News


FDA Rejects IOM Recommendations for More Thorough Device Approval Process

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The Institute of Medicine (IOM), an independent nonprofit branch of the National Academy of Sciences, works to provide unbiased and authoritative advice to the government’s decision makers and members of the public. So when the FDA wanted to revise their approval process for medical devices, they asked IOM to review the process they’ve been using,… Read more »

Why Are Local Hospitals Becoming For-Profit – And What Are The Consequences?

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Most U.S. hospitals have been run as non-profit organizations for the last 30 years, but there is a new and growing trend toward hospitals becoming for-profit entities. Is this a positive move, or a bad idea? Voices on both sides of the debate have been loud and clear. Those who support the for-profit delivery model… Read more »

Healthcare Jobs Numbers Bounce Back to Pre-Recession Levels

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released optimistic data that healthcare jobs are bouncing back to 2007 -– pre-recession — numbers, reports the Wall Street Journal blog. The BLS monthly employment report indicated the healthcare industry added 31,300 new jobs in July. During the past year, healthcare employment has grown by 299,000, reports the… Read more »

New Bill Introduced to Improve Patient Care & Curtail Nurse Shortage

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This June, Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) introduced legislation that would establish a federal minimum of nurse-to-patient ratios at all hospitals and offer whistleblower protection, giving nurses the right to seek enforcement of staffing standards. Aimed at decreasing mortality rates and preventing medical errors, the legislation would require that hospitals and direct care nurses work together… Read more »

Labor Costs Comparable for Temporary and Permanent Nurses

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Hospital executives constantly face the challenge of managing labor costs and fluctuating levels of available clinical personnel while managing patient care. KPMG LLP’s Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals division recently conducted a study that addressed hospitals’ views on quality of patient care, direct employee labor costs, and temporary nurse usage. The 2011 U.S. Hospital Nursing Labor Costs… Read more »

ACOs – How They Will Work

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In our last post, we discussed the basics of ACOs: what they are and why they have become such a hot topic in the healthcare industry. Before ACOs officially launch in January 2012, there are many details still to be worked out, both within the industry and by potential patients. How would ACOs be paid?… Read more »

An Introduction to ACOs

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Those involved in the healthcare industry will be hearing a lot about accountable care organizations (ACOs) in the coming months. As presented on seven pages of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) signed into law last March, the stated purpose of ACOs is to offer doctors and hospitals financial incentives to provide good… Read more »

HHS Aims for Racial Equity in Healthcare Delivery

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A recent update from a major player in the healthcare industry: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced that it plans to bridge the gaps in health outcomes between whites and minority groups by implementing three actions: studying the causes of racial inequities in healthcare delivery, improving its own hiring of minority… Read more »

Perspectives on Improving Patient Care in the Office

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As part of our commitment to the healthcare industry and its players, we like to share the latest news and developments. In March 2011, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) held its 12th Annual International Summit on Improving Patient Care in the Office Practice and the Community. The purpose of the event was to help… Read more »

What Factors Should You Measure When Evaluating Patient Flow?

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When patients visit emergency rooms or outpatient clinics in need of medical attention, effective patient flow facilitates the timely care of patients and avoids a bottleneck that can disrupt more than one department of the hospital. Patient flow encompasses the systematic process of attending to patients, from the time they walk into a medical facility… Read more »