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By: Janice Simmons, for HealthLeaders Media, October 28, 2009
Five of the Senate Democratic leaders who have been key in pushing through healthcare legislation created a united front on Tuesday on Capitol Hill—predicting in a news conference that Congress will pass a reform bill by the end of the year. This will be achieved, they declared, even if Republicans decline to go along with the legislative process to overhaul healthcare.
By: John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, October 28, 2009
The American Nurses Association says it remains opposed to mandatory influenza vaccine policies, but it is also urging all registered nurses to get the H1N1 vaccine to protect themselves and the patients they serve. "ANA understands the potential need for a mandatory vaccination policy during a pandemic, but we are committed to ensuring that such policies are not discriminatory or punitive and contain appropriate exemptions," said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton.
By: John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, October 28, 2009
Catholic Health Initiatives has signed a deal that will give it a 25% equity stake in Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories, a medical reference laboratory owned by Providence Health & Services, the three companies announced Tuesday. Through PAML, CHI and Providence will develop a national network of regional laboratories at select CHI hospitals, using PAML's hospital-based laboratory outreach program, the two health systems announced.
By: Janice Simmons, for HealthLeaders Media, October 28, 2009
A formula being considered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that reflects how physicians use resources—ranging from hospital services to durable medical equipment—and how that influences patients' decisions appears to work, according to a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
By: Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, October 28, 2009
The chance a hospital will have to deal with a patient acquiring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, while receiving care has more than tripled between 2000 and 2005, with 386,600 infections. And it's only getting worse. Hospital acquired infections contribute to at least 99,000 deaths a year, and an additional $28 billion to $33 billion in healthcare costs. That's why the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced awards of $17 million in projects to prevent these avoidable mistakes.
By: Dom Nicastro, for HealthLeaders Media, October 27, 2009
With the high staff turnover in patient access departments, employers need to seek out ways to provide as much motivation as they can offer.
By: Rebecca Hendren, for HealthLeaders Media, October 27, 2009
Many healthcare organizations tie volunteerism and other aspects of giving back to communities into their mission and values statements. And some organizations are even tying such efforts to nurses' professional development.
By: Carrie Vaughan, for HealthLeaders Media, October 27, 2009
A lot has changed for CIOs since we conducted the 2009 HealthLeaders Media Industry Survey for Technology Leaders last fall.