The Florida Health Care Association, the state trade association for Florida's nursing homes, has named J. Emmett Reed as its new executive director and CEO. Reed previously served as the CEO of the Florida Home Builders Association for 11 years. Reed replaces William J. Phelan, who is retiring from FHCA after 28 years of service.
When Thomas A. Daschle, embroiled in controversy over failing to pay more than $100,000 in back taxes, stepped down as director of the White House Office on Health Reform and withdrew his nomination to be secretary of health and human services, it left a hole in President Obama's leadership team. The vacancy is one that healthcare advocates say has stalled what they hoped would be speedy action on high-priority measures. Administration advisers still are not talking publicly about who might replace Daschle or when a nomination might be made.
The Oklahoma Hospital Association launched a Web site giving patient quality and safety information for 80 Oklahoma hospitals. The site also will help hospitals learn best practices for improving care, said Craig Jones, the hospital association's president. The Oklahoma site allows users to search and compare hospital data on 45 patient safety measures.
Independence, MO-based Centerpoint Medical Center has settled some disputes with the Nurses United union, a move that could hasten the effort some nurses have taken to oust the bargaining unit. Early in February, Centerpoint posted notices throughout the hospital that it will not prohibit employees from discussing union activities or distributing union literature at nurses' stations. The Independence hospital also said it will not fail to bargain with Nurses United on weekend-duty issues involving some nurses. About 370 Centerpoint nurses are represented by Nurses United Local 5126, and voted to join the bargaining group in November 2007. However, negotiations have failed to result in an initial contract.
About 1 in 5 newly licensed nurses quits within a year, according to one national study, and that turnover rate is a major contributor to the nation's growing shortage of nurses. But there are expanding efforts to give new nursing grads better support. Many hospitals are trying to create safety nets with residency training programs, for example.
Labor unions and business groups have teamed up in a multimillion-dollar national lobbying campaign to pressure President Barack Obama and Congress for big changes in the nation's healthcare system, but the alliance is at odds as they get down to the specifics. After spending two years and more than $20 million to promote the idea, collaborators in the Divided We Fail coalition are divided over key elements of how to fix healthcare.