[ { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Information Technology", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Surgical Information Systems Expands Perioperative Partnership with Wishard Health Services", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "Wishard Health Services ('Wishard') has expanded its partnership with Surgical Information Systems ('SIS') by adding anesthesia, business intelligence and patient tracking capabilities to its existing SIS perioperative system.

Wishard Health Services is a general medical and surgical hospital located in Indianapolis, Indiana that manages 530 beds. As a public, teaching hospital, Wishard is affiliated with the Indiana University School of Medicine, the second largest U.S. medical school and one of the three largest anesthesia programs in the country. Wishard is also in the process of replacing its flagship hospital with a new, state-of-the-art hospital set to open in December 2013.

A SIS client since 2001, Wishard has leveraged its single database solution to improve the safety, efficiency and profitability of delivering perioperative services. Wishard will build on these successes by implementing additional tools to further optimize the surgery department's impact on the entire hospital. These tools include:

1.SIS Anesthesia, a complete anesthesia solution that provides the accuracy and automation needed to manage patients and optimize anesthesia practice.

2.SIS Analytics, an AHA-endorsed perioperative business intelligence solution facilitates perioperative optimization.

3.SIS Com, a web-based patient tracking and communication solution providing the latest status information as a patient moves through the perioperative process, improving patient flow, throughput and satisfaction.

'We are adding additional capabilities to improve communications, utilize business intelligence for continual process improvement and automate anesthesia - all designed to further increase OR efficiency,' said Leeann Blue, MSN, RN and Chief Nursing Officer for Wishard Health Services. 'We run one of the largest anesthesiology residency programs in the nation and with SIS, these doctors will be trained utilizing the latest technology that enables them to view and participate in a complete perioperative electronic health record (HER).'

Wishard continues to implement its vision of interoperable health records and along with SIS will implement new data exchange technology to provide efficient information exchange among all systems and facilities including Wishard's Regenstrief Health Center.

'SIS provides solutions that deliver bottom line results and most importantly improve the delivery of health care,' said Ed Daihl, SIS Chief Executive Officer. 'Leading institutions like Wishard are automating anesthesia using a perioperative information system specifically designed for care givers to keep the focus on the patient and delivering the best care possible. We are pleased to partner with such a well regarded program as this to meet the needs of tomorrow's anesthesiology professionals.'

", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Eskenazi Health (AKA Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital)", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Indianapolis", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "IN", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Merger/Acquisition", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Troubled Woonsocket hospital merger talks stall", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "Exclusive merger talks between a financially struggling Woonsocket hospital and a Boston-based hospital chain have stalled. Jonathan Savage, the court-appointed special master of Landmark Medical Center, tells The Providence Journal that talks with Caritas Christi Health Care Systems sputtered over 'inadequate' reimbursement rates from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. Blue Cross said in a statement that it paid Landmark nearly $30 million in the recently ended fiscal year and its reimbursement rates are line with what it pays other community hospitals. Savage said Monday the breakdown in talks opens the door for negotiations with other hospital systems. Landmark was placed in receivership in 2008 and was in danger of closing. Savage says finances have stabilized.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Landmark Hospital of Columbia", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Columbia", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "MO", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "Steward Health Care System", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "TX", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "Dallas", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Labor/Staffing", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "WVU Hospital Workers Will Strike", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "More than 860 workers at West Virginia University Hospitals will go on strike when their contract expires December 31st. The Local 814 of the AFL-CIO gave hospital officials its ten day notice this morning after not being able to reach an agreement during another meeting Tuesday morning. 'We are once again disappointed with the decisions of Local 814 and their plans to strike when their contract expires Dec. 31. We believe that our offer is fair and generous, especially when considering the state of the economy and expected financial challenges of health care reform,' said Bruce McClymonds, President, WVU Hospitals. Union members rejected the last contract proposal from the hospital last Friday. Local 814 Business Manager Sherri Dezzutti believes the hospital's proposal is simply unfair. Dezzutti says the union had several issues with the contract but a couple points were deal breakers. 'Their proposal is that one occurance of an early quit, whether it be to get your child out of school because the schools were closing early or to take them to a doctor's appointment, would now fall under a major offense that could be up to and including termination on the first offense,' says Dezzutti. According to Dezzutti the proposal also included a hospital admission fee of $150 where employees currently pay nothing and doubling emergency room co-pay to from $50 to $100. The proposal did include a net 25 cent hourly raise. 'We had offered 70 cents an hour raise with 15 cents going into the benefit trust,' says Dezzutti. Dezzutti says the two sides met Monday morning to let the hospital hear the concerns of the membership, but the meeting only lasted 12 minutes. Dezzutti says hospital officials said they were not going to move on wages and benefits. 'With this contract, we are generously recognizing the importance of our Union employees by offering a cumulative average pay increase of 13.2 percent over the next three years. Even taking into account a needed increase in health insurance premiums, the net increase of 8.3 percent is still quite significant,' said McClymonds.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "JW Ruby Memorial Hospital", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Morgantown", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "WV", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Information Technology", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "St. Mary's Hospital Patients Had Personal Info Compromised", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Thousands of Madison area patients are being offered identity theft protection, after a doctor had a laptop stolen from her home in suburban Fitchburg.

The computer had medical records of over almost 3,300 patients from St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison and the Dean Health System. All of them had surgeries from 2001 through November 8th.

Letters were sent during the weekend to patients who might have been affected. No patients have reported any problems so far – and officials say the laptop did not have the patients’ addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, or credit card information.

Dean Health officials say the doctor put the data on her personal computer, which is against company policy. The data on Dean’s computers is protected by encryption.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "SSM Health St Marys Hospital - Madison", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Madison", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "WI", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "New Facility/Company", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Wisconsin's Gundersen Lutheran Begins 8-Year Construction on New Hospital", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "The non-profit, teaching hospital Gundersen Lutheran will remain in La Crosse, Wisc., but in a new six-story building for which construction will begin in Jan., according to a Winona Daily News report. The six-story hospital project will be built in phases over the next eight years with the first phase to be complete within three. Although a specific figure has not been released, the projected cost is millions of dollars and a community capital campaign is set to begin in 2011. The hospital is being designed and constructed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. The hospital is aiming to be 100 percent energy independent by 2014, according to the report.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center (FKA Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center)", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "La Crosse", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "WI", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Finances/Funding Announcements", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Valley Hospital recognized for excellent service by J.D. Powers and Assoc", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "The Valley Hospital has been recognized for service for the eighth straight year by national marketing firm J.D. Power and Associates. Under J.D. Power's Distinguished Hospital Program, the award acknowledges the hospital's commitment to provide 'an outstanding inpatient experience.' The hospital was chosen based on a survey taken of recently discharged patients who were asked about their perceptions of their hospital visit. 'In achieving this distinction for an eighth year, the nurses, physicians, technicians, and support staff and administrators at The Valley Hospital have demonstrated a deep passion for delivering excellence in patient experience,' John Clark, director of provider programs at J.D. Power and Associates, said in a written statement. Researchers questioned patients by phone on five indicators of satisfaction: Speed and efficiency, dignity and respect, comfort, information and communication and emotional support. According to the survey results, Valley exceeds the national score for inpatient satisfaction and performed particularly well in treating patients with dignity and respect.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "The Valley Hospital (AKA Valley Health System)", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Ridgewood", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "NJ", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Legal/Regulatory", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "DOJ Says Georgia Hospital Pays $13.9 Million To Resolve Medicaid False Claim Act Allegations", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "GEORGIA HOSPITAL PAYS U.S. $13.9 MILLION TO RESOLVE MEDICAID FALSE CLAIMS ACT ALLEGATIONS Thomasville Hospital Allegedly Made False Representations to State's Medicaid Program WASHINGTON - John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital Inc. has paid the United States a total of $13.9 million to settle allegations that the hospital submitted false claims to the state of Georgia's Medicaid program, the Justice Department announced today. The settlement resolves allegations that between November 2002 and July 2008, the Thomasville, Ga.-hospital made false representations to the Georgia Department of Community Health, the state agency that administers the Medicaid program in Georgia, that it was a public hospital for Medicaid purposes in order to increase the amount of Medicaid funds provided to the hospital. Under Medicaid rules, only public hospitals may participate in the Medicaid Upper Payment Limit (UPL) program. In addition, public hospitals receive additional Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) program funds that are not available to private hospitals. Contrary to its certification to the Georgia Department of Community Health, Archbold Memorial was in fact a private hospital, and as a result received millions of dollars in UPL and DSH funds to which it was not entitled. 'We are committed to protecting the integrity of the Medicaid program and ensuring that health care providers do not game the system to the detriment of the poor, disabled, and young people served by this important program,' said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. 'The U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to use the False Claims Act to protect programs like Medicaid, which rely on the honesty and accuracy of information provided by program providers to determine the amount of money paid by the United States,' said Sally Quillian Yates, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta. 'Any false statements made in order to increase the amount of money the federal government spends to provide health care to its beneficiaries will be ferreted out and the funds recovered.' The civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in federal court in the Northern District of Georgia under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private citizens to bring civil actions on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. As part of today's resolution, the whistleblower - Wesley Simms, M.D.- will receive $695,151 from the settlement amount. This settlement is part of the government's emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in that effort is the False Claims Act, which the Justice Department has used to recover more than $5.3 billion since January 2009 in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs. The Justice Department's total recoveries in False Claims Act cases since January 2009 now approach $6.8 billion. The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort among the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department's Civil Division, and the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General and Office of Counsel to the Inspector General.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Archbold Memorial Hospital", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Thomasville", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "GA", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "People on the Move", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Eastern State Has New Director", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "The Commissioner for the state's Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services has named Jack Wood as the new director for Eastern State Hospital. Wood, who has been director at Catawaba Hospital outside Roanoke since 2001, fills the role left vacant after previous director John Favret was removed earlier this year because he 'created an environment that suppressed the active monitoring of areas of risk to the detriment of both the staff and the patients,' according to Inspector General for Behavioral Health and Human Services G. Douglas Bevelacqua. 'Eastern State will benefit from the strong leadership Jack demonstrated at Catawba hospital,' said Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Commissioner James W. Stewart. 'His experience has enabled him to gain a wide variety of management skills that will be of great service to the department in the larger setting at Eastern State and to its surrounding community.' Wood will begin his new position full-time on January 1, 2011; until then he is currently spending part of each week at Eastern State. Yad M. Jabbarpour, M.D., Catawba’s medical current director, will serve as that hospital’s acting facility director until a permanent replacement is found. Before working at Catawaba, Wood worked at the Medical University of South Carolina, the Charleston Memorial Hospital and with the U.S. Navy. He holds an undergraduate degree from the College of Charleston and a Master of Business Administration from Averett University. DHHDS made the announcement about the hospital’s new director in a press release dated November 22, but did not send the release to local media.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Eastern State Hospital", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Williamsburg", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "VA", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Labor/Staffing", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Bergen Regional Med Center cutting up to 50 jobs", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "Bergen Regional Medical Center said Tuesday that it will eliminate 'less than 50 positions' as a result of federal and state reimbursement reductions for charity care and a prohibition against entering into contracts with managed health care providers. Donnalee Corrieri, a spokeswoman for the Bergen Regional LP, a division of Solomon health management of Colorado, said in a statement that 'no direct patient hospital services have been eliminated,' but she declined to provide a specific number of positions or comment on what types of jobs would be cut at the Paramus hospital. Corrieri placed partial blame for the layoffs with the hospital's title-holder, the Bergen County Improvement Authority, for not allowing it to 'enter into managed-care contracts, adding more financial challenges to an already difficult reimbursement environment.' Keith Furlong, the spokesman for the improvement authority, said in a press release that Philip Wilson, the authority's new chairman, did not learn of the layoff plan until Tuesday morning. Furlong said the hospital's management had also submitted its budget Tuesday morning — 'after repeated requests' — and that the budget showed that the company continues to make a profit. Without having managed-care contracts with private health insurance providers, hospitals typically have a more difficult time attracting patients who are privately insured, and thus tend to serve a larger proportion of less-affluent patients who are publicly insured through Medicaid and Medicare. 'Bergen Regional Medical Center, being a safety net hospital and one of the largest providers of charity care in the state, has provided medical and mental health care services to an increased number of patients without insurance while experiencing significant, multimillion-dollar reductions in reimbursements for treatment of indigent and uninsured patients,' Corrieri said in the press release. Furlong said the BCIA 'cannot arbitrarily create another full-service, managed-care hospital without careful thought and review.' 'Managed care is one of many topics we have tried to settle with BRMC,' Furlong said in his press release. 'However, given the mission of the hospital is to be a safety net, opening up another full-service hospital in the area may jeopardize the care received by those who need it the most and can't afford to go to [Hackensack University Medical Center], Englewood [Hospital and Medical Center] or other area hospitals.' Furlong urged the company to open its books to the public and to use some of its profits to avert the layoffs. A spokeswoman for the Health Professional and Allied Employees union said the layoffs represent about $8 million in cuts. Jeanne Otersen, the statewide policy director for the union, noted that while Bergen Regional is privately managed, it is still publicly owned, and that the hospital should be more forthcoming with details. 'What is the impact on patients?' she said. 'Are these management positions? Are these patient-care positions? Are these housekeeping positions? The lack of information is as disturbing as these cuts.'", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "New Bridge Medical Center (FKA Bergen Regional Medical Center)", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Paramus", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "NJ", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "New Facility/Company", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Auburn Regional and Valley Medical denied", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "MultiCare opened an early Christmas present Tuesday morning with the magic number of 58 inside. The Department of Health approved a certificate of need request from MultiCare asking for approval of 58 beds for a hospital the health care facility plans to build in Covington. Auburn Regional Medical Center and Valley Medical Center also requested beds, but both medical entities were turned down according to the Gordon MacCracken, spokesman for theDepartment of Health. Auburn asked for 70 beds and Valley was seeking 60. At the Dec. 20 Valley Medical Board of Commissioners meeting the members were told by the staff if the certificate of need request was not approved a legal appeal was likely. Valley sent out a press release Tuesday afternoon stating the Department of Health's decision would appealed. Hugh Kodama, administrator for the MultiCare Covington Clinic, said the decision was greeted with cheers at the clinic. 'This is a big community win,' Kodama said. 'Southeast King County is being recognized as a regional entity. This is exciting. More and more services will now be brought out here.' MultiCare is in the process of building a 24-hour emergency department at the Covington Urgent Care site. Construction of the emergency department is set to begin the first quarter of 2011 and the plans are to open it the first quarter of 2012. Kodama said serious planning for the hospital will begin after a little celebration. The original plan was to open the hospital in 2014 or 2015, but the timeline will be reassessed now the certificate of need request has been completed. Kodama said he believes the emergency department and hospital point to the beginning of an economic resurgence in the region. City Manager Derek Matheson said, 'This is fantastic news. It will strengthen Covington's position as the health care center for southeast King County. This will bring high wage and family wage jobs that will support office, retail and housing development in our community.' Valley Medical is also planning to build a 24-hour emergency department in Covington's town center with construction beginning in 2011. Valley officials stated plans for building the emergency department are not influences by the health department's certificate of need decision and construction will continue on schedule.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Valley Medical Center", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Renton", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "WA", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "MultiCare Auburn Medical Center", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "WA", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "Auburn", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Merger/Acquisition", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Moose Lake Hospital Considers Affiliation with Essentia", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "Mercy Hospital is considering a new relationship with Duluth-based Essentia Health, according to a press release issued Wednesday. The two organizations recently signed a memorandum of understanding, formally beginning a process to determine whether they will enter into an official affiliation agreement. 'Examining this option with Essentia Health allows us to consider new ways of meeting the challenges that healthcare reform will bring to smaller hospitals,' said Ken Dahlberg, Chairman of the Mercy Hospital Board of Directors, in a prepared statement. 'This would allow us to continue our commitment to the community, while discovering new and more cost effective opportunities to offer more coordinated care.' The memo of understanding does not signify that an agreement has been reached. Rather, both parties are formally agreeing to further explore integration. The discussions are expected to take several months. In the scenario currently under discussion, the local hospital district would continue to own the assets of the hospital. Essentia Health would then lease the assets and operate the facility. This is the same structure currently in place at Essentia Health-Sandstone, formerly known as Pine Medical Center. A new integrated organization would be formed with local representation to operate the hospital. Leaders at Mercy Hospital and Essentia Health say an affiliation would allow for an enhancement in services, including more specialized care coming to the community. The hospital would continue to maintain its open medical staff for physicians, while welcoming the chance for additional support from Essentia Health specialists. 'The proposed integration is an opportunity to bring both stability and growth to the healthcare community in the Moose Lake area,' said Rocklon Chapin, Executive Vice President of Essentia Health's East Region Hospital Division, in a prepared statement. 'We share a similar mission and values, especially when it comes to providing quality care, close to home.' Mercy Hospital leaders are committed to keeping their employees and the community informed as the integration talks continue.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Mercy Hospital & Health Care Center", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Moose Lake", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "MN", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "Essentia Health", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "MN", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "Duluth", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Information Technology", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Ohio hospital deploys McKesson's Paragon HIS", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers (CHWC), a three-facility system based in Bryan, Ohio, has gone live with McKesson’s Paragon financial and clinical system. CHWC plans to use the software to help the hospital improve clinical care and patient safety as well as revenue cycle management and financial outcomes, according to the Atlanta-based McKesson. The healthcare IT system makes patient information – including medical imaging, nursing and ancillary documentation – available electronically, the company added.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "CHWC Bryan Hospital (FKA Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers Bryan Campus)", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Bryan", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "OH", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Information Technology", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Children's Hospital Boston attains Stage 7 EMR adoption", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "Pediatric medical center Children’s Hospital Boston has received its Stage 7 award from HIMSS Analytics, representing its attainment of the highest level on the EMR Adoption Model used to track EMR progress at hospitals and health systems. HIMSS Analytics developed the EMR Adoption Model in 2005 as a methodology for evaluating the progress and impact of EMR systems for hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics Database. The validation process that confirms a hospital has reached Stage 7 includes a site visit conducted by an executive from HIMSS Analytics and former or current CIOs for an unbiased evaluation of the Stage 7 environments, the Chicago-based HIMSS Analytics stated. As of November, HIMSS Analytics had recognized 52 hospitals, or 1 percent of the more than 5,000 hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics Database, with its Stage 7 award.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Boston Childrens Hospital", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Boston", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "MA", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "12/2/2010", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Information Technology", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Rocky Mountain hospital signs InterSystems for enterprise app integration", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "The University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) has chosen the technology company InterSystems' Ensemble integration and development platform for enterprisewide integration. The Rocky Mountain-based UCH has gone live with approximately 35 Ensemble-based interfaces in a group of applications including human resources and ERP systems. According to the Cambridge, Mass.-based InterSystems, UCH plans to roll out an Epic ambulatory clinics application in the first quarter of 2011, deploying Epic outpatient and inpatient modules and 85 interfaces through the third quarter of 2011.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Aurora", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "CO", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "3/21/2011", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "New Capabilities", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Huntington Hospital Receives Magnet Designation for Nursing Excellence", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "PASADENA, Calif., March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Huntington Memorial Hospital announced today it has achieved Magnet designation for excellence in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Only five percent of the nation's hospitals have earned this prestigious designation which recognizes healthcare organizations that demonstrate sustained excellence in nursing. 'Earning Magnet designation is a testament to the extraordinary nursing care available at Huntington Hospital,' said Bonnie Kass, vice president and chief nursing executive. 'This is the highest honor a U.S. hospital can receive for its nursing program and our nurses have worked tirelessly to achieve this accomplishment.' Stephen A. Ralph, Huntington Hospital president and CEO adds, 'It is our patients and community who will benefit most from Huntington becoming a Magnet hospital. The designation signifies a superior level of care – that must be earned and maintained vigilantly.' Huntington Hospital is the first hospital in the San Gabriel Valley to be awarded Magnet designation, and one of only three in Los Angeles. The ANCC honors organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing practice and adherence to national standards and best practices. A Magnet hospital is one that has met the specific standards set forth by ANCC. These standards define the highest quality of nursing practice and patient care. The standards must be demonstrated in an extensive written document that is divided into four volumes and can reach a length of up to 3,000 pages. A site visit takes place after the documents are reviewed so examiners may clarify, amplify and verify the document through extensive onsite interviews and unit tours. Huntington Hospital was notified of Magnet recognition on March 21, approximately three months after the ANCC site visit. The news was delivered to Lulu Rosales, RN, MSN, director of professional practice/Magnet project, who was recruited by Huntington specifically to lead the cause, and Bonnie Kass, in an auditorium full of anxious Huntington Hospital employees. 'I was thrilled to learn we were awarded Magnet designation,' said Rosales. 'So many Huntington Hospital employees supported our nurses and played an important part in realizing this honor.' Research shows there are clear benefits to hospitals that are awarded Magnet status and to the communities they serve including consumer confidence, recruitment and retention and maintaining positive patient outcomes. The designation is awarded for four years, during which time the ANCC monitors facilities to ensure high standards of care remain intact. Huntington Hospital is a 635-bed not-for-profit hospital that is home to the only trauma center in the San Gabriel Valley. Renowned for its programs in neurosciences, cardiovascular services and cancer care, Huntington is an active teaching hospital with Graduate Medical Education programs in internal medicine and general surgery. The hospital has a regional neonatal intensive care unit, treating babies with the highest acuity. For over 119 years, Huntington has been committed to serving its community with excellence, compassion and respect. Consistent with its mission, Huntington provides millions of dollars in charity care and benefits for vulnerable populations, health research, education and training and supports programs that may otherwise be absent from the community, including geriatric psychiatric services, children's asthma management and diabetes workshops in English and Spanish.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Huntington Hospital (FKA Huntington Memorial Hospital)", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Pasadena", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "CA", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "3/21/2011", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Labor/Staffing", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Tufts Medical Center Calls on Massachusetts Nurses Association to Respect Patient Care and Negotiate at the Bargaining Table", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "BOSTON, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tufts Medical Center today called on the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) to respect patients and their families by not threatening a strike and moving forward on their negotiations with Tufts Medical Center together. The MNA's continued pickets, strike threats and other nonproductive tactics, which are often used to enhance the union's business goals, have been disruptive and are in direct conflict with the union's own claims regarding the importance of patient safety and quality of care. In 2009, the MNA became a part of National Nurses United (NNU), a 160,000-member union known for its aggressive tactics around the nation. Since that time, the NNU has been pursuing a national strike strategy in an attempt to secure mandatory staffing ratios, a proposal which has failed legislatively in Massachusetts for the past 15 years. In the past several months alone, the NNU has threatened or carried out strikes in dozens of hospitals around the nation, including in California, Maine, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Washington D.C., Minnesota and Massachusetts. This tactic unnecessarily increases health care costs and, most importantly, places patients and their families in the middle of a union's business goals. 'For over 200 years, Tufts Medical Center has been serving our patients and communities with high quality, affordable care,' said Ellen Zane, President and CEO of Tufts Medical Center. 'Our standards and quality outcomes give us bragging rights in Boston and beyond. It is disappointing that the NNU continues to use our hospital and patients as props to push its legislative agenda instead of working to benefit its membership. We respect and appreciate the dedication of our nurses, physicians, staff and other caregivers who are so vital to our ability to deliver quality medical care locally– and the time is now for us to move forward together.' Tufts Medical Center has been involved in good faith negotiations with the MNA for nearly five months. During this time, the NNU has attempted to gain attention and confuse the public through ongoing pickets, vigils, attack ads and rallies. The NNU and MNA have done a disservice to patients through repeated attempts to falsely impugn the quality of Tufts Medical Center's care, which has been consistently rated as exceptional by independent third-party experts. 'In order to best serve our patients and develop important medical advances, physicians, nurses and hospital leadership must be innovative and flexible,' said Deeb Salem, M.D., a physician with a 36 year history at Tufts Medical Center. 'We are not interested in a national agenda. What we care about here is our local organization – the hospital we all love. The NNU's notion that pickets and strikes will improve patient care is a contradiction because at the end of the day all it does is cause undue stress for our patients and their families. It is not difficult to see that the real agenda for such perverse tactics are self serving and developed to enhance the union's business goals. Patient safety and the well being of the membership are not paramount to this union. Most importantly, we want to work with our nurses to further enhance the care here at Tufts Medical Center. We value their ideas and their input, and we know that nursing leadership is committed to listening to them and wants to work together for a better future.' Tufts Medical Center has pledged it will continue to work with its nurses to deliver the highest quality of care, and it will continue good faith negotiations that consider the best interest of Tufts Medical Center nurses, patients, employees and the long-term health of the organization.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Tufts Medical Center", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Boston", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "MA", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "3/21/2011", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "New Capabilities", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Marshall Edwards Announces Publication of Phase II Clinical Trial Results Highlighting Activity of Intravenous Phenoxodiol", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "SAN DIEGO, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Marshall Edwards, Inc.(Nasdaq: MSHL), an oncology company focused on the clinical development of novel therapeutics targeting cancer metabolism, announced today the publication of results from a Phase II clinical trial of intravenous Phenoxodiol in combination with cisplatin in women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The publication is now available on the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer website and scheduled to print in the May issue of the journal. The study, conducted at Yale-New Haven Hospital, showed that the combination of intravenous Phenoxodiol, a novel NADH oxidase inhibitor, with cisplatin, a platinum-based chemotherapy, was well tolerated and resulted in an overall response rate of 19% (3 out of 16) among ovarian cancer patients previously resistant to platinum. Response rate in this study was defined as the percentage of patients whose tumor demonstrated a radiologically confirmed reduction or disappearance after treatment. An abstract can be found at www.marshalledwardsinc.com/our-programs/scientific-publications that describes more information on the trial results. 'These results suggest that the combination of intravenous Phenoxodiol with cisplatin has a good safety profile and may be capable of reversing resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy,' said lead author Michael G. Kelly, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at Tufts Medical Center and former fellow at Yale University School of Medicine.' This study provides early clinical proof-of-concept for the combination of NADH oxidase inhibitors with standard-of-care chemotherapy and lays the groundwork for the development of more potent next-generation compounds.' To date, Phenoxodiol, an investigational drug, has been introduced into more than 400 patients in multiple clinical trials via oral or intravenous routes and has been well tolerated. Marshall Edwards has identified a next-generation compound called NV-143 that in laboratory studies has demonstrated significantly more activity than Phenoxodiol against a broad range of tumor cell lines. In addition to being more active as a single agent, NV-143 appears to be superior in its ability to synergize with platinum-based chemotherapy in pre-clinical studies. As a result, the Company plans to initiate a Phase I clinical trial of intravenous NV-143 later this year, followed immediately thereafter by randomized Phase II trials in combination with chemotherapy. 'These published results combined with data from previous studies reinforce our conclusion that intravenous administration is the optimal route of delivery for this class of drugs and give us added confidence moving forward as we develop our next-generation compound NV-143 for the clinic,' said Robert D. Mass, MD, Acting Chief Medical Officer of Marshall Edwards.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Yale New Haven Hospital", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "New Haven", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "CT", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "3/21/2011", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Information Technology", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Essentia inks BI deal with HealthCare DataWorks", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "Essentia Health is entering an agreement with technology commercialization company HealthCare DataWorks (HCD) for business intelligence (BI) tools to support Essentia's enterprisewide data integration efforts. Essentia, a Duluth, Minn.-based healthcare system, includes 17 hospitals, 62 clinics and more than 750 physicians. The integrated health system serves patients in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Idaho. The organization will use HealthCare DataWorks' Electronic Data Warehouse to consolidate enterprise data management functions. In addition, Essentia will have access to BI tools including standard reports and pre-built dashboards and scorecards, the Columbus, Ohio-based company stated.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Essentia Health", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Duluth", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "MN", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "3/21/2011", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "New Capabilities", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "Chilton Hospital Engages Aptium Oncology for Cancer Service Line Expansion and Physician Alignment", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "LOS ANGELES, March 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Chilton Hospital, a 260-bed, acute care community hospital in New Jersey, has signed a three-year agreement with Aptium Oncology to develop and grow its cancer service line. The move is a critical component of Chilton's strategic vision to enhance its oncology program and become the leading provider of cancer services in its market. Like many other communities across the country, Chilton anticipates an increase in demand for cancer services. This trend is being driven by demographic shifts and wider access to screening which has resulted in earlier diagnosis and greater treatment options for patients. Aptium Oncology will partner with Chilton to help develop the hospital's cancer program, as well as provide expertise and guidance on physician alignment, clinical program development, strategic investment in clinical modalities, program marketing and satellite development. 'As the pioneer in developing comprehensive outpatient cancer programs, Aptium Oncology has the extensive expertise required to help us develop a market-leading cancer program in our community,' said Deborah K. Zastocki, DNP, RN, president and chief executive officer of Chilton Hospital. 'Aptium will work with us to navigate the complexities of regulation, technological advances, physician alignment and reimbursement so that we can achieve our strategic objectives rapidly and successfully. We look forward to a productive collaboration.' Stephen Bordelon, executive vice president of business development at Aptium Oncology, lauds the opportunity to work with a hospital known for its focus on quality care. 'We are excited to work with a highly regarded hospital like Chilton, which has demonstrated its commitment to serving the needs of its community by developing leading clinical programs. The cancer program will bring together the most current treatment modalities, with a strong focus on providing patient-centered care.' Located about 25 miles west of New York City, Chilton Hospital serves residents from 33 communities. It has more than 600 physicians representing 60 different specialties, and features some of the most sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic equipment available. In addition, it has earned numerous accreditations and awards for its quality of care.", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Chilton Medical Center", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Pompton Plains", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "NJ", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "", "NEWS_LINK": "#" }, { "DATE_ENTERED": "3/21/2011", "NEWS_EVENT_TYPE": "Affiliation/Partnership", "NEWS_EVENT_TITLE": "CDH’s Cleveland Clinic-Affiliated Heart Surgery Program Up and Running", "NEWS_EVENT_DETAILS": "Winfield, Ill., March 16, 2011 – It has been just short of a year since Central DuPage Hospital (CDH) announced an affiliation with Cleveland Clinic’s cardiac surgery program and the clinical staff and patients have benefitted from the collaboration. 'At the launch, our goal was to combine the academic, clinical and research components of Cleveland Clinic with CDH’s existing program, which was already quite strong,' said Medical Director for Cardiovascular Surgery at CDH Tim James, M.D. 'The result has been the development of a multi-disciplinary cardiovascular surgery program that is committed to quality measurement and process development.' Another advantage of the affiliation has been the opportunity for CDH cardiac intensive nurses, pharmacists, nurse educators and advanced practice nurses to travel to Cleveland Clinic to observe and work with the surgical teams. 'Although it’s a cardiac surgery program, there are many facets outside the operating room involved, including respiratory therapy, pharmacy and rehab services,' said Pam Roman, executive director, strategic service lines and program director of the Cleveland affiliation. 'What happens before and after the surgical procedure is as important as what happens in the operating room. We are committed to making the whole care process an exceptional one, from start to finish,' says James. James shares cases with his partner, surgeon Neil J. Thomas, M.D. The two combined have more than 30 years experience in the operating room and both are certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery – Thoracic Surgery (Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery) and have additionally been fellowship trained in vascular surgery. Drs. James and Thomas have consistently been reviewing their most complex heart surgery cases with various cardiac surgeons at Cleveland Clinic. 'As the number one ranked hospital for cardiac care by US News & World Report for 16 consecutive years, Cleveland Clinic surgeons see a higher volume of patients with complex conditions and unique complications. Our cardiac surgery team is able to benefit from their experience and discuss the details of each patient’s condition, in the hopes of deciding upon the best course of treatment,' said James. CDH professionals are working on other best practice improvement initiatives, such as an early mobility program, which provides support to encourage patients to begin safely walking more quickly after surgery. Other process improvement projects include assessing operating room efficiency to lessen time a patient spends on the operating table and reducing a patient’s overall length of stay. For more information about the only Cleveland Clinic Cardiac Surgery Program west of Ohio, please contact 630-933-4480/ TTY 630-933-4833 for the hearing impaired or visit", "FIRST_COMPANY_NAME": "Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital", "FIRST_COMPANY_CITY": "Winfield", "FIRST_COMPANY_STATE": "IL", "SECOND_COMPANY_NAME": "Cleveland Clinic Main Campus", "SECOND_COMPANY_STATE": "OH", "SECOND_COMPANY_CITY": "Cleveland", "NEWS_LINK": "#" } ]