HealthLeadersMedia.com - HR News & Analysis

Nurses Up the Hiring Ante

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:35:00 GMT

A federal report on nursing workforce trends, a nationwide legislative push to change scope-of-practice laws for nurse practitioners, and a legal reminder about the management of healthcare workers with hepatitis B round out the week's news.

University of Miami med school laying off 800

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:46:00 GMT

Up to 800 people will lose their jobs under a major restructuring at the University of Miami medical school, President Donna Shalala said Tuesday. A notice UM filed with the state Tuesday announced the university would cut 800 jobs by July 31, but Shalala said the final number is likely to be lower. The cutback is the largest by any employer in the state since the medical school's campus neighbor, Jackson, announced 920 layoffs in February. The UM reduction amounts to 8 percent of the medical center’s 10,000-person workforce. Shalala said no doctors or nurses who provide clinical care would be affected. The cuts announced Tuesday come after 182 temporary workers were laid off in late March.

In NC, hospital suitors have many partners

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:42:00 GMT

If Johnston Health forges a partnership with a larger hospital, it will become one of many North Carolina community hospitals allied with one of the state's biggest players in healthcare. In recent years, Duke University Health System, UNC Health Care and Vidant Health in Greenville have signed agreements that give them a major stake in small-town hospitals. WakeMed has been slower to embark on such tie-ups, while Johnston's current management company, Quorum Health Resources, works with hospitals across the country. Within the next month, all five hospital companies will offer specifics for a partnership with Johnston County's healthcare system. Also, they hope the resources of a larger hospital will help with upcoming changes in the health-care industry.

Healthcare for Congress examined

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:30:00 GMT

Members of Congress receive the same basic health insurance coverage as rank-and-file federal employees, although lawmakers also have access to other services not available generally, according to a new internal congressional report. The Congressional Research Service report, dated May 3, addresses an issue that commonly arises during debates over health insurance policy. Nearly all federal employees, including elected federal officials, are eligible to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. FEHBP also has no requirement for medical examinations on enrollment, no pre-existing condition exclusions or waiting periods, the choice of self-only or self-and-family coverage, and an employer contribution toward premiums that averages about 72 percent of the total cost.

Doctor, UPMC to part ways over his deals with Highmark

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:25:00 GMT

Longtime Monroeville urologist and developer Frank Costa surely realized how dangerous it would be to walk into the crossfire between partners Highmark and West Penn Allegheny Health System and rival UPMC. And yet, last month, after he had agreed to help Highmark Inc. buy up property in Pittsburgh's suburbs where the insurer is preparing to build a series of outpatient centers and medical malls—even as Highmark awaits government approval of its takeover of WPAHS—Dr. Costa became one of the most notable casualties of this ongoing healthcare war. But UPMC got wind of the deals, and last month he was told that because of the conflict, he was being removed from his post as UPMC's medical director and administrator of its ambulatory surgical center in Monroeville, effective July 30.

Jackson Health System: Quality of care is good

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:16:00 GMT

While some politicians and union supporters complain that job cuts at Jackson Health System have caused a drop in the quality of care, the system's own statistics show that quality has not suffered. Jackson Chief Executive Carlos Migoya says quality of care "continues to improve," even during three months when many employees were required to take furloughs. The latest quality report, prepared monthly for Jackson's board, shows that for three critical measurements of infection rates—involving catheters, ventilators and lines into the bloodstream—Jackson's performance in February was in the top quarter of hospitals nationwide. In all three categories, Jackson rated considerably better than it had in February 2011.

Hospital exec gets 3 years for bribery

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:03:00 GMT

The former hospital chief executive at the center of a bribery conspiracy that ensnared former State Senator Carl Kruger and others was sentenced on Monday to three years in prison. The former executive, David P. Rosen, 64, had been convicted of bribing Mr. Kruger and two other legislators in return for having them use their influence in Albany to benefit his healthcare organization, MediSys, a nonprofit sponsor of hospitals and nursing homes in Brooklyn and Queens. The conspiracy, which also involved a lobbyist, another hospital executive and a healthcare consultant, has been seen as casting light on the pervasiveness of corruption in Albany and on the often-cozy ties there between legislators and hospitals.

Opinion: Why nurses need more authority

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:40:00 GMT

Alleviate this physician shortage and expand the scope of practice for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences has weighed in on this idea of allowing APRNs to do more, in a landmark 2010 report "The Future of Nursing." The IOM conducted an exhaustive review of care provided by APRNs and concluded that properly trained APRNs can independently provide core primary care services as effectively as physicians. In its report, the National Academy of Sciences recommended that "[a]dvanced practice registered nurses should be able to practice to the full extent of their education and training."

Highmark-UPMC deal could carry higher costs

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:36:00 GMT

For Highmark Inc., the price of temporary peace with UPMC was an increase in the amount of money paid out to UPMC hospitals for the work they do. But it could cost Highmark even more when other physicians and hospital networks see UPMC getting a big increase in reimbursement money and ask for the same. Whether any of them will get it, though, is a matter of debate. The Highmark deal with UPMC announced last week could mean "a huge fee schedule adjustment for everybody," according to one industry observer with knowledge of the Highmark-UPMC negotiations. And, "When there is an increase [for one group of] physicians, you have to do it across the board."

Doctors with bad social media etiquette

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:15:00 GMT

According to a recent research letter in JAMA, more than 90 percent of state medical boards have received at least one complaint of bad online behavior. The complaints came from patients, family members, fellow physicians, and other medical personnel. "Like everyone else, doctors sometimes stumble in their online behaviors and make mistakes in judgment about content they post," Dr. Ryan Greysen, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor of medicine at UCSF, told me. Indeed, more than one half resulted in suspension, revocation, or limitation of the physician’s license. As recently as 2010, only 10 percent of medical schools had social media policies, according to an article in Medical Education Online.

SAN DIEGO: UC San Diego Health System names CEO

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:47:00 GMT

Paul S. Viviano has accepted the position as the new CEO of UC San Diego Health System and associate vice chancellor for Health Sciences. His appointment was approved by the UC Board of Regents, and will commence June 1, 2012. Viviano is currently Chairman of the Board and CEO of Alliance Healthcare Services where he has served since 2003. His prior positions include president and CEO of USC University Hospital and USC/Norris Cancer Hospital. Prior to his work at USC, Viviano served in various positions, including executive vice president and CEO of the St. Joseph Health System in Orange, California.

CLEVELAND: Cleveland Clinic appoints Children's Hospital Chairman

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:45:00 GMT

Giovanni Piedimonte, MD, Chairman of Pediatrics at the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Medicine and an international leader in pediatric pulmonology, has been appointed Chairman of the Pediatric Institute and Physician in Chief of the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. Prior to his appointment at Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Piedimonte also served as Physician-In-Chief of WVU Children’s Hospital in Morgantown, WV, as the founding Director of the WVU Pediatric Research Institute, and as a Wyeth Research Scholar. Dr. Piedimonte will replace Ricardo Rodriguez, M.D., who has served as interim chair since 2011.

MODESTO, CA: CEO appointed for Memorial Medical Center

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:34:00 GMT

Sutter Health Central Valley Region President David P. Benn recently named Daryn J. Kumar as Chief Executive Officer of Memorial Medical Center. Kumar has worked for Sutter Health since 2004, most recently as the interim Chief Executive Officer at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento. He also served as the Chief Operating Officer at Sutter Roseville Medical Center, and Assistant Administrator at Sutter Delta Medical Center, in Antioch. Prior to working for Sutter Health, he served in a variety of leadership positions with Tenet Healthcare Corporation at Doctors Medical Center, San Pablo and Pinole in the East Bay.

HOUSTON: West Oaks Hospital names CEO

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:30:00 GMT

West Oaks Hospital announced the appointment of Gregory D. Drummond as CEO. Mr. Drummond has nearly 20 years of experience in Executive Healthcare Administration including Psychiatric/Mental Health Direct Care and Management. Mr. Drummond most recently worked as an Administrator at the Texas Eye Institute, a comprehensive Ophthalmology group with a 40-plus year established presence in the Houston Market. Mr. Drummond earned two masters degrees including a Masters of Business and Health Administration (MBA/MHA) and Masters of Social Work (MSW).

MARATHON, FL: Marathon hospital's CFO resigns

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:25:00 GMT

Michael Schimming resigned Friday as Fishermen's Community Hospital chief financial officer, just six months after being hired. The Marathon medical center is nearly 10 months into a transition from for-profit lessee Health Management Associates to Quorum Health Resources. Schimming works for Quorum. Most recently, Schimming was CFO for Allegiance Health Management in Shreveport, La. He had also been CEO and CFO for a 118-bed hospital in Arkansas; CFO for a Baptist Health Care System hospital in Beaumont, Texas; and CFO for several HMA hospitals in Arkansas and Texas.

DAYTON: Children's hires President and CEO

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:18:00 GMT

Montgomery County Administrator Deborah A. Feldman will become the fourth chief executive of The Children's Medical Center of Dayton, succeeding David Kinsaul, who is retiring July 1, 2012 after leading the hospital for nine years. Ms. Feldman has served as Montgomery County's lead executive for the last 15 years. Ms. Feldman, who has served the county for 30 years, has led many critical community issues including economic development initiatives and the Montgomery County Healthcare Safety Net Task Force. Ms. Feldman holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Miami University and a master's of public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. Ms. Feldman will start on July 1, 2012.

EUGENE, OR: PeaceHealth chooses CEO

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:12:00 GMT

PeaceHealth nonprofit healthcare system Wednesday named John Hill as chief executive officer of its Oregon region, effective May 31. The region includes hospitals in Springfield, Eugene, Cottage Grove and Florence. Hill is an executive with healthcare giant Hospital Corporation of America. Hill is the CEO of the Medical Center of Aurora and Centennial Medical Plaza near Denver, a Level II trauma center. Hill will replace Tom Reitinger, who has been interim Oregon CEO since July and will continue in that role through June 30, according to PeaceHealth, a Catholic healthcare system based in Washington state. PeaceHealth brought in Reitinger, an associate with the consulting firm Huron Healthcare, after the sudden departure of Mel Pyne, who had been Oregon CEO for six years.

GENEVA, IL: Cadence Health appoints CEO

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:04:00 GMT

Cadence Health, the health system created through the merger of Central DuPage Health and Delnor Community Health System, appoints Michael V. Vivoda, Chief Executive Officer. Vivoda, 52, who currently holds the title of President at Central DuPage Hospital (CDH), will succeed Luke McGuinness, effective July 1, 2012. Vivoda's appointment follows the conclusion of a national search by the Cadence Health Board of Directors. Prior to joining Cadence Health, Vivoda held a number of leadership positions in the Chicago healthcare industry. A graduate of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he received his Bachelor of Science in business administration and he earned his Master of Management through the Executive MBA Program at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

SEATTLE: Children's Hospital appoints SVP of Hospital Operations

Mon, 07 May 2012 15:57:00 GMT

Seattle Children’s announced the appointment of Cindy Evans, RN, MN, MHA, to senior vice president of hospital operations. Evans leaves her previous role as Children’s vice president of ambulatory and regional services, and medical specialties to take on the new position. Evans joined Children's in 1997. Evans has worked in Seattle-based medical centers for over 30 years. Previous to Children's, she worked at Swedish Medical Center where she held a variety of roles including clinical director of Family Maternity Outpatient Services and nurse manager of the Mothers-Baby Unit. Prior, she worked at the University of Washington Medical Center as an obstetrics nurse. Evans will report to Brandenburg. Elements of her previous role will be assumed by other leaders in the organization.

Healthcare Job Growth Slows in April

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:19:00 GMT

The healthcare sector created 19,000 jobs in April, nearly a sixth of all new jobs in the larger economy. Although healthcare job growth is decelerating, it is still expected to lead the economy.