athletes who can cause trouble, which makes the challenge of protecting hospital employees daunting. [Read More]
Medicare Value-Based Formula Will Be Included in House Reform Bill
Following an agreement, the proposed House healthcare reform bill will include a provision that would change the way Medicare pays hospitals and physicians—by moving from a formula that pays for the volume of tests and procedures performed to a value-based formula that emphasizes quality care and cost-effectiveness. [Read More]
Making a mandate actually work
As the proposed $900 billion healthcare legislation is under debate, a critical unknown is whether people would comply with a mandate that individuals to carry insurance. The Senate Finance Committee set its maximum penalty for noncompliance at $750 per year, at the same time creating subsidies to help low-income Americans buy coverage. In the House, the penalty is based on income, but ends up at about the same for a middle-class family. But many reform supporters say the finance panel's subsidies are too low, and insurers are pushing for larger penalties. [Read More]
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NurseLeaders Forum
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The Financial Imperative of Staff Development Education
Contributor Deanna R. Miller, RN, MSN/HCE, manager of critical care and staff development at the University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center in Geneva, OH, makes the case for continuing to budget for staff development education during difficult economic times. [Read More]
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Business Rx
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Facility Lowers Rate of Pressure Ulcers
A Florida hospital reduced its rate of pressure ulcers from 12.8% to 1.9% over a five year period. The prevention plan has also resulted in significant cost savings. Assuming that an average of $3,000 is spent caring for a pressure ulcer, the prevention plan led to annual savings of $11.5 million. [Read More]
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Nursing Health Headlines
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Senate on verge of health bill
New York Times - October 26, 2009
Can bundled payments help slash health costs?
USA Today - October 26, 2009
FDA Review of Adverse Events Caused By Medical Devices Is Inadequate
Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media - October 26, 2009
Swine Flu Conditions Have Nurses' Union Ready to Strike
Sarah Kearns, for HealthLeaders Media - October 22, 2009
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Audio Conferences/Webcasts
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November 17, 2009: Nurse Accountability: Six Steps to Create a Culture of Commitment
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From HealthLeaders Magazine |
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Care Team Architecture
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Creativity and flexibility count, sure. But underlying the successful care team design is a foundation of essential and lasting values. [Read More] |
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Service Line Management |
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Certifiable Stroke Care
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With a growing emphasis on stroke center certification, hospitals must demonstrate that they have the teams in place to treat stroke patients quickly and effectively, or risk losing patients to a competitor down the road. [Read More] |
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Audio Feature
Preparing ED Nurses for H1N1-Related High Patient Volume: Shelley Cohen, RN, BS, CEN, president of Health Resources Unlimited and nationally-recognized triage trainer, discusses how to help emergency departments prepare for increased demand in services from patients with suspected H1N1 infection. [Listen Now]
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