April 2019 Issue of Becker's Healthcare Review
ON THE COVER
4 questions with CHIME-HIMSS CIO of the Year Ed Kopetsky
In January, two of health IT's biggest trade groups — the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society — named Ed Kopetsky the 2018 CIO of the Year, honoring of his decades of leadership in the hospital space.
Greenville Health System Ambulatory CMO Dr. Saria Saccocio on the connection between access and quality
Saria Saccocio, MD, knows that care quality begins with access, and as ambulatory CMO and department chair of family medicine for Greenville (S.C.) Health System, improving access has been a top priority.
How to create the 'aha moment' most nurses are missing: 5 questions with ANA's VP of innovation
When Bonnie Clipper, DNP, RN, asks a room full of nurses if they consider themselves to be innovators, the response is usually the same: only a few people raise their hands.
NewYork-Presbyterian surpasses 100K virtual visits: CIO Daniel Barchi reflects
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City kicked off 2019 with a significant milestone: its 100,000th virtual visit.
3 questions with Lloyd Dean and Kevin Lofton, CEOs of the new CommonSpirit Health
As of February 1, there's a new name in healthcare: CommonSpirit Health.
Ascension Michigan COO Jean Meyer: Meeting women’s healthcare needs requires internal and external transformation
As our social and political climate continues to bring women’s issues to the forefront of our national consciousness, companies are doubling down on their commitment to create positive, equitable experiences for their female customers and employees alike.
Start with yourself: A 6-item personal inventory for leaders
Many industry leaders would argue that there is no more challenging sector to manage than healthcare.
Steal this idea: How a 'D' grade redefined the role of quality teams at Piedmont Health
Leigh Hamby, MD, CMO of Atlanta-based Piedmont Health, thought his system was effectively executing quality initiatives when a surprising Leapfrog rating shook the status quo.
Corner Office: Novant Health CMO Dr. Eric Eskioglu on why his team is embracing artificial intelligence
Eric Eskioglu, MD, brings both clinical neurosurgical experience and an aerospace engineering background to his role as executive vice president and CMO of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health.
The metrics healthcare leaders check daily
Becker’s Hospital Review asked healthcare leaders to share the metrics they check daily to track their organization’s performance.
5 most innovative hospitals, according to 300+ hospital leaders
The plurality of hospital leaders (14 percent) agreed Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic is the most innovative hospital in the U.S., according to a Reaction Data report.
Former Vanderbilt nurse indicted on reckless homicide charge after fatal medication error
A former nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., accused of inadvertently injecting a patient with a fatal medication dose has been indicted on charges of reckless homicide and impaired adult abuse, The Tennessean reports.
Livongo Health CEO Zane Burke on leaving Cerner, company goals
In late 2018, Zane Burke made a big decision: He stepped down from his role as as President of Cerner, a $5 billion public company, to take over the day-to-day operations of a startup called Livongo Health.
Nurses sue CHI over on-call pay: 4 things to know
Seven current and former nurses at CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln, Neb., have filed a federal lawsuit against the hospital's parent company, Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives, according to The World-Herald.
Hospitals, not physicians, driving up healthcare costs for privately insured, study shows
Hospital prices are a bigger driver of healthcare spending growth for the privately insured than physician prices, a study published in Health Affairs suggests.
$89B: The annual price tag of healthcare wait, travel times
The time consumers spend waiting for or traveling to healthcare services costs $89 billion each year, according to an analysis from nonprofit research firm Altarum.
Healthcare leaders share practices for snaring top talent
Becker’s Hospital Review asked healthcare leaders to share their tips for hiring the best talent.
Your hospital may benefit from a chief purpose officer — here’s why
To drive employee efforts and help them connect their individual work to the organization’s broader goals, Roche India — part of pharmaceutical and diagnostics company Roche Group — hired a chief purpose officer.
Walmart drops price of virtual visits from $40 to $4
Walmart is offering employees a 90 percent discount on telemedicine, dropping the price of a virtual visit from $40 to $4, The Denver Post reports.
Cedars-Sinai to equip 100 rooms with Alexa-powered platform
A pilot program in over 100 patient rooms at Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai lets patients use an Alexa-powered platform called Aiva to interact with nurses and control their entertainment.
Physician-hospital integration does not improve care quality, study says
improve care on several quality measures, according to a study published in Medical Care Research and Review.
CFO / FINANCE
Tower Health points to Epic install costs for operating loss
Tower Health reported higher operating revenues in the first half of fiscal year 2019 than in the same period of the year prior, but the West Reading, Pa.-based health system ended the first six months of the current fiscal year with an operating loss, according to unaudited financial documents released Feb. 12.
Ohio hospital to close after 105 years
Belmont Community Hospital, a 99-bed hospital in Bellaire, Ohio, will close April 5.
Kansas hospital abruptly closes
Oswego (Kan.) Community Hospital and its two affiliated clinics closed Feb. 14.
Pennsylvania attorney general takes legal action against UPMC over patient access
The Pennsylvania Attorney General's office filed a petition against UPMC, arguing the Pittsburgh-based health system is not in compliance with the state's Public Charity law, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Mayo's annual revenue climbs to $12.6B amid move to Epic EHR
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic made significant investments in a new EHR system in 2018 yet still ended the year on strong financial footing.
North Carolina hospital misses payroll
Employees at Washington County Hospital in Plymouth, N.C., didn't receive their paychecks Feb. 8, according to local TV station NewsChannel12.
Partners posts $463M loss in Q1
Boston-based Partners HealthCare saw its operating income rise in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019 but ended the period with a net loss, according to financial documents released Feb. 1.
Nurses sue CHI over on-call pay: 4 things to know
Seven current and former nurses at CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln, Neb., have filed a federal lawsuit against the hospital's parent company, Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives, according to The World-Herald.
Ascension's operating revenue climbs $1.3B in first half of FY 2019
St. Louis-based Ascension saw operating revenues and operating income increase in the first six months of 2019, but ended the period with a net loss.
Indiana hospital overbilled Medicare by $22M, OIG says
Community Hospital in Munster, Ind., a 458-bed nonprofit hospital, failed to comply with Medicare billing requirements for 86 inpatient claims of 170 inpatient and outpatient claims reviewed by HHS' Office of Inspector General, according to an OIG report.
CHI's operating loss swells to $57M in Q2
Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives saw its revenue increase and operating loss grow in the second quarter of fiscal year 2019, according to recently released unaudited financial documents.
Atrium Health bumps pay for 15,000 employees
Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health revealed Feb. 6 it will spend $19 million to finance wage increases for more than 15,000 employees.
Hospitals, not physicians, driving up healthcare costs for privately insured, study shows
Hospital prices are a bigger driver of healthcare spending growth for the privately insured than physician prices, a study published in Health Affairs suggests.
A new bundled payment trio: Cleveland Clinic, Kroger, Anthem target heart surgery costs
Employees of grocery chain Kroger can access cardiac surgery care at Cleveland Clinic through a partnership with Anthem, the organizations said Feb. 5.
Kaiser's annual revenue grows to $79B
Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente reported higher revenue and operating income for its nonprofit hospital and health plan units in 2018, but the system's net income declined year over year.
Zuckerberg hospital puts balance billing on hold
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital is temporarily halting balance billing as it finalizes a plan to address billing issues long term, the hospital announced.
Baylor Scott & White's net income falls 55%
Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White Health saw its revenue increase in the first half of fiscal year 2019, but losses on investments dragged down its bottom line.
Vermont health system cuts jobs, wages to stay afloat
Springfield (Vt.) Medical Care Systems is cutting 27 jobs and reducing wages as part of a $6.5 million cost-cutting plan, according to Valley News.
Prime Healthcare, CEO settle billing fraud allegations
Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services and its founder and CEO Prem Reddy, MD, have agreed to pay the federal government $1.25 million to settle false claims allegations, according to the Department of Justice.
HCA completes $1.5B acquisition of Mission Health
Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare now owns 185 hospitals after completing its purchase of Mission Health, a six-hospital system based in Asheville, N.C.
Walmart teams up with Ochsner for joint replacement program
Walmart is aiming to lower spending and improve healthcare outcomes for its employees by sending them to New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System for hip and knee replacements.
HHS seeks to end 'backdoor deals' to lower drug prices
Under a proposed rule HHS released Jan. 31, drug manufacturers would no longer be able to give rebates to pharmacy benefit managers, but they would be allowed to offer discounted prices directly to consumers.
6 things to know about the billionaire couple investing in Civica Rx
Laura and John Arnold are among the early billionaire investors in Civica Rx, the hospital-owned nonprofit generic drug company.
South Carolina healthcare providers alert patients about 'split billing'
South Carolina hospitals are warning patients that they could see unexpected healthcare charges due to "split billing," according to The Post and Courier.
OptumRx sets demands for drugmaker price reductions
OptumRx, UnitedHealth Group's pharmacy benefit manager unit, reportedly sent a letter to pharmaceutical companies in December outlining several demands drugmakers must meet if they decide to lower list prices, according to a Bernstein investor memo.
Cigna's net income falls 46%: 5 things to know
Cigna, which now owns pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts, saw its net income fall in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, according to recent financial documents.
New York health system cuts jobs after poor financial performance
Olean, N.Y.-based Upper Allegheny Health System laid off 31 employees from two hospitals on Feb. 19, according to the Olean Times Herald.
Mayo Clinic adds Mexico hospital to care network
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic has added Centro Médico Puerta de Hierro in Guadalajara, Mexico to the Mayo Clinic Care Network, a group of independent health systems that work closely with Mayo to improve quality standards.
Tenet shrinks loss to $5M, plans new $200M cost-cutting drive
Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare saw its revenue slide in the fourth quarter of 2018, but its net loss narrowed year over year.
Tax-exempt hospitals to get an IRS checkup on federal law compliance
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, sent a letter to the IRS asking the agency for information about nonprofit, tax-exempt hospitals and whether they are meeting statutory requirements under federal law, the senator's office announced Feb. 25.
1 in 5 rural hospitals at high risk of closing, analysis finds
Twenty-one percent of U.S. rural hospitals are at high risk of closing unless their finances improve, according to an analysis from management consultancy firm Navigant.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center's operating income more than doubles
Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center reported higher revenue and operating income during the first half of fiscal year 2019 than in the same period of the year prior, according to recently released unaudited financial documents.
North Carolina hospital forced into bankruptcy
Washington County Hospital in Plymouth, N.C., is the subject of an involuntary bankruptcy petition, according to the Triangle Business Journal.
CHS' loss shrinks to $328M in Q4
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, which operates 110 hospitals in 19 states, saw its net loss narrow in the fourth quarter of 2018.
2 South Carolina hospitals agree to close, transfer services to new facility
Under an agreement announced Feb. 22, Lake City (S.C.) Community Hospital and Williamsburg Regional Hospital in Kingstree, S.C., will close and a new 25-bed critical access hospital will be built somewhere between the two communities.
LifeBridge Health to acquire Bon Secours Baltimore Hospital
Baltimore-based LifeBridge Health has signed a letter of intent with Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health to acquire Bon Secours Baltimore Hospital.
Patient cost largely unrelated to procedure price or insurance coverage, study finds
Little correlation exists between what a patient pays for a service and the amount an insurer pays or the overall price of a procedure, according to a new study from right-leaning think tank Pioneer Institute.
Dignity Health reports $33M operating loss in most recent quarter
San Francisco-based Dignity Health, now part of CommonSpirit Health with Catholic Health Initiatives in Englewood, Colo., posted an operating loss in the quarter ended Dec. 31.
10 states with the most rural hospitals at high financial risk
Mississippi is the state with the most rural hospitals at high financial risk, according to a new analysis from management consultancy firm Navigant.
Zuckerberg hospital considers cost cap for privately insured patients amid billing uproar
Privately insured patients receiving emergency services at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital could see a cap on out-of-pocket payments, according to a San Francisco Examiner report.
US health spending estimated to reach nearly $6 trillion in 8 years
National health spending is projected to grow 5.5 percent on average annually and reach nearly $6 trillion by 2027, according to federal estimates published in Health Affairs.
Why 2 hospitals are slashing medical bills by 50%
Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling, W.Va., and East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry, are allowing patients with outstanding medical bills to pay only half of their balance, according to The Intelligencer.
Atrius Health, BCBS of Massachusetts ink global payment agreement: 4 things to know
Auburndale, Mass.-based Atrius Health, a provider with 32 medical practices, signed a seven-year global payment agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
$89B: The annual price tag of healthcare wait, travel times
The time consumers spend waiting for or traveling to healthcare services costs $89 billion each year, according to an analysis from nonprofit research firm Altarum.
Anthem study: Employers are increasingly bundling health benefits
More than 71 percent of surveyed employers are integrating or considering bundling their medical, pharmacy, dental, vision and disability benefits under a single employee package, according to a new study released by Anthem.
Anthem: Cigna helped kill $49B merger by dragging feet
Cigna cut Anthem "off at the knees" in its effort to assuage antitrust concerns over a proposed $48.9 billion merger, Anthem's general counsel said during trial, according to Bloomberg.
CEO / STRATEGY
Healthgrades names ‘America’s Best Hospitals’ 2019
Healthgrades released its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” list on Feb. 12.
Illinois hospitals end merger talks
Iroquois Memorial Hospital in Watseka, Ill., and Riverside Healthcare in Kankakee, Ill., have discontinued merger discussions roughly four months after signing a letter of intent to combine their organizations.
Trinity Health restructuring to affect nearly 1,700 employees
Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health announced Feb. 6 immediate and longterm plans to restructure operations, which would affect at least 1,650 employees across its 94 hospitals and care sites.
5 most innovative hospitals, according to 300+ hospital leaders
The plurality of hospital leaders (14 percent) agreed Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic is the most innovative hospital in the U.S., according to a Reaction Data report.
Baylor Scott & White, Memorial Hermann end merger talks
Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White Health and Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System decided to discontinue merger discussions roughly four months after signing a letter of intent to combine their organizations.
Adventist Health to lay off 1,300+, keep wildfire-damaged hospital closed
Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health will not reopen its hospital in Paradise, Calif., and finalized more than 1,300 layoffs, according to the Paradise Post.
Kaiser Permanente lays off nearly 200 in Colorado
Kaiser Permanente Colorado, the state’s largest insurer, has notified nearly 200 employees that they are being laid off, according to NBC-affiliate TV station KUSA.
CEO, CFO of CHS hospital in Florida unexpectedly resign
The CEO and CFO of Bayfront Health St. Petersburg in Florida resigned Feb. 13, a spokesperson with the system confirmed to the Tampa Bay Times.
Hennepin Healthcare CEO resigns
Jon Pryor, MD, retired from his position as CEO of Minneapolis-based Hennepin Healthcare in early February, according to the Star-Tribune.
Ex-CEO gets 46 months in prison for defrauding Florida hospital
The former CEO of Blountstown, Fla.-based Calhoun-Liberty Hospital received a 46-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to 24 counts of wire fraud and three counts of tax fraud last year, according to TV station WJHG.
CVS unveils HealthHub store design
CVS Health has unveiled three redesigned health-focused concept stores in the Houston market, according to CNBC.
Erlanger breeding culture of distrust among staff, physicians allege
Recent decisions and alleged threats by leadership at Erlanger Health System over physician contracts have reportedly created a culture of distrust among physicians at the Chattanooga, Tenn.-based system, according to documents obtained by the Times Free Press.
Partners names interim CEO
Partners HealthCare named an interim successor to David Torchiana, MD, who plans to resign from his position as president and CEO of the system in April.
New York hospital ICU chief: Complaints about problem physician ‘fell on deaf ears’
Auburn (N.Y.) Community Hospital’s chief of intensive care, Hal Feinberg, MD, said the hospital CEO ignored complaints of an abusive physician for months before taking action, according to a Syracuse.com report.
Intermountain: Whistle-blower provisions of False Claims Act are unconstitutional
Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare argues the False Claims Act’s whistle-blower provisions are unconstitutional in a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case, according to The National Law Review.
Mission Health CEO to become strategic adviser for new parent HCA
Ronald A. Paulus, MD, president and CEO of Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health, is leaving to take on a new role with Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, according to a Citizen Times report.
Ex-Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. John Noseworthy joins UnitedHealth Group’s board
John Noseworthy, MD, the former president and CEO of the Mayo Clinic, joined the board of directors of UnitedHealth Group, the insurer announced Feb. 13.
Healthcare leaders share practices for snaring top talent
Becker’s Hospital Review asked healthcare leaders to share their tips for hiring the best talent.
Viewpoint: Baylor, Memorial Hermann breakup may be better for healthcare
Roughly four months after announcing their intent to merge, Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White Health and Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System decided to end discussions on the planned combination Feb. 5.
Why Premier Health is turning to high schoolers to fill its workforce
To keep up with growing workforce demands, Dayton, Ohio-based Premier Health is turning to high schoolers for the first time in its history, according to the Dayton Business Journal.
How can C-suite execs boost earnings? Talk like your CEO
Members of the C-suite can earn higher salaries and potentially obtain seats on their organizations’ corporate boards by parroting their CEO’s language style, according to a May 2018 study cited by Phys.org.
Your hospital may benefit from a chief purpose officer — here’s why
To drive employee efforts and help them connect their individual work to the organization’s broader goals, Roche India — part of pharmaceutical and diagnostics company Roche Group — hired a chief purpose officer.
Data, ‘care enablement’ to shape healthcare in 2040, Deloitte says
Three trends will likely shape healthcare in 2040, according to an analysis published in February by consulting firm Deloitte.
MercyOne Health unifies 450+ care locations under one brand
Clive, Iowa-based Mercy Health Network unveiled a new brand and name Feb. 1.
The metrics healthcare leaders check daily
Becker’s Hospital Review asked healthcare leaders to share the metrics they check daily to track their organization’s performance.
Viewpoint: CEOs shouldn’t pick their replacements
While CEOs may be intimately familiar with their companies, their opinions should take a backseat to the organization’s board of directors, according to Stanford (Calif.) University business school professor David Larcker, PhD, and researcher Brian Tayan.
Fortune’s ‘Best Companies to Work For’ 2019 names 10 hospitals
Fortune and people analytics firm Great Places to Work released their annual list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" on Feb. 20.
Partners interim CEO Dr. Anne Klibanski: Helping women succeed is important
People close to Anne Klibanski, MD, the interim president and CEO of Boston-based Partners HealthCare, told The Boston Globe she will likely serve as a good leader for the state’s largest health system, and work to build policies to support women so they can rise to leadership positions.
Penn State Health to split CEO, med school dean roles amid Dr. Craig Hillemeier’s exit
The Penn State Health board of directors approved an amendment to its corporate bylaws that allows the organization to split the roles of Penn State Health CEO and dean of the institution’s affiliated medical school during its Jan. 16 meeting.
HCA, Cleveland Clinic rank among world’s most ethical companies 2019
Six hospitals and health systems were ranked among the world’s “Most Ethical Companies 2019” by the Ethisphere Institute.
CIO/HEALTH IT
Catholic Health invests $100M+ in move to Epic EHR
Buffalo, N.Y.-based Catholic Health is planning to implement an Epic EHR system, investing more than $100 million in the project.
CHS reaches settlement with 4.5M patients affected by data breach
Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems has reached a settlement, which must be approved by the judge, in a class-action lawsuit over a 2014 data breach that affected 4.5 million people.
Cerner to debut ‘longitudinal patient records’ by next year
Cerner demonstrated new interoperability capabilities it plans to roll out through 2020 during the HIMSS19 trade show this week in Orlando, Fla.
Cottage Health agrees to $3M HIPAA settlement
Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Cottage Health agreed to pay $3 million and implement a corrective action plan as part of a HIPAA settlement to resolve allegations it had unintentionally disclosed electronic patient information.
Cigna, Sentara join Aetna IBM’s blockchain ecosystem
Cigna and Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Healthcare are the latest organizations to join a collaborative blockchain project designed to improve transparency and interoperability in the healthcare space.
Record-breaking $28M in HIPAA settlements reached in 2018
The federal Office for Civil Rights reached 10 settlements resolving HIPAA violations and one judgment in 2018, bringing in a record $28.7 million in fines.
Livongo Health CEO Zane Burke on leaving Cerner, company goals
In late 2018, Zane Burke made a big decision: He stepped down from his role as as President of Cerner, a $5 billion public company, to take over the day-to-day operations of a startup called Livongo Health.
Walmart drops price of virtual visits from $40 to $4
Walmart is offering employees a 90 percent discount on telemedicine, dropping the price of a virtual visit from $40 to $4, The Denver Post reports.
VA chooses Cerner’s scheduling software over Epic’s
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has decided to scrap its scheduling software project with Epic and switch to a service from Cerner, the Politico Morning eHealth newsletter reports.
Athenahealth goes private under new ownership
Private equity firm Veritas Capital and Elliott Management-affiliate Evergreen Coast Capital completed their acquisition of athenahealth Feb. 11 for approximately $5.7 billion in cash.
Cerner to lay off 129 from Georgia project
Cerner plans to cut 129 positions as part of its contract with Augusta University Health in Georgia comes to an end, effective March 31, according to a filing with the state and reported by AtlantaInno.
Apple rolls out iPhone health records feature to veterans
Veterans across the U.S. will soon have the option to access their medical data through the iPhone's Health app, thanks to a new partnership between Apple and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Partners experiences technical issues, including EHR downtime
Boston-based Partners HealthCare has regained access to its EHR platform that was down for several hours Feb. 11, according to The Boston Globe.
Cerner introduces AI tool for physician burnout
Cerner unveiled its new artificial intelligence tool, Chart Assist, designed to reduce physician burnout.
Tenet extends contract with Cerner
Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare has extended a long-term agreement with Cerner.
Apple, Aetna's new health app: 5 things to know, 4 questions that remain
There's a few features that make Attain — Apple and Aetna's new health app — stand out from the rest, according to Chilmark Research.
7 specialties with the most EHR-related stress
A study from the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University in Providence, R.I., has identified a link between EHR usage and stress among physicians, reports the student newspaper, The Brown Daily Herald.
Apple hires prominent Kaiser-affiliated obstetrician
Christine Curry, MD, PhD, an obstetrician affiliated with Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente, is the latest addition to Apple's health team, CNBC reports.
IBM to invest $2B into AI research hub in New York: 3 notes
IBM plans to invest more than $2 billion to grow its artificial intelligence footprint in New York state, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Feb. 7.
These 6 healthcare startups will be the next $1B 'unicorns,' NYT and analysts predict
Six of the next 50 unicorns, or startups valued at $1 billion or more, are related to healthcare, according to a new analysis.
Molina Healthcare selects Infosys to improve IT functions
Molina Healthcare, a Long Beach, Calif.-based managed care company, is joining forces with Infosys to improve its IT capabilities and operational efficiency.
Northwell Health adds AI to EM to cut readmissions
New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health is integrating artificial intelligence software into its EMR at 15 hospitals in an attempt to decrease avoidable readmissions.
Email fraud in healthcare up 473%: 6 things to know
Hospitals and health systems received an influx of fraudulent emails last year , a persistent problem that has cost healthcare organizations $12.5 billion since the end of 2013, a Proofpoint study found.
Amazon, Microsoft urge federal regulation for facial recognition technology: 5 notes
Technology giants are increasingly calling for regulation of facial recognition technologies, according to Wired.
How CMS' newest innovation model will change telehealth payments
CMS' new, five-year Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport Model will reimburse ambulance service providers for providing telehealth treatment for Medicare beneficiaries.
Cedars-Sinai to equip 100 rooms with Alexa-powered platform
A pilot program in over 100 patient rooms at Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai lets patients use an Alexa-powered platform called Aiva to interact with nurses and control their entertainment.
Bankrupt Arizona hospitals ordered to give former patients access to their EHRs
After leaving more than 300 patients without access to their medical records, two closed Arizona hospitals were ordered by a judge to temporarily reactivate their record systems and allow patient access, according to the Miami Herald.
CVS to spend $325M on digital healthcare in 2019
In fiscal 2019, drugstore pharmacy chain CVS Health will spend between $325 million and $350 million on technology to support its shift to offering more convenient healthcare options, according to Digital Commerce 360.
Samsung releases its 1st smartwatch with blood-pressure features: 3 notes
Samsung released details on its new line of fitness wearables at an event Feb. 20, including notes on the company's first wearable device that can measure blood pressure, CNET reports.
'Data error' exposes 974,000 patient records at UW Medicine
Seattle-based UW Medicine sent letters to 974,000 patients notifying them of a Dec. 4, 2018, data error that allowed patient information to come up in internet searches.
Microsoft, Philips to launch augmented reality for minimally invasive surgery: 5 notes
Microsoft and Philips developed an augmented reality platform for image-guided minimally invasive surgeries.
Allscripts' revenue up 17% in 2018: 5 things to know
Allscripts released earnings results for its 2018 fiscal year on Feb. 21, posting a 17 percent rise in revenue.
AT&T to launch smartwatch for remote patient monitoring
AT&T released details on its new smartwatch, OnePulse, designed with telehealth and remote patient monitoring capabilities.
UConn Health notifies up to 326,000 patients of data breach
Farmington-based University of Connecticut Health sent letters to up to 326,000 patients notifying them of a recent data security incident.
IBM: Cybercriminals abandon ransomware for 'cryptojacking'
As more companies increase their cybersecurity measures and awareness, cybercriminals have started altering their techniques to focus more on return on investment, according to IBM's "2019 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index" report.
Phoenix ACO to launch blockchain wallet for physicians, patients
Arizona Care Network, an ACO based in Phoenix, launched a blockchain platform from Solve.Care Foundation to reduce administration burdens.
Hundreds of patient records found burning across from Atlanta hospital
Piles of patient records were found burning in a dumpster across the street from Atlanta-based Southside Medical Center, according to WSBTV.
CMO/CARE DELIVERY
Former Vanderbilt nurse indicted on reckless homicide charge after fatal medication error
A former nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., accused of inadvertently injecting a patient with a fatal medication dose has been indicted on charges of reckless homicide and impaired adult abuse, The Tennessean reports.
Viewpoint: If Vanderbilt nurse is arrested for homicide, leadership should be too
Leadership at Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center should be held accountable for the processes that led to a patient's death and the indictment of a former nurse on homicide charges, according to Zubin Damania, MD, founder of the Las Vegas-based primary care clinic Turntable Health, also known as internet personality ZDoggMD.
Viewpoint: How to tell patients AI is part of their care
As artificial intelligence use expands in the healthcare space, physicians must be aware of how to properly explain the role of AI to patients and address ethical concerns that arise, a commentary published in the American Medical Association's Journal of Ethics said.
Mount Carmel: 5 patients who died under former physician's care may have lived if given right treatment
At least five patients who died under the care of a former physician at Columbus, Ohio-based Mount Carmel Health System may have survived if they had received the correct treatment, health system officials told The Columbus Dispatch.
Why U.S. nurses are suffering 'work hangovers'
While prominent industry players have attributed widespread understaffing issues to a nursing shortage, some industry experts and recent research claim such a shortage does not exist, The Guardian reports.
Physician tells jury 'beautiful sales reps' influenced his unnecessary prescribing of opioids
Michigan-based pain management physician Gavin Awerbuch, MD, on Jan. 30 testified that Insys Therapeutics' "beautiful" sales representatives and financial gifts persuaded him to write unnecessary prescriptions for the company's highly addictive opioid painkiller Subsys, reports Bloomberg.
New York hospital mishandled complaints about physician, CMS finds
An August CMS inspection found Auburn (N.Y.) Community Hospital did not take appropriate action regarding a physician accused of engaging in inappropriate and dangerous behavior, according to Auburnpub.com.
Why hospital mergers may harm care quality
Markets for hospitals and physicians have become more concentrated in the last few years, and this consolidation may lead to worse care quality, according to a report in The New York Times.
Kaiser Permanente waives tuition for first 5 medical school classes
Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente announced its intent Feb. 19 to waive all four years of tuition for the first five classes of students admitted to its new medical school.
CMS to take more aggressive role in enforcing safety at Baylor St. Luke's
A CMS inspection found Houston-based Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center violated patient care requirements, and the federal agency told the hospital state and federal officials would start taking a more aggressive role in enforcing safety standards, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Nurses sue CHI over on-call pay: 4 things to know
Seven current and former nurses at CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln, Neb., have filed a federal lawsuit against the hospital's parent company, Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives, according to The World-Herald.
12% of physicians say it's OK to lie to patients about medical errors, poll finds
Twelve percent of physicians and 4 percent of nurses said it is acceptable to lie to patients about a medical error, according to recent Medscape poll.
13 patients harmed by care at Johns Hopkins All Children's, system says
An internal review conducted by St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital found 13 cases in which patients in the facility's heart unit were harmed by care, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Viewpoint: Why this nursing 'rite of passage' is bullying in disguise
Giving new graduate nurses the busiest patient assignments as a "rite of passage" is really just another form of nurse bullying, travel nurse Mariam Yazdi, BSN, RN, wrote in an op-ed for Nurse.org.
Physician-hospital integration does not improve care quality, study says
improve care on several quality measures, according to a study published in Medical Care Research and Review.
Younger patients more prone to dislike traditional healthcare, survey finds
Younger consumers, including the Gen Z and millennial generations, are more dissatisfied with the quality of traditional healthcare services than older generations, a survey published by Accenture found.
Ohio hospital uses AI tool to cut readmissions by 20%
Canton, Ohio-based Mercy Medical Center lowered readmission rates by over 20 percent using a cognitive machine solution.
Better hospital care cannot prevent most sepsis deaths, study finds
Sepsis is the leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals, but improved hospital care alone may not be enough to prevent the deadly condition, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.
Physician viewpoint: How pizza and coffee helped me see patients in new light
Understanding that patients have challenges that make it hard to prioritize health can help physicians connect with them and provide better care, a physician wrote in a piece on Philly.com.
Only 33% of healthcare quality professionals say all staff is trained on quality
Just one-third of healthcare quality professionals said all staff receive training and education on quality within their healthcare organization, a survey conducted by the National Association for Healthcare Quality found.
How Atrium Health prevented 23K high-risk opioid prescriptions
Atrium Health developed an EHR alert system that can assess a patient's history with controlled substances to better prevent high-risk opioid prescriptions.
How Stanford's WellMD center aims to fight physician burnout
Ten years ago, Stanford (Calif.) University began work to tackle the growing issue of physician burnout. In 2017, the institution created the WellMD Center, which aims to help medical professionals at Stanford and across the nation take steps to improve their own well-being so they can provide better care for patients.
'Told' is the word most linked to negative hospital reviews on Yelp
When looking at hospital reviews on Yelp, researchers found the word most associated with negative reviews, including those with one-star ratings, was "told," a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found.
ANA on nurse's reckless homicide charge: Criminalizing medical errors may deter future reporting
The American Nurses Association released a statement regarding a former nurse at Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center who is facing a reckless homicide charge over a medication error.
Most new nurses work 12-hour shifts, some have second jobs
Newly licensed nurses are predominantly working 12-hour shifts, nearly half work overtime and more than 1 in 10 have a second job, a study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing found.
Johns Hopkins All Children's deaths spur bill calling for more oversight
Florida Senate Health Policy Chairwoman Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, filed a bill that would boost oversight of pediatric heart surgery programs in the state, reports the Tampa Bay Times.
North Carolina hospital launches program to help malnourished patients after discharge
Wilmington, N.C.-based New Hanover Regional Medical Center has implemented a program to help malnourished patients after they leave the hospital.
How Barnes-Jewish Hospital cut unnecessary UTI testing in half
A simple change to St. Louis-based Barnes-Jewish Hospital's electronic ordering system helped cut the number of unnecessary urine culture tests ordered for suspected urinary tract infections nearly in half, according to a study published Feb. 21 in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
US physician burnout drops below 50% for first time since 2011, study finds
U.S. physician burnout has dropped below 50 percent for the first time since 2011, according to a recent joint study by the American Medical Association, Stanford (Calif.) University School of Medicine and the Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic.
Only 9% of women want to be surgeons — Here's how 1 physician is trying to change that
Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges states that while half of the students attending medical school in 2018 were female, only 9 percent of them sought to pursue a surgical specialty. One Florida physician is trying to shift that stigma, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Why 1 New Jersey hospital hired chaplains to improve patient relations
Newark, N.J.-based University Hospital is implementing a new program to create better communication between patients and healthcare professionals and restore community support for the hospital, Tap into Newark reports.
Health-related Google searches spike weeks before visiting ER
In the weeks before visiting an emergency room, patients were often found Google searching health-related terms, symptoms and hospital logistics, according to a Penn Medicine study.
Only half of EMS workers confident in detecting sepsis, survey finds
Only 52 percent of more than 1,300 emergency medical services practitioners surveyed said they are very confident in their ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of sepsis, a recent survey found.
Low-cost device can detect sepsis in under 3 minutes, researchers say
Researchers in the U.K. created a test that can detect sepsis in as little as 2.5 minutes, according to research published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
Physician viewpoint: Why are we still using stethoscopes?
The stethoscope — invented in 1816 — is long overdue for a redesign, according to Davinder Ramsingh, MD, an anesthesiologist at Loma Linda (Calif.) University Medical Center.
48% of physicians say stricter requirements needed to boost vaccination rates
Nearly half of physicians say stricter vaccine requirements are the most effective way to boost immunization rates, according to SERMO data emailed to Becker's.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
4 questions with CHIME-HIMSS CIO of the Year Ed Kopetsky
In January, two of health IT's biggest trade groups — the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society — named Ed Kopetsky the 2018 CIO of the Year, honoring of his decades of leadership in the hospital space.
Greenville Health System Ambulatory CMO Dr. Saria Saccocio on the connection between access and quality
Saria Saccocio, MD, knows that care quality begins with access, and as ambulatory CMO and department chair of family medicine for Greenville (S.C.) Health System, improving access has been a top priority.
How to create the 'aha moment' most nurses are missing: 5 questions with ANA's VP of innovation
When Bonnie Clipper, DNP, RN, asks a room full of nurses if they consider themselves to be innovators, the response is usually the same: only a few people raise their hands.
NewYork-Presbyterian surpasses 100K virtual visits: CIO Daniel Barchi reflects
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City kicked off 2019 with a significant milestone: its 100,000th virtual visit.
3 questions with Lloyd Dean and Kevin Lofton, CEOs of the new CommonSpirit Health
As of February 1, there's a new name in healthcare: CommonSpirit Health.
Ascension Michigan COO Jean Meyer: Meeting women’s healthcare needs requires internal and external transformation
As our social and political climate continues to bring women’s issues to the forefront of our national consciousness, companies are doubling down on their commitment to create positive, equitable experiences for their female customers and employees alike.
Start with yourself: A 6-item personal inventory for leaders
Many industry leaders would argue that there is no more challenging sector to manage than healthcare.
Steal this idea: How a 'D' grade redefined the role of quality teams at Piedmont Health
Leigh Hamby, MD, CMO of Atlanta-based Piedmont Health, thought his system was effectively executing quality initiatives when a surprising Leapfrog rating shook the status quo.
Corner Office: Novant Health CMO Dr. Eric Eskioglu on why his team is embracing artificial intelligence
Eric Eskioglu, MD, brings both clinical neurosurgical experience and an aerospace engineering background to his role as executive vice president and CMO of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health.