Week in review: 9 biggest healthcare stories this week

Stay in the know with Becker's Hospital Review's weekly roundup of the nation's biggest healthcare news. Here's what you need to know this week.

1. HHS unveils new protections for transgender community in the healthcare system
The Obama administration on Thursday issued a long-awaited proposed rule to advance health equality and reduce disparities in healthcare. The new rule aims to bolster civil rights protections for the transgender community and other populations that have been most vulnerable to discrimination in the healthcare system.

2. 2 EHRs stripped of ONC certification
The ONC terminated the certification of two EHR products that were being used to meet the requirements of the EHR Incentive Programs, saying the products no longer meet ONC Health IT Certification Program requirements. Under ONC Health IT Certification Program requirements, all EHRs must be certified by an ONC authorized certification body before providers can use them to attest to meaningful use. Two versions of Platinum Health Information System's SkyCare 4.2 EHR lost their certifications after failing to respond to and participate in routine surveillance requests by an ONC-ACB.

3. Firefighter, ER workers stabbed by hospital patient
Two emergency room workers and a Los Angeles Fire Department firefighter were stabbed by a patient at Los Angeles-based White Memorial Medical Center, according to ABC7. The firefighter and workers were assisting another patient when the suspect, who was in the hospital for a mental health evaluation, suddenly stabbed the victims with a knife. The firefighter, who was stabbed in the arm, is in stable condition. The other victims' injuries are non-life threatening. The male suspect was arrested.

4. Kansas hospital to close next month
Chesterfield, Mo.-based Mercy health system announced it will close Mercy Hospital Independence (Kan.) next month. Declining populations and utilization patterns, challenges recruiting and retaining physicians, increasing capital improvement needs and shrinking reimbursement were all cited as factors in the decision to close the hospital. Mercy Hospital's inpatient services, emergency department and ambulatory surgery services will end Oct. 10. Some outpatient and clinic services will remain open past that date, but are expected to close no later than Dec. 31.

5. Brigham and Women's to cut 100 jobs to curb rising costs: 6 things to know
In an effort to save $10 million and stay afloat as costs rise faster than revenues, Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital, part of Partners HealthCare, intends to cut 100 positions, hospital officials said, according to The Boston Globe. The workforce reduction includes layoffs and unfilled vacant positions, and represents less than 1 percent of the Brigham and Women's workforce of 18,000. Only non-patient facing jobs will be affected, according to the Globe. The cuts will take place over the course of several months.

6. 7 takeaways from Epic's annual meeting — and why Judy Faulkner was dressed as Lucille Ball

Epic Systems' 36th annual users' group began Monday at its Verona, Wis., campus, with founder and CEO Judy Faulkner, dressed as Lucille Ball, delivering the executive address Tuesday. More than 18,000 healthcare executives and Epic employees attended this year's meeting, including representatives from 11 countries. Ms. Faulkner discussed topics such as interoperability, the potential of big data and cyberattack liability. The theme of this year's user meeting was "A Classic Episode," and Ms. Faulkner's presentation included clips from TV shows like "I Love Lucy" throughout her presentation. 

7. Oncology group pays $750k HIPAA violation settlement
Indianapolis-based Cancer Care Group agreed to pay $750,000 to settle potential HIPAA violations with HHS' Office for Civil Rights following a 2012 data breach that compromised the protected health information of approximately 55,000 individuals. In August 2012, Cancer Care, a radiation oncology private physician practice, notified OCR that a laptop bag containing a computer and unencrypted backup media had been stolen from an employee's car. The computer and backup media contained names, addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers, insurance information and clinical information.

8. Florida hospital hits Health First with antitrust lawsuit for trying to monopolize cancer care market
Titusville, Fla.-based Parrish Medical Center filed a lawsuit against Rockledge, Fla.-based Health First, claiming the company committed antitrust violations by trying to monopolize a cancer care market, according to a Law360 report. The lawsuit, filed in Circuit Court in Brevard County, aims to block Health First from acquiring Space Coast Cancer Center, which operates three Brevard County locations. Parrish alleges that the acquisition would result in Health First employing two of the three radiation oncologists and six of the nine medical oncologists practicing in north Brevard County.

9. 2 Georgia health systems announce massive merger plans: 5 things to know
Two Georgia health systems — Sandy Springs-based Northside Hospital and Lawrenceville-based Gwinnett Medical Center — are exploring a merger to create a combined system that would have nearly 1,400 beds, more than 16,000 employees and nearly 3,500 physicians on staff. The two systems have approved a letter of intent to begin exclusive discussions to combine their operations.

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars