HealthLeaders Media Community and Rural Hospital Weekly

HealthLeaders Media Community and Rural Hospital Weekly - April 22, 2009


Where, More or Less, is "The Frontier"? Cheryl Clark, Editor, Community Hospitals For health program funding and definition purposes, just what is a "Frontier"? How many people must live there to qualify, or sustain a program for funding, licensing, or support? [Read More]
		April 22, 2009

Editor's Picks

Safety Issues: Similarities, Differences Exist Among Small and Large Hospitals
Small, rural hospitals score higher on safety measures regarding patient handoffs and transitions, according to The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's new report on hospital culture and patient safety. One reason smaller, rural hospitals do better is that in bigger hospitals, patients are often transferred to different buildings with teams of caregivers with whom the transferring providers are not always familiar, the report says. Bigger is not always better. [Read More]

Blumenthal: Big challenges await health records transition
Installing electronic medical record systems too quickly can be extremely problematic, insert errors, take up time and expense, and create new issues with patient privacy and patient safety. That's why it's important to assure that systems are installed thoughtfully and correctly, with the right level of technical assistance, says David Blumenthal, President Obama's national coordinator for health IT. He made his comments in the New England Journal of Medicine. [Read More]

HHS Issues Draft Guidance on Securing PHI
HHS issued a proposal for security breach notification in a 20-page report that defines acceptable conditions for covered entities and business associates to encrypt or destroy their private patient data to secure protected health information and prevent a breach. [Read More]

Hospitals mine data to identify those likely to pay
A wave of new companies now offer hospitals credit-check tools to determine who can and who can't pay up front. The tools may give hospitals the ability to screen patients' health insurance status and eliminate them for elective or other procedures they aren't eligible for. But it also may streamline billing and properly categorize them for charity care—if they're appropriate for it. [Read More]

Are You Part of a Top Leadership Team?
HealthLeaders Media is gearing up for its fifth year of the Top Leadership Teams in Healthcare program that recognizes the best in senior leadership teamwork at hospitals, health plans, and medical group practices. This year's winners will be honored during HealthLeaders Media '09: The Hospital of the Future Now, an event planned for October 15-16 at The Palmer House in Chicago. If you and your organization have an outstanding teamwork story to share, go to the Top Leadership Teams site to learn more about the six categories, download an entry form, and submit your entry. The deadline to submit is April 30. [Learn More]

Leaders Forum

Four Strategies for Promoting Physician-Hospital Alignment
Hugo J. Finarelli Jr., PhD, author of The Hospital Executive's Guide to Physician Staffing, offers four strategies for promoting hospital-physician alignment, and as a result, improving recruitment and quality efforts. [Read More]

This Week's Headlines

Medicare to play big role in healthcare overhaul
AP/Yahoo News ? April 22, 2009

Senators set timetable for healthcare bills
New York Times ? April 21, 2009

Senate Finance Committee Approves Sebelius Nomination
Janice Simmons, for HealthLeaders Media ? April 21, 2009

CMS Validation Surveys: On the Rise?
Matt Phillion, for HealthLeaders Media ? April 20, 2009

In North Carolina, recession breeds a healthcare crisis
Washington Post ? April 20, 2009

Webcasts/Audio Conferences

Service Lines Strategies Workshop: Cardiovascular Physician Alignment (Live)

Compensation Packages to Recruit and Retain Physicians in Today's Economy (Live)

Marketing Neurosciences: Service Line Strategies for Marketers (Live)

Service Lines Strategies Workshop 2009: Joint Replacement (On Demand)

From HealthLeaders Magazine

Jump . . . or Get Pushed

The tough decisions you don't want to make now—but may have to. [Read More]

Qualify for a FREE Subscription

Service Line Management

Redefining Cardio

The cardiovascular service line remains a dependable revenue generator for many hospitals across the country. But a shifting market full of new options for patients means organizations must find ways to differentiate themselves to keep it that way. [Read More]


	Community Call Discussion Board What should the definition of "frontier" be to qualify a healthcare program for federal funding, licensing, or support?



	Audio Feature Lenders Trace a Solid Line to Washington With angst wrapped around healthcare reform, Kevin Lavender, the head of Fifth Third Bank's national healthcare practice, discusses how lenders are paying closer attention to hospital management teams. [Listen Now]


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

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 ©2009
HEALTHLEADERSMEDIA
5115 Maryland Way
Brentwood, TN 21027
Serving the business information needs of healthcare executives and professionals.