Most healthcare leaders say their organization's dedication to mission is strong or very strong, with only about one in 10 describing that quality as weak or neutral. How can a leader ensure real commitment to mission, and how do you know if your organization is meeting its mission? What are the metrics? What do you look for?

A rate-setting proposal in Massachusetts could have wide-ranging ramifications.

With an influx of newly insured patients to the healthcare system by 2014, the question of 'Should you build it?' boils down to another question: How many will come?

A willingness to learn from others and to set transparent, measurable goals is essential in developing efficient systems. 

A significant data breach can cost your organization $2 million, according to a study by the Ponemon Institute in Traverse City, MI. The research and consulting group found that hospitals are rushing to adopt electronic health records in an effort to cash in on government incentives, but they may not be prepared to adequately address data security and data privacy issues.

A proposed rule would give patients the right to get a report on who has electronically accessed their protected health information. Some legal experts worry this could pose problems for healthcare providers.

The failure of Congress' so-called Super Committee to reach consensus on a deficit reduction plan will affect healthcare leaders. 

An expanded physical therapy program helps save a 22-licensed-bed critical access hospital in Illinois, a facility that nearly shut down because of fiscal and management problems.

Though UPMC Hamot has been using treatment guidelines for years—since long before Jim Donnelly, RN, MBA, chief quality officer and chief nursing officer, started there 12 years ago, he says—the organization is still developing new order sets when problem areas arise.

Despite the concerns about cost and preparation, the transition to the new coding system should yield numerous quality benefits. 

As hospital systems restructure their cardiology programs, many have enlisted physicians to oversee clinical programs, which is expected. But physicians as cost-control managers?

Sudip Bose, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, has seen the world of healthcare from a unique perspective—the battlefield.