At a time when many local hospitals are expanding and investing millions in the region, more patients find themselves uninsured or unable to pay for medical services. The Illinois Hospital Association, which represents more than 200 hospitals and health systems across the state, found that Illinois hospitals accounted for almost $2.4 billion from underpayments by government-sponsored programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and another $1.1 billion in health-care services were provided for patients who were unable to pay.
Nonprofits aren't known for minting millionaires, but a few nonprofit executives have pulled down seven-figure pay packages at least once in the past few years, an analysis has found. While seven-figure pay packages are rare, hundreds of employees of nonprofits in the region make six-figure salaries, according to tax returns examined. The Post looked at hundreds of tax returns filed by dozens of organizations and focused on the 55 nonprofits with more than $9 million a year in revenue. Three hospital CEOs, two neurosurgeons and another hospital executive are members of the small group of $1 million earners at nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
Despite a new board, new management and the infusion of a $20 million line of credit, a struggling North Georgia public hospital continues to lose money. Erlanger at Hutcheson, formerly known as Hutcheson Medical Center, lost more than $9 million in the first five months of the 2012 fiscal year, which began in July. It lost the most— $2.7 million—in September. Hutcheson board Chairman Corky Jewell could not be reached for comment last week.
The Christ Hospital soon will relocate hundreds of office workers to a nearby building, part of a major expansion aimed at becoming a national destination for high-end cardiac and other medical care. The move into a large vacant building is possible following the close last week of one of the region's largest development deals in years. Christ will be the building's major tenant, signaling the hospital's growing strength three years after it withdrew in a bitter battle from the regionwide Health Alliance and started rebuilding as an independent institution.
In our annual HealthLeaders 20, we profile individuals who are changing healthcare for the better. Some are longtime industry fixtures; others would clearly be considered outsiders. Some are revered; others would not win many popularity contests. All of them are playing a crucial role in making the healthcare industry better. These are their stories.
Under the leadership of Wright L. Lassiter III, Alameda County Medical Center has been recognized as a 2011 Top Performer by The Joint Commission. The distinction marks the latest affirmation of a remarkable turnaround for the Oakland, CA–based safety-net hospital.[Read more]
A decade ago, after Patrick J. Quinlan, MD, looked at some staggering state health statistics, he set out to improve the health and wellness of the entire community—starting with the children.[Read more]
AnnMarie Papa is a leading voice calling attention to the prevalence of hospital violence, especially that which occurs in hospital emergency departments. [Read more]
Vineet Arora, MD, MPP, FACP
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Chicago
Pritzker School of Medicine
Vineet Arora, MD, MPP, FACP, says she has always been interested in finding out why things work—or don't—in healthcare, and that inquisitive nature led her to the study of sleep. [Read more]
Alex Blau, MD, and Brad Cohn, MD, found themselves at the corner of necessity and invention and came up with the idea for MediBabble—an iPhone/iPad app that allows clinicians to better communicate with non English-speaking patients during the initial exam and history-taking.[Read more]
For 28 years, Brooks, a Roman Catholic nun, has practiced in one of the poorest areas of the country. She has become a spokesperson for the country's needy and has been lionized by various groups for her efforts in helping the poor and improving the healthcare needs of diverse populations.[Read more]
Chris Nowinski
CEO, and Co-founder, Sports Legacy Institute
Boston, MA
Chris Nowinski's campaign to raise awareness about concussions and their long-term effects is credited with driving the national discussion about the effect of repetitive brain trauma on athletes. [Read more]
Clayton Christensen
Professor, Harvard Business School, author
Cambridge, MA
Disruptive technology has altered the practice of medicine many times over, yet the structure of healthcare institutions and the healthcare system has resisted change to its detriment, says management guru Clayton Christensen. [Read more]
Robert Donaldson, NPC
Cinical Director of Emergency Medicine
Ellenville Regional Hospital
Ellenville, NY
Robert Donaldson is a nurse practitioner. He is also clinical director of emergency medicine and president of the hospital's medical staff, sharing ED leadership responsibilities with a medical director. [Read more]
David Fox
President and CEO
Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
Downers Grove, IL
As the architect of a good-to-great initiative, hospital CEO David Fox set measurable goals, pushed for greater accountability, and eventually won a national quality award. [Read more]
Jim Geary
Advocate for coordinated care
San Francisco, CA
For 30 years, Jim Geary has been challenging the healthcare system to get patients more engaged in their care and encourage providers to practice participatory medicine. He advocates for coordinated care along the entire continuum. [Read more]
George Berci, MD
Senior Director of the Endoscopic Research Laboratory
Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
George Berci, MD, has been an innovator in medical instrumentation for decades. He has developed numerous surgical instruments for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, including cytoscopes, resectoscopes, and nephroscopes. [Read more]
His goal as CEO is to breathe new life into the patients of Seattle Children's Hospital. But that's not enough for Thomas N. Hansen, MD, the brains behind the Hansen ventilator, a device that could lead to low-cost care for infants in impoverished places the world over. [Read more]
Jeanne Yeatman develops programs to help improve care coordination among flight crews, paramedics, and emergency department staff in the Vanderbilt LifeFlight system. [Read more]
Michael Edmond, MD
Epidemiologist
Virginia Commonwealth U. Medical Center
Richmond, VA
Since 2004, when Michael Edmond, MD, persuaded hospital leaders not to adopt active surveillance, the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center has saved $20 million in avoided cost of treating healthcare-aciquired infections. [Read more]
Min-Shih Chen is one of the estimated 65 million Americans—roughly 29% of the population—who provide a total of $375 billion in uncompensated healthcare each year for a family member. [Read more]
Nicholas Christakis, MD
Professor of Medicine and Medical Sociology
Harvard Medical School
Cambridge, MA
For the past decade, Nicholas Christakis, MD, has been studying human social networks and their effects on health. These aren't Facebook-style networks. He analyzes old-fashioned face-to-face networks. [Read more]
Peter Orszag
Vice Chairman of Global Banking, Citigroup
Economist Peter Orszag, formerly Director of the Congressional Budget Office, remains a chief proponent of the individual mandate, a linchpin of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. [Read more] Rebecca Lynn
Venture Capitalist
Menlo Park, CA
Rebecca Lynn believes the healthcare industry isn't going to save itself. Rather, change will come from outsider entrepreneurs unfettered by the status quo. [Read more]
Express Scripts and Walgreens appear to have abandoned any pretense of trying to reach an end-of-the year resolution of their stalled contract talks. The negotiations, which began earlier this year but spun out last summer, have been a test of nerves and financial muscle by the two healthcare titans. The two corporate giants say they are miles apart on contract terms and prices. Their 3-year contract is set to expire on Saturday, Dec. 31. Still, analysts won't rule out a last-minute flurry of talks.