Hospitals Lag in Workforce Diversity

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John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the nation’s hospitals employ more than 4.8 million people, making these centers of healing powerful economic engines for the communities they serve. Unfortunately, when it comes to diversity in the workforce, hospitals are not leading the way. According to a survey from the… Read more »

10 Tips and 32 Strategies for Healthcare CEOs

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Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media An Institute of Medicine report released this month may give some cost-embattled healthcare executives just what they need, even if it’s not something they’re all ready for just yet. It’s a 10-point “CEO Checklist for High-Value HealthCare,” a list of tips on how to keep their organizations alive, written by… Read more »

Health IT a quantum leap from other industries

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By Ken Terry, FierceHealthIT Many physicians are dissatisfied with electronic health record systems, according to a recent survey of members of the professional networking site Sermo. Forty-four percent of respondents said EHRs are not designed with physicians in mind; 15 percent said they believe EHRs lower the quality of care; and 73 percent said EHRs… Read more »

Binge-Eating Hospital Employees Cost Big Bucks

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John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, June 11, 2012   While there is not a definitive link showing that healthcare workers are more susceptible to overweight and obesity than other workers, some studies suggest that is the case. Empirically it resonates because long hours, irregular work schedules, and on-the-job stress, which are virtually written into the… Read more »

6 Ways to Get Physicians on Board with Decision Support

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This article appears in the May 2012 issue of HealthLeaders magazine. The successful adoption of clinical decision support at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia came after years of work that included physicians and other clinicians in the development process, says Michael Restuccia, vice president and CIO. These are some of the important steps in the Penn… Read more »

Best EDs Focus on Flow

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This article appears in the May 2012 issue of HealthLeaders magazine. Among the greatest challenges in the emergency department is improving patient flow, and this comes with a sense of urgency amid deep concerns about patient safety due to overcrowding. In addition, the latest HealthLeaders Media Intelligence Report reveals that healthcare leaders expect worsening ED… Read more »

Bigger hospitals, mergers drive higher prices

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May 9, 2012 | By Alicia Caramenico Fierce Healthcare   Large hospital systems are using their size and market clout to boost prices, a trend that started long before the health reform law passed, according to a study in this month’s Health Affairs. It’s the “must-have” hospital systems and large physician groups–providers that health plans… Read more »

Hospitals to see more bad debt without health reform

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June 8, 2012 | By Alicia Caramenico Fierce Health Finance   While the industry awaits the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling later this month, a new report from Moody’s Investors Service warns that a full or partial repeal of the health reform law will hurt for-profit hospitals. If the Supreme Court strikes down the entire Patient… Read more »

Hospitals Add Palliative Teams at Feverish Pace

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 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: June 4, 2012   FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Fighting stage-four ovarian cancer, Carol Delzatto has more doctor appointments than she cares to count. But this day, she is beaming as Dr. Pamela Sutton comes into sight, greeting her patient and calling her beautiful. Delzatto looks forward to her monthly… Read more »

Are You Ready for an ACO?

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This article appears in the May 2012 issue of HealthLeaders magazine. It seems like each week brings yet another announcement about some combination of physicians, hospitals, and even health plans that are forming collaborations or partnerships, and calling them accountable care organizations. The ACO moniker carries a lot of weight these days. It signals that… Read more »