HealthLeaders Media Community and Rural Hospital Weekly - February 20, 2008


Executives Among Us Molly Rowe, for HealthLeaders Media Most chief executive officers won't even take a sick day, let alone imagine their teams running full-time without them. But as average CEO ages rise and organizations face unexpected turnover in the corner office, hospitals should consider a long-term plan for replacing their top executives. [Read More]
		February 20, 2008

Editor's Picks

1 in 10 patients gets drug error at Mass. community hospitals
One in every 10 patients admitted to six Massachusetts community hospitals suffered serious and avoidable medication errors, according to a report sponsored by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and the New England Healthcare Institute. The report touted computerized physician order entry systems as a means to reduce these mistakes and save community hospitals about $2.7 million annually by eliminating unnecessary medical care resulting from preventable errors. Massachusetts hospitals are also getting a push to adopt the technology from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, which announced that it will require all of the state's hospitals to fully implement CPOE systems within four years or forego payouts from the insurer's $104 million incentive program promoting good-quality care. [Read More]

Hospitals scramble to address preventable errors decision
With Medicare's announcement that it will no longer pay hospitals for eight preventable errors beginning Oct. 1, many hospitals are scrambling for innovative ways to prevent injury and infection. These attempts include vaporized hydrogen peroxide to clean hospital rooms versus the traditional mop and bucket, surgical sponges tagged with barcode-like radio frequency chips to prevent objects being left in patients after surgery and hand washing spies. [Read More]

For patients, more comfort and a bigger dose of respect
Creating a more "healing" hospital environment with live plants, natural light and artwork is not a new trend. This article discusses how some hospitals are expanding the idea and giving patients more autonomy during their hospital stay. For instance, patients can order meals when they want them and decide when they want to take a shower. In addition, traditional hospital gowns have been replaced with nightgowns and pinstriped pajamas, and patients have access to acupuncture, aromatherapy and hand massages. [Read More]

With legal hurdles remedied, Oviedo, FL, awaits first hospital
Health Management Associates received the green light to build a 60-bed hospital in Oviedo after Florida's First District Court of Appeal turned down an appeal by Central Florida Regional Hospital. HMA is still looking for property to construct the facility, which will offer basic acute-care services. [Read More]

Leaders Forum

The Potential Impact of New Medicare Payment Reforms:
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized two payment reforms in August 2007, which took effect Oct. 1. These changes could have a significant impact on your organization's accounts receivable and medical records processing. In order to lessen their impact, it is important to understand the nature of the reforms and make appropriate alterations to your internal processes. [Read More]

This Week's Headlines

New York City hospitals reinvent role of emergency
New York Times - February 12, 2008

Proposed Bush budget cuts would hit hospitals
Philadelphia Inquirer - February 14, 2008

Dr. Robot can see you now
Miami Herald - February 19, 2008

Iowa governor announces his own healthcare proposal
Des Moines Globe Gazette - February 19, 2008

Hospitals now must report serious staph cases to officials
San Francisco Chronicle - February 15, 2008

Sponsored Headlines From AT&T

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Transition to Digital: More and more hospitals are going paperless.

Trend Report--Dialing Long Distance for Healthcare: Telemedicine makes care accessible when and where it's needed.

From HealthLeaders Magazine

Love Thy Vendor?

Providers and IT suppliers don't get along, right? You can build a partnership of trust with your vendor--and actually get what you pay for. Here's how. [Read More]

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	Community Call Discussion Board Each week, Community Call will pose a question to encourage community and rural hospital leaders to share success stories and best practices. This week's question is "Any advice on how to approach large, academic healthcare systems as potential partners in a surgery center?"



	Audio Feature What's Coming in 2008: As a healthcare management consultant, Barry Calogero helps healthcare organizations plan for the future. In this interview, Barry discusses his predictions for healthcare in 2008 and beyond.


	Sponsor Community and Rural Hospital Contact Lisa Brown, Director of Integrated Sales, at lbrown@healthleadersmedia.com or call 781.639.1872.

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