Janice Simmons, Senior Editor

The group of nearly a dozen healthcare CEOs that met in Washington last week to introduce a white paper supporting healthcare reform had a basic message: change is needed now. The paper notes that many providers are prepared to coordinate extensively across sites of care and accept risks for the costs of patient care. Those situations could be addressed by developing bundled payment structures that allow providers to assume responsibility but bear risk for some—but not all of—the costs of a specific patient's care. [Read More]

June 18, 2009

Editor's Picks

MedPAC Suggests Ending Medicare Advantage Overpayments
At about the same time President Barack Obama was telling the American Medical Association about making spending cuts through targeting inefficiencies in the Medicare program, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission officially was releasing its report to Congress on "Improving Incentives in the Medicare Program" that addresses similar spending issues. [Read More]

Storytelling in Healthcare Enhances Experience for Patients and Providers
Facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom are using storytelling to enhance the information that comes out of the patient history taken by a care provider, which is often used to get a better sense of how to treat the patient. Storytelling also helps providers develop a relationship with the patient and form a better understanding of an individual case. [Read More]

Assistants and Nurses Improve Specialists' Bottom Lines and Reduce Patient Wait Time
Increasingly in demand, gastroenterology, orthopedic, and dermatology specialists can resolve bottlenecks in their appointment calendars and increase revenue dramatically by using more physician assistants and nurse practitioners to help treat patients, according to a California Healthcare Foundation study. [Read More]

Collaborative Agreements Between Nurse Practitioners and Physicians
Nurse practitioners in New York State will be able to practice independently if a bill drafted by the Nurse Practitioners Association of New York passes through the state Senate. [Read More]

This Week's Headlines

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Avoidable Childbirth Injuries Remain an Issue at Hospitals
Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media - June 18, 2009

Hospital fined by Maryland regulators for not reporting errors
Washington Post - June 15, 2009

AMA: The white coats are going, the white coats are going
Wall Street Journal Health Blog - June 18, 2009

Mystery Shoppers Add Emphasis to Infection Control
Scott Wallask, for HealthLeaders Media - June 12, 2009

Webcasts/Audio Conferences

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Service Line Strategies Workshop 2009: Spine Care (July 22)

HIPAA Changes: New Compliance Strategies for New Marketing Models (On Demand)