The U.S. credit crunch is forcing the University of Minnesota Medical Center to delay construction of a $200 million building for outpatient care. The Ambulatory Care Center, a joint project by Fairview Health Services and the University of Minnesota Physicians, called for a five-story structure with 300,000 square feet on what now is a surface parking lot on the university campus. In an internal memo, leaders of the organizations blamed "a rapidly weakening economy, restricted access to capital, investment losses and the significant increase in the cost of debt."
The Paterson administration has unveiled an austere New York state budget that would include 137 new or increased taxes and fees, loosened restrictions on gambling, and $9 billion worth of spending cuts. Medicaid spending would rise by about 1% under the plan, although the projected spending for hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare providers would be cut by more than $1 billion. In a joint statement, George Gresham, the president of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, and Kenneth E. Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association, said, "Today is a dark day for healthcare in New York." They added "these are staggering cuts that would shatter New York’s healthcare infrastructure."
Legislation pushed by the Ohio Hospital Association threatens to derail an effort to inform consumers about certain hospital infections and whether facilities follow practices to reduce infection rates. In August, an Ohio panel recommended a long list of measures that would require public disclosure of hospital infections. The proposal also gives consumers information about whether hospitals monitor hand-washing among staff, whether workers are vaccinated against flu, and how well facilities staff infection-control programs. But an amendment introduced in the Ohio Senate would gut the proposal and hamstring the panel from making future recommendations, officials involved in the process said.
The National Nurses Organizing Committee has filed documents with the state of Florida accusing the Jackson Health System and a rival union of trying to stop it from organizing nurses. NNOC spokesman Fernando Losada said his group has asked the Florida Public Relations Commission to stop "illegal activities" on the part of Jackson Health System and the Service Employees International Union, which represents Jackson employees.
Representatives from Mountain View, CA-based El Camino Hospital have announced it has agreed to buy the real estate and certain other assets of the 143-bed Community Hospital of Los Gatos from HCP Inc. Financial terms of the deal with HCP, which is expected to happen by June 1, were not announced.
The New Hampshire health department has mistakenly released 9,300 names and Social Security numbers of Medicare recipients. Their information was mistakenly attached to a Dec. 1 e-mail sent to 61 providers and health-related organizations. The attachment contained names, addresses, Medicare Part D plan information, Social Security numbers, and the amount of each person's monthly premiums.
An economic stimulus package supported by President-elect Barack Obama could bring up to $1.8 billion to Florida in additional money for healthcare for the poor and children, according to a study released by Families USA. The study estimated that the additional money could help create 34,000 jobs statewide. The estimates were based on proposals from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the National Governors Association.
David Nevill has been named CEO of Albuquerque, NM-based Lovelace Medical Center. Nevill replaces Clay Holderman, who was recruited by Presbyterian Healthcare Services in July 2008 to become administrator of its new Presbyterian Rio Rancho Medical Center. Nevill most recently served as senior president of business development for Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd. in Chennai, India.
A growing population of uninsured and underinsured heading to the emergency room with little or no ability to pay for their care is one of several alarming trends that Jacksonville, FL-based healthcare officials say will make 2009 a challenging year. The healthcare industry has a direct economic impact of $7 billion in Jacksonville, according to the Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy at the University of North Florida. It also employs one in six Jacksonville residents, and is the fastest-growing segment of employment in the region.
Although half are losing money, New Jersey's 74 hospitals say they boost the state's economic health. The New Jersey Hospital Association released an annual report that shows the hospitals employ 145,000 people and spend $18 billion. Hospitals are second only to state, county, and local governments for employing people in New Jersey.
