Janice Simmons, Senior Editor

Amnesty International is probably best recognized in the U.S. for its work worldwide that reports on issues such as human rights violations, discrimination, or health disparities. But for its latest report, the group turns its focus on the U.S. While this country may have one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world, AI said, it also has major problems with maternal mortality and pregnancy-related complications when compared with other industrialized nations. [Read More]

March 18, 2010

Editor's Picks

Hospital Monitors Infectious Diseases Using Real-Time Surveillance
The responsibilities of an infection preventionist have never been more daunting. In addition to targeting interventions that protect patients from hospital-acquired infections, an increasing number of states have made reporting them mandatory. With the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services refusing to pay for treatment of hospital acquired infections, it has never been more important to identify them and prevent them from impacting a hospital's bottom line. [Read More]

Physicians Believe Employers Should Coordinate with Docs to Help Chronic Care Patients
Most physicians believe that employers should play a role in the health of their employees with chronic conditions, such as informing physicians about programs in the workplace that could help their patients manage heart disease, according to a poll conducted by the Midwest Business Group on Health. [Read More]

Hospitals Make Employee Flu Vaccinations a Patient Safety Issue
The emergence of the H1N1 flu put a spotlight in early 2009 on a question: Should healthcare organizations do more in terms of policies and approaches to increase flu vaccinations among hospital personnel? In 2009, the H1N1 pandemic "reminded us that inadequate healthcare worker vaccination is an often overlooked patient safety issue," said Jonathan Perlin, MD, HCA's president of clinical services and chief medical officer. [Read More]

Well Designed P4P Programs Can Improve Patient Relations, Says Physician Panel
An expert panel convened by the American College of Physicians says that properly designed pay-for-performance programs can strengthen physician patient relations and improve care. [Read More]

This Week's Headlines

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Unusual damages set in Philadelphia bedsores case
Philadelphia Inquirer – March 18, 2010

3 Lessons U.S. Healthcare Can Learn from France to Cut Infections
Janice Simmons, for HealthLeaders Media – March 18, 2010 – January 7, 2010

VA is fined over errors in radiation at hospital
New York Times – March 18, 2010

California health agency works with hospitals to reduce errors
Los Angeles Times – March 16, 2010

Webcasts/Audio Conferences

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Cancer Service Line Success: Better Coordination, Better Outcomes (March 30)

Beyond ROI: Prove the Success of Your Marketing Efforts (March 31)

Neuroscience Service Lines Strategies (April 22)