Janice Simmons, Senior Editor

In this era of polypharmacy—where individuals with multiple conditions take multiple medications—the route to safer, more effective care may lie with how a patient answers this question: What are you taking and how are you taking it? [Read More]

May 27, 2010

Editor's Picks

Revolving Door Of Readmissions and ED Visits More Extensive and Expensive
A new database covering hospitals in 12 states shows the problem of readmissions and use of emergency room resources is more problematic than originally thought, according to a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. About four in 10 patients who sought acute care between 2006 and 2007 made multiple visits to the hospital for an inpatient stay, an emergency visit, or both. [Read More]

Study: Workers Will Continue to Rely on Employer Sponsored Wellness
Although healthcare reform legislation will open new options for many Americans to purchase insurance through exchanges, employer-provided insurance will likely remain the most common source of coverage, suggests a survey of more than 3,000 employees conducted by the National Business Group on Health and Hewitt Associates. [Read More]

AMA Says Health Plans Should Enforce Rules in New 10 Point 'Code of Conduct'
The American Medical Association has released its new Code of Conduct, a list of dos and don'ts that it says all health insurers should enforce. The physician group says it hopes to publish a scorecard showing which plans play by these rules in a few years, in time for the launch of health exchanges enabled by health reform legislation. [Read More]

Hospital Satisfaction Drops While Overall Consumer Satisfaction Rises
Americans' satisfaction with the hospital industry dropped 5% between the first quarters of 2009 and 2010, falling to its lowest level in five years, according to the American Consumer Satisfaction Index. The Index measures consumer satisfaction for 10 economic sectors. [Read More]

This Week's Headlines

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Strategies shared to reduce hospital readmissions in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Inquirer – May 27, 2010

Childhood Mortality Rates Improve, But U.S. Falls Further Behind
Elyas Bakhtiari, for HealthLeaders Media – May 26, 2010

NRC finds apparent violations at 13 VA hospitals
Philadelphia Inquirer – May 26, 2010

New way bacterium spreads in hospital
New York Times – May 25, 2010

Webcasts/Audio Conferences

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Orthopedics Service Lines Strategies (May 28)

Seamless Systems of Care: Better Alignment, Coordination, and Outcomes (June 2)

Cardiovascular Service Lines Strategies (June 23)

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