The board chairman and nine other directors have resigned from the University of Maryland Medical System, and the remaining members installed new leadership at the system that oversees hospitals in Baltimore and around the state. The moves follow disagreements between some board members and Gov. Martin O'Malley over what they perceive as the governor's attempt to politicize the board and also between physicians and former Chief Executive Officer Edmond F. Notebaert over concerns that he ignored their interests. The turmoil has clouded the future of the University of Maryland Medical System, which is an important economic driver in the state.
A day before their contract was due to expire, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Fairview Health Services signed an agreement that runs through 2009. The new contract ends the uncertainty for tens of thousands of Blue Cross members who had been told they might soon have to find doctors outside of Fairview or pay higher out-of-network charges. Blue Cross is the state's biggest health insurer, and Fairview is the third-largest clinic and hospital group in the state.
An Alabama healthcare committee has declined to back either Baptist Health System’s or Brookwood Medical Center’s proposed amendments that would have paved the way for getting state approval for a hospital in Hoover. Instead, the hospital committee of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council asked for more information and time to study the issue. Both Brookwood and Baptist agree that Hoover needs a full service hospital. But Hoover is located in counties that have an excess of licensed beds, making it difficult for anyone to get a Certificate of Need for such a facility in the city.
An Alabama healthcare committee has declined to back either Baptist Health System's or Brookwood Medical Center's proposed amendments that would have paved the way for getting state approval for a hospital in Hoover. Instead, the hospital committee of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council asked for more information and time to study the issue. Both Brookwood and Baptist agree that Hoover needs a full service hospital. But Hoover is located in counties that have an excess of licensed beds, making it difficult for anyone to get a Certificate of Need for such a facility in the city.
More than 100,000 operations were cancelled at English hospitals in 2007, according to new figures. More than 7,000 patients had operations cancelled more than once for non-clinical reasons, according to the data. Health executives blamed patients' missing medical notes, bed shortages, staff absences, and equipment failures for the cancellations. Critics of the National Health Service said the cancellations were an example of the 'increasingly cavalier' standards of treatment for patients.
Tipton (IN) Hospital is about to hand over control to Indianapolis-based Clarian Health. Starting Jan. 1, Clarian will lease the hospital in an agreement approved by Tipton County leaders. The lease runs for 35 years, with an option to renew for another 25. The move is the latest example of large hospital systems building statewide networks and of smaller hospitals looking for healthcare partners.
The Bush administration has proposed stronger job protections for doctors and other healthcare workers who refuse to participate in abortions because of religious or moral objections. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt said that healthcare professionals should not face retaliation from employers or from medical societies because they object to abortion. The proposed rule would require as many as 584,000 employers ranging from major hospitals to doctors' offices and nursing homes to certify in writing that they are complying with several federal laws that protect the conscience rights of healthcare workers.