HealthLeadersMedia.com - HR News & Analysis

Tavenner Confirmed as CMS Administrator

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:06:00 GMT

Marilyn Tavenner, a former nurse, hospital executive, and state health official, is the first Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services head to gain congressional approval since 2004. The full Senate confirmed her nomination with a 91-7 vote Wednesday.

Docs, nurses disagree over expanded nurse roles

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:05:00 GMT

As nurse practitioners lobby to expand their authority and scope of practice in many states, a New England Journal of Medicine study released Wednesday documents a deep chasm between doctors and nurses on that issue. The study found the two groups overwhelmingly agreed that nurse practitioners should be able to practice to the full extent of their schooling and training. But doctors were less likely to concur that advanced practice nurses should lead medical homes, which deliver team-based, coordinated care to patients. Only 17 percent of the 505 primary care physicians surveyed agreed with that notion, compared to 82 percent of the 467 nurse practitioners surveyed.

Temporary restraining order issued in FTC/Phoebe case

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:01:00 GMT

ALBANY, Ga. — A ruling has come down from U.S. District Judge Louis Sands issuing a temporary restraining order in the case regarding the purchase of the former Palmyra Medical Center, enjoining the Phoebe Putney Health System and the Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County from taking any further steps to consolidate Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and its nearby sister hospital. In the order that was filed Wednesday, it states that the Federal Trade Commission maintained a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction were needed to preserve the 'status quo' pending the outcome of the administrative proceedings in regards to the acquisition of the hospital now known as Phoebe North Campus.

Sutter deal transfers East Bay hospital

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:58:00 GMT

Alameda Health System of Oakland says it has signed a letter of intent with Sacramento's Sutter Health to take over Sutter's San Leandro Hospital. San Leandro Hospital is a 93-bed facility, part of the Sutter Health Eden Medical Center campus in San Leandro. AHS said the proposed transfer depends on both parties developing a definitive agreement by July 1. That agreement would then be submitted to the AHS board for approval. AHS officials hope to conclude the transaction this fall. AHS said the letter of intent stipulates that Sutter Health will establish and fund a community trust that can be used by AHS to support the operations of San Leandro Hospital.

Healthcare Leaders Sound Off on Organized Labor

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:21:00 GMT

How much of a threat does organized labor pose to healthcare organizations? Hospital and health system leaders weigh in on the sensitive issue, which ranked among their top three concerns in our most recent industry survey.

Liberty Hospital lays off workers, shuts down wound clinic

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:45:00 GMT

Liberty Hospital has eliminated 129 employees, eliminated its wound clinic and shut down its hospital-funded patient transportation program, the hospital announced Tuesday. "It is our primary concern to provide the highest quality care to our patients, and not to interrupt the quality of care through these changes," David Feess, President and CEO of Liberty Hospital, said in a statement. "The measures we implement will focus on patient care, while allowing Liberty Hospital to remain fiscally responsible." The cuts come as the hospital is looking for ways to increase efficiencies in the face of declining Medicare payments and an unlikely Medicaid expansion, the statement said.

LSU hospitals could need to pay about $42 million as employees are laid off

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:54:00 GMT

When the LSU health system turns over state public hospitals to various private operators this summer, the employees will be owed $29 million in "termination pay," while the system could have to pay out another $13 million in unemployment costs, a new report by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor found. LSU officials told the auditor's office they are aware of this $42 million expense and are working with Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration to find the money. Over the long term, the LSU Health Care Services Division, which currently operates the seven public hospitals in south Louisiana, estimates it will have to pay about $26 million annually in retiree health insurance and life insurance premiums.

A vegan office: How one workplace has moved to get healthier together

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:43:00 GMT

Carrie Clyne's last job was in an office that feasted on a steady supply of junk food. Donuts in the mornings and cupcakes for staffers' birthdays were the familiar routine. But in January, when she took a position with nonprofit organization Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, she was pleasantly surprised by her new employer's decidedly different attitude toward food. PCRM has an office policy mandating that only vegan food may be eaten in its office. The organization, which advocates for healthy eating, preventive medicine and ethical clinical research, is so committed to the rule that it notifies prospective employees of the policy when they receive an offer letter for a job.

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.

Building a Better Healthcare Board

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:40:00 GMT

Whether boards are too large, too unwieldy, or have members who are underqualified to effectively provide strategic direction, many of them need help to deal with the new realities of healthcare.

Metro MN counties staff up to deal with healthcare law

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:58:00 GMT

For the first time in a few years, Washington County is hiring. But not everyone is jumping with joy. The county board recently approved a request from the community services department for nine new full-time employees to handle the rollout of the federal Affordable Care Act, which expands eligibility for government assistance, and the state's new health insurance exchange. Though the initial push to get the program up and running might cause some headaches, officials say it will bring efficiencies in the long run.

Big employers await healthcare clarity

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:55:00 GMT

Three Rivers Casino and Hotel in Florence has offered health insurance to full-time employees since 2004, when it opened in a tentlike structure off Highway 126. Today, the casino has more than 800 employees, and 85 percent are full-time and eligible for health insurance. The casino pays 80 percent of full-time employees' premiums and offers a family health plan for employees' spouses and children. So General Manager Michael Rose isn't expecting that the casino will have to change much to comply with the new health care rules taking effect Jan. 1.

CA weighs expanded role for nurse practitioners

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:02:00 GMT

As state governments get ready for the Affordable Care Act coverage expansion, some are taking a close look at their networks of health care professionals to make sure they will be able to meet increased demands as more people gain health insurance. California is one of 15 states expected to consider legislation this year that would give advanced practice nurses more independence and authority. Tina Clark is a nurse practitioner at Glide Health Services, a clinic in San Francisco's Tenderloin district, a low-income section of the city. Glide is run by nurses with advanced training. A physician visits the clinic 12 hours a week, to sign forms and consult on difficult cases.

Leapfrog Hospital Safety Scores 'Depressing'

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:53:00 GMT

In the Leapfrog Group's third release of hospital safety grades, overall scores rose minutely, but more hospitals got worse than got better. "So far, these numbers aren't really moving," says CEO Leah Binder.

Allscripts plans 350 NC jobs

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:49:00 GMT

Medical software company Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc. plans to hire another 350 workers in North Carolina's Research Triangle region over the next 4 1/2 years to expand its research and development work, chief executive Paul Black said Wednesday. The Chicago-based company said it would add to its more than 1,000 employees in Raleigh, one of Allscripts' top three locations along with its headquarters and Atlanta. Allscripts develops and sells software for doctors and hospitals that handle electronic medical records, digital patient prescriptions and medical practice management.

Telemedicine is Retail Health Clinics' Newest Tool

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:32:00 GMT

Once a way for people in rural areas to access medical specialists, telemedicine is now being piloted by Rite Aid at its in-store clinics. Competitors Walgreens and CVS may not be far behind. Where does that leave traditional healthcare providers?

St. Joseph Medical Center Settles Stent Cases

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:12:00 GMT

Nearly 250 patients, alleging they underwent unnecessary stent procedures at St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, MD, have agreed to an undisclosed medical malpractice settlement with the medical center and its former owner, Catholic Health Initiatives.

Every disease on earth: Elmhurst Hospital's medical melting pot

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:53:00 GMT

Get off the No. 7 train at the Seventy fourth Street-Broadway stop, in Queens, walk past La Abundancia Bakery, the Bollywood Beauty Salon, the New Hae Woon Dae Korean restaurant, the offices of Vishwanath Puttaswamygowda, M.D., and then past the New York Seventh-Day Adventist Chinese church (advertising free conversational-English classes), and you will find yourself at Elmhurst Hospital Center, in Elmhurst, the most diverse neighborhood in New York City and maybe in the world. The hospital serves 1.7 million patients a year, and offers translation services in a hundred and fifty-three languages. The Colombians, Bangladeshis, Koreans, Belarussians, Burmese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Croatians, Mexicans, and other immigrants who live nearby use Elmhurst for their care, and their communities back home often know about the hospital as well.

MN liability insurer helps high-risk doctors stay in business

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:50:00 GMT

Maple Grove surgeon Joseph Pietrafitta has been sued at least six times for malpractice, leading to $1.2 million in settlements for former patients. The Minnesota Board of Medical Practice also has cited some of the lawsuits in ordering Pietrafitta to take corrective action for "inappropriate" conduct. In 2010, no conventional insurance carrier would give him malpractice coverage, court records show. That could have put him out of business, but Pietrafitta got coverage from the -Minnesota Joint Underwriting Association (MJUA), the insurer of last resort. The MJUA was created by the Legislature in 1976 to provide liability insurance to doctors, nurses and hospitals unable to get it anywhere else.

'Care guides' show another face of health reform

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:47:00 GMT

Dr. Richard Adair insisted that they spell it out clearly when the jobs were first posted: No experience required. The idea was to hire people with no medical background, give them two weeks of training, and send them off to clinics to start seeing patients. Five years later, these so-called "care guides" are fixtures at more than two dozen Allina Health clinics in the Twin Cities, and groups around the country are calling to find out how the concept works. The guides are part of a fast-growing, and hotly debated, trend in medicine: Putting people with minimal (if any) medical expertise on the front lines — with titles like patient navigator or coach — to help improve care, and rein in the costs, of patients with chronic illnesses