Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix is working to improve brain tumor research, with the greater goal of extending life expectancy for those with brain tumors. From the HealthLeaders Media Rounds event, "Neurological Service Line Growth: Telestroke & Brain Tumor Innovations," held in May at Barrow.

In one-on-one interviews, selected HealthLeaders Media Council members discuss whether they believe a shared governance model for service lines will become more or less relevant in the current climate of healthcare reform.

Hospitals and health systems are cautioned that employment doesn’t equal alignment.

Healthcare leaders face a tough choice when it comes to joining a health information exchange. They must decide whether to join now and take an active role in development, or wait to see how things shake out a few years down the road.

The ROI may be down the road, but some process improvements can yield immediate benefits.   

Quality leaders can contribute to improved HCAHPS scores.

Specialized high-volume aortic centers are becoming increasingly important for hospitals treating vascular conditions because of their ROI and improved patient outcomes. As demand increases and technology improves, a strategic plan for this service line becomes especially important.

Michael Rowan, executive vice president and chief operations officer at Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives, believes the mission of hospitals should expand beyond the fixed walls of a building and into the communities they serve. Rowan is an enthusiastic advocate for CHI’s overseas missions, having traveled twice to Tanzania and once to Belize in the past five years to promote health services such as public sanitation, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, and malaria eradication. The second trip to Tanzania afforded him a chance to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.