Vanderbilt University Medical Center is eliminating several hundred more jobs this week as part of its plan to cut up to 1,000 positions by the end of the year. "We've notified the mayor's office and the governor's office of our need to reduce the size of our work force by approximately 1,000 people by the end of the year," said John Howser, spokesman for VUMC. "What's happened here at Vanderbilt is today we've started this action, and several hundred people will be leaving the organization." This latest round of layoffs is part of the Medical Center's plan to cut $250 million from its $3.3 billion operating budget over the next two fiscal years.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Scans of people's knees are less likely to reveal a problem when the referring doctor has a financial stake in the imaging center or the equipment used, suggesting some tests may be unnecessary, according to a new study. When doctors have a financial interest in the imaging facility, their patients are 33 percent more likely to get a test result that shows nothing wrong, compared to patients of doctors with no financial interest, U.S. researchers found. "It does raise the questions: Are these studies being performed unnecessarily? Are these machines being over utilized because of an unconscious bias?" Dr. Matthew Lungren, the study's lead author said.
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration approved new rules Tuesday that extend minimum wage and overtime pay to nearly 2 million home health care workers who help the elderly and disabled with everyday tasks such as bathing, eating or taking medicine. Home care aides have been exempt from federal wage laws since 1974, when they were when they were placed in the same category as neighborhood baby sitters. But their ranks have surged with the aging population and the field is now one of the fastest-growing professions. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez said the workers deserve the same legal protections as most other employees.
ALBANY, N.Y. -- In an effort to limit the flu in the upcoming season, New York health officials are requiring thousands of medical staff and other personnel statewide to get vaccinated or else wear masks when in close contact with patients. The New York Health Department rules apply to more than 4,000 hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers, nursing homes, hospices and home care agencies statewide. Adopted in July, they will apply when officials determine influenza is prevalent. Last year, that meant Nov. 24 to April 20 when the flu was widespread, department monitoring showed. Doctors, nurses, other employees, contractors, students and volunteers in close contact with patients must follow the rules.
Shared medical appointments are becoming more widespread as physicians look for more efficient and effective ways to treat increasing numbers of patients with chronic diseases. The visits could increase significantly under the nation's healthcare overhaul when millions more Americans gain insurance coverage and need to access doctors. Multi-patient appointments are especially valuable in areas with physician shortages, proponents say. Group appointments are being offered through UC San Diego to patients with diabetes, HIV and liver disease.
After four years at the Office of the National Coordinator for IT and two years serving as the country's health IT czar, Farzad Mostashari announced last month that he would step down from his post this fall. As the country's fourth national coordinator for health IT, Mostashari became well known for his trademark bow tie and contagious enthusiasm for all things health IT. Among other things, his legacy includes helping to spearhead the meaningful use incentive program, promoting the use of data to improve health care and stepping up federal efforts to boost patient engagement.