Many healthcare systems talk about three main pillars of care for treating cancer patients: medical, surgical and radiation oncology. It turns out that having state-of-the-art radiation technology can not only help heal patients, it can also be beneficial to a hospital system's bottom line. A high-stakes dispute among three major hospital systems in the Triangle — Duke Health, UNC Health/Rex and WakeMed — has revealed just how financially advantageous such equipment can be. The clash also gives a glimpse into how certificate of need, or CON, laws can be used to try to stifle competition — and provides insight into the lengths major healthcare systems will go to try to maintain a competitive edge in the specialized care market.
In a social media landscape shaped by hashtags, algorithms, and viral posts, nurse leaders must decide: Will they let the narrative spiral, or can they adapt and join the conversation?
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