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Editor's Picks
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Predicted shortage in California
A main theme in this week's (nay, year's) news is staff shortages. First in California, a report by Health Workforce Solutions LLC says the state's demand for health professionals is expected to grow by 26 percent in less than a decade while "allied health" professionals, especially clinical laboratory specialist, physical therapy assistants, and dental hygienists will have the greatest shortfall. Articles in the Washington Post and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel highlight some of the more creative ways that states and hospitals are hoping to overcome the nationwide shortage. A Maryland proposal seeks to nearly double the number of first-year students admitted annually to the state's nursing schools. And in Florida, JFK Medical Center in Palm Beach will launch a new residency program this summer, for which hundreds of applications have already been submitted. [Read More]
Experts propose rules to rate hospitals' safety
As more and more hospitals and organizations publish patient safety data, the validity, accuracy, and comparability of that data is increasingly questioned. A team of Johns Hopkins experts has proposed guidelines for rating hospital safety, a step toward standardizing the plethora of ratings that exist. The new guidelines, published in the November 7 issue of JAMA, address three key concerns: Are the measures important? Are they valid? Are they useful for the goal of improving patient safety? [Read More]
Highmark's gift cards can cover insurance, medical fees
Just in time for the holiday season, Pittsburgh health insurer Highmark Inc. is selling a Healthcare Visa Gift Card to cover co-payments, prescriptions, elective surgery, and other health-related expenses. Gift-card sales rose by 32 percent to $25 billion last year, so Highmark is hoping to capitalize on this popularity. An interesting gift idea for college students and expectant parents, but I hope my husband doesn't hear about this one. [Read More]
Solve the succession crisis by growing inside-outside leaders
Although Inc.com recently ran a story on America's oldest CEO, 106-year-old Jack Weil, this type of longevity is far from typical--especially in healthcare. Turnover among healthcare CEOs is around 16 percent annually, and few healthcare systems have a succession plan in place. This HBR article outlines the importance of grooming leaders from within. [Read More]
HealthLeaders Media TV
 The Disclosure Debate: Healthcare executives face tough decisions on posting quality data. Powered by TWL Knowledge Group, this video also presents the week's top news stories. Watch the video now. |
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This Week's Headlines
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CMS releases 2008 OPPS final rule
Briefings on APCs - November 6, 2007
A model for healthcare that pays for quality
New York Times - November 7, 2007
For CEOs, off-duty isn't an option
Wall Street Journal (subscription required) - November 6, 2007
Beyond those healthcare numbers
New York Times - November 4, 2007
Nurse-led intervention boosts cardiac rehab, study says
HealthDay/Washington Post - November 5, 2007
Consultants who'll do the firing for you
Inc.com - November, 2007
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Audio Feature
At Your Convenience: Mary Kate Scott, healthcare strategy consultant and author of the recently published Health Care in the Express Lane: Retail Clinics go Mainstream, an update report to her 2006 landmark report on the evolving retail clinic field, discusses the growing number of hospitals that are adding convenience care to their service offerings. [Listen Now]
Live From Top Leadership Teams: Barry Arbuckle, CEO of MemorialCare Medical Centers in Long Beach, CA, tells how his team came up with a solution for a short supply of trained registered nurses. Arbuckle was one of eight senior executives speaking on the financial strategy panel at the 2007 Top Leadership Teams in Healthcare conference. [Listen Now] | |
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Sponsor HealthLeaders Media Corner Office
Contact Lisa Brown, Director of Integrated Sales, at lbrown@healthleadersmedia.com or call 781.639.1872 | | |
