Because of a last-minute reversal by executives, about 400 Jackson Health System employees will spend their last day on their jobs May 6—instead of the 511 originally intended. That doesn't mean, however, that 100 jobs have been saved, said Martha Baker, president of the local of the Service Employees International Union. Those notified May 6 will get 21 more days of employment, according to the union contract, Baker said. She said the layoff snafu was caused by management's belated response to her complaint that Jackson had not properly followed the complex bumping process, in which senior employees whose positions are eliminated can bump those with less service and take over their positions, the Miami Herald reports.
The Connecticut Senate passed a $362 million measure to approve improvements at the University of Connecticut Health Center campus in Farmington. The bill now heads to Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who has pledged to sign it. The bill is expected to help the 35-year-old hospital by creating room for more expensive beds that would generate more revenue, said Sen. Mary Ann Handley, D-Manchester. The center includes John Dempsey Hospital as well as UConn's medical, dental, and graduate research programs. Plans also include a state-created network of area hospitals regarding cancer care and improvements at the Hospital of Central Connecticut, the Hartford Courant reports.
Doctors are exploring ways to reduce the amount of radiation exposure from medical imaging tests in light of renewed concerns about the cancer risk, according to research presented at a radiology conference. Radiologists have been working for several years to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure in children, whose growing bodies are more sensitive to radiation than adults', says Richard Morin, chairman of the American College of Radiology's Safety Committee. But Morin says other doctors also need to do more to protect patients, such as referring them for imaging tests only when they're really necessary.
In 2007, cardiologist Jay Yadav sued the Cleveland Clinic, saying he was unjustly fired by the institution for allegedly failing to stick to the clinic's conflict of interest policies. Yadav developed a device to prevent vascular blockages and sold it to a company called Angioguard, which compensated him with stock. After the company was purchased by Johnson & Johnson unit Cordis, Yadav was entitled to deferred payments, and that compensation was the subject of his disagreement with the clinic. Now the parties have settled. A joint statement says the clinic acknowledges that Yadav did disclose an interest in the sale of Angioguard and that an independent review "concluded that the integrity of Dr. Yadav's research regarding Angioguard/Cordis was not compromised by his financial relationships."
Paul Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, says members of Generation X, or those born between 1965 and 1981, may be the group of consumers who actually prod the healthcare system into changing its ways. Along with their younger Gen Y siblings, this group is "less satisfied with their health plans and care and they want information, understandable prices and connectivity through technologies," a report from Deloitte says. That means they are willing to use more convenient, cheaper forms of healthcare such as retail clinics for primary care or alternative medicine instead of, or as an adjunct to, traditional care, the Wall Street Journal Health Blog reports.
HealthLeaders Media, the premier producer of information resources for senior healthcare executives, today announced that HealthLeaders Magazine has been named "Magazine of the Year" by ASHPE, the American Society of Healthcare Publication Editors. (For a complete listing of awards, go to www.ashpe.org.)
In addition to receiving top honors for HealthLeaders Magazine, HealthLeaders Media received a total of 10 ASHPE awards, proving a commitment to its editorial mission: to be the leading source for news, analysis, and strategy for the healthcare industry.
"To cover an industry as dynamic as healthcare, we have to use every tool at our disposal, including online, digital, and print," says Matthew Cann, Publisher of HealthLeaders Media. "The ASHPE Award for Magazine of the Year and Gold Awards for Best Digital Publication, Best Online News Section, and Best E-Newsletter show our commitment to quality and to the senior healthcare executives we serve."
Additional awards include five Gold Awards, one Silver Award, and three Bronze Awards for the following:
Gold Awards
Best Online News Section: HealthLeadersMedia.com (2009 Year)
Best E-Newsletter: HealthLeaders Media Daily News & Analysis (September 10, 2009)
Best Digital Publication: HealthLeaders Media Breakthroughs (December 2009)
Best Cover: Computer-Generated: Carving Out a New Model (November 2009)
Best Regular Department: Service Lines (August, September, October 2009)
Silver Award
Best Opening Page/Spread: Photo: Time for 'Dr. Next'? (July 2009)
Bronze Awards:
Best Original Research: HealthLeaders Media Industry Survey (February 2009)
Best Website: HealthLeadersMedia.com (2009 Year)
Best Opening Page/Spread: Computer-Generated: Back to Basics (February 2009)
"The ASHPE Awards Competition recognizes excellence in healthcare publishing, so it is a special honor for my team," says Rick Johnson, Editorial Director of HealthLeaders Media. "We strive every day to give leaders in the healthcare industry the best news, opinion, advice, and strategic guidance directly from their peers."
HealthLeaders Media
HealthLeaders Media is the recognized brand leader in the healthcare arena, providing information and guidance on industry trends and real-world solutions for senior executives. HealthLeaders Media offers unmatched access to all areas of healthcare business intelligence through a suite of unparalleled products and platforms. With award-winning, original editorial content and research, HealthLeaders Media is the trusted source for 200,000 subscribers in print and online. HealthLeaders Media Breakthroughs joins a suite of digital offerings via www.healthleadersmedia.com. HealthLeaders Media Online is the healthcare industry's destination of choice for online news and analysis. The Web site provides intuitive navigation across the 10 major areas of the industry that HealthLeaders Media covers. These topics include: leadership, finance, technology, physicians, community hospitals, health plans, marketing, quality, HR, and nursing. For information on sponsorship opportunities contact Paul Mattioli, 800/639-7477, or e-mail him at PMattioli@healthleadersmedia.com.