HealthLeaders Media Community and Rural Hospital Weekly

HealthLeaders Media Community and Rural Hospital Weekly - January 27, 2010


Critical Access Hospitals Could Benefit from Drug Discounts Cheryl Clark, Editor, Community Hospitals A Senate Finance health reform proposal would, for the first time, allow critical access facilities to participate in the federal 340B program. That would mean about 1,300 critical access hospitals with fewer than 26 beds would be able to buy prescription medications for outpatient and inpatient use at discounts as much as 25%. [Read More]
		January 27, 2010

Editor's Picks
Does Mandating Nurse-Patient Ratios Improve Care? California was the first state to enact nurse-patient staff ratios, and it is under consideration in at least a dozen other states. But is there proof that the ratios improved patient safety, reduced errors, or resulted in improved patient satisfaction in California? Many nurses insist the hard-fought ratios improved retention, lessened a severe shortage, and improved their safety and morale. [Read More] Grassley Takes Aim at Hospitals' Problems with Health IT Implementation The Iowa Senator is worried that installing, learning, and using electronic health information systems may be too complex, expensive, problematic, and ultimately unworkable. He asked 31 hospitals to describe any nightmares they've had with implementation. [Read More] Few Hospitals Use Social Media Effectively, Says Study All the buzz about the use of social media in the marketing of medicine may be premature: Only 12% of hospital officials who launched social media to attract new patients said it helped them attain that goal, according to a survey. But, experts say, this is only the beginning. [Read More] Meteorite Crashes into Virginia Doctors' Office Don't look up. In the category of weird and bizarre, a grapefruit-sized meteorite punched a hole through the roof, insulation, and ceiling of a physician's office in Lorton, VA. The cops laughed, but stopped when they realized it really was magnetized. [Read More]

Leaders Forum
The Top 10 Mistakes in Setting Goals For years healthcare leaders have been evaluated by means of a "Does Not Meet/Meets/Exceeds" scale. But a far more fair method is the use of a clear, objective, and weighted evaluation based on specific goal achievement, says contributor Bill Bielenda. However, initial implementation of this leader evaluation system can be challenging for some organizations. Here, Bielenda provides the top 10 most common mistakes made during the first year of rollout and how they can be handled. [Read More]

This Week's Headlines
Top surgeon Atul Gawande urges doctors to use checklist USA Today ? January 27, 2010 How much will Medicare spending rise in the coming decade? Wall Street Journal Health Blog ? January 27, 2010 While technology surges, radiation safeguards lag New York Times ? January 27, 2010 Report: Philadelphia hospital's violations led to waiting-room death Philadelphia Inquirer ? January 22, 2010
Webcasts/Audio Conferences
Marketing Oncology: Service Line Strategies for Marketers (On Demand) Joint Replacement Service Lines: Alignment and Business Strategies for a Changing Environment (On Demand) Women's Health: Building a More Profitable Service Line With Existing Assets (On Demand)
Sponsored Headlines
Harnessing effective asset management in an uncertain economy from IBM
Building a successful validation process and compliance support with IBM Maximo solutions
Managing healthcare assets and optimizing asset utilization with IBM asset management tools
Learn how Sisters of Mercy Health achieved its asset management goals in partnership with IBM

From HealthLeaders Magazine

Five Strategies that Prove Healthcare is Still a Growth Industry

Here is a review of growth opportunities that will increase revenue, decrease costs, or enhance services in the areas of leadership, finance, physicians, technology, health plans, quality, and outcomes. [Read More]

Qualify for a FREE Subscription

Service Line Management

The Sports Center

Famous athletes and big sports programs may be the public face of sports medicine, but at its core are local communities and, increasingly, the unconventional athlete. [Read More]



	Audio Feature Art and Music Improve Quality and Patient Satisfaction: Blair Sadler, former CEO of San Diego Rady Children's Hospital and now a senior fellow with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, tells us how hospitals are reducing patient's anxiety and need for anesthesia through the use of the arts. [Listen Now] [Sponsored by McKesson]


	Sponsor Community and Rural Hospital Contact Paul Mattioli, Sr. Director of Sales, at pmattioli@healthleadersmedia.com or call 800.639.7477.

If you prefer not to receive this email newsletter, you can unsubscribe here
HealthLeaders Media Community and Rural Hospital Weekly is a division of HealthLeaders Media ©2010
HEALTHLEADERSMEDIA
5115 Maryland Way
Brentwood, TN 21027
Serving the business information needs of healthcare executives and professionals.