HealthLeadersMedia.com - Editor Columns

Where Have All the CEOs Gone?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:45:00 GMT

The way things are going, hospital CEOs are turning over at a rate only seen in retail or, dare I say it, the fast food industry. That's not quite true, but it's really not that far off the mark. So what gives?

Can 'Deadly Deliveries' Be a Wake-Up Call to Physicians, Hospitals?

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:17:00 GMT

While the U.S. may have one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world, it also has major problems with maternal mortality and pregnancy-related complications when compared with other industrialized nations.

Match Day a Reminder of Primary Care's Struggles

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Today is Match Day, when each year medical students find out which residency program they were matched with. Like previous years, it's likely that more primary care than specialty slots will go unfilled.

Six Reasons Proposed Hospital Advertising Ban Will Never Pass

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:31:00 GMT

Earlier this month, a couple of well-meaning Vermont lawmakers proposed a bill that would outlaw hospitals from marketing and advertising their services. But this is never going to happen.

Health Plan Helps Hospitals Achieve Better Grades

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:21:00 GMT

Under a three-year pilot program in California, providers and payers are working together to improve healthcare quality and trim costs. That's the goal, at least.

Retire And Go Fishing? Not For This Rural Florida Keys Doctor

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:56:00 GMT

In 1979, Surgeon Steven J. Smith set up practice in the Upper Keys of Florida because he wanted to be near a place where he could go fishing and boating. But now, at age 61, he isn't even thinking of retiring.

Ten Ways to Increase Nurses' Time at the Bedside

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:04:00 GMT

How can healthcare organizations help their nurses spend more time in patient care? Here are 10 successful strategies.

Computer-Controlled Pancreas Could Close the Diabetes Loop

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:46:00 GMT

Aaron Kowalski, the VP for glucose control research at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, is working to create a computer-controlled "bionic pancreas" that will help humans better manage their diabetes.

Pure Genius: TPA and Hospital Collaborate to Decrease Denials and Save

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:50:00 GMT

Claims processing has been a slow and inefficient process on both sides, leading to large financial losses. After years of back and forth, someone is trying to fix it.

Changing Bad Employee Habits Will Take Time, Patience

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:44:00 GMT

A recent survey found that employers are frustrated that employees aren't taking advantage of their work-based wellness programs to rid themselves of unhealthy habits such as smoking and excess weight.

Four Steps to Better Leadership

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:24:00 GMT

Sometimes we all need a refresher course in what it takes to be a good leader—me included.

Is HITECH Working?

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:23:00 GMT

Early signs suggest that the HITECH program is pushing more physicians to adopt EHR systems, and that it is well on its way to accomplishing its long-term goals.

Patient Engagement Occurs One Step at a Time

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:45:00 GMT

One of the steps toward achieving quality care is getting patients more engaged in their health by working with their providers to better understand the treatment they are receiving.

The Nightmare of Health Insurance Bureaucracy

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:36:00 GMT

Douglas Arnold, CEO of Medical Professional Services in Middletown, CT, recently spoke about the "daunting" and "administrative nightmare" of the health plan bureaucracy.

Lessons in Patient Experience from 'The Office'

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:14:00 GMT

A good portion of a recent episode of "The Office" takes place in a hospital, and it gives some valid insights into how the general public views the hospital experience—and how we can improve it.

Rival Systems Realize They Gain From Collaboration

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Lately, healthcare leaders at rival organizations seem increasingly likely to work together and find opportunities to improve care.

Blizzardgate Firings Threaten Nurse Morale

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:50:00 GMT

The news that one of Washington, DC's largest hospitals has fired several nurses and other staff for failing to report for their shifts during the district's heavy snowstorms caught me by surprise.

More to HIMSS than EHRs: Four Technologies for Patients and Providers

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:37:00 GMT

Amidst the buzz about clinical data sharing and the accompanying alphabet soup of acronyms, it's easy to forget that the annual HIMSS conference is also a showcase for technology. Here are four products that impressed me.

Making Women's Health Work

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:31:00 GMT

Women's health is becoming more expansive and multidisciplinary, but there's no one-size-fits-all approach to success.

Bill Transparency: Lessons Learned South of the Border

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:35:00 GMT

Patients have been calling for bill transparency for years, yet most U.S. facilities don't answer the call.