Featuring hospital and health care headlines from the media and Web for September 5-11.

Iowa Headlines 

Hospital project in Denison moves ahead
Crawford County Memorial Hospital officials are moving ahead with plans for a new hospital in Denison, at a price tag several million dollars less than expected.  Earlier this year, rough estimates were in the $38 million range.  Now, the total project, including site acquisition, grading, construction, parking lot paving, landscaping, equipment and supplies installation, and financing and interest fees, is expected to cost $31 million. (September 11, 2009, Tim Gallagher, Sioux City Journal) 

Mercy, Finley provide $11 million in uncompensated care, benefits
Medical care without pay grew last year in Dubuque.  Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque and The Finley Hospital combined to provide more than $11 million in uncompensated charity care and other community benefits in 2008, according to figures released by the facilities.  (September 5, 2009, Erik Hogstrom, Dubuque Telegraph Herald) 

Insurance Out of Reach for Hard-Working Iowan
Bankrupted by crippling medical bills, for a year Cindy Ramer could not afford to put a headstone over her husband’s final resting place.  Truth is, she hasn’t been able to afford a tombstone since Jim Ramer died from a heart attack in 2005.  She eventually asked her bank to tack on the expense to a larger loan. The bank agreed.  (September 7, 2009, Mason City Globe Gazette/Associated Press) 

Physicians mixed on health reform bills
Pledging to care for others means doctors and nurses keep their doors open for the sick and the hurt, even if the resources aren’t available to pay for the treatment.  It is with that pledge in mind that doctors are weighing the health care reform discussion taking place in living rooms, restaurants and in Congress. There’s little doubt medical professionals believe reform is needed. It’s the method to reach that goal that varies dramatically. (September 6, 2009, Christinia Crippes, Burlington Hawkeye) 

U.S.  Headlines 

Better care, pay less: Some communities find a way
Around the country are hospitals and health systems like the hospitals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that President Barack Obama calls “islands of excellence,” places quietly trying innovative changes to improve patient care at below-average prices.  (September 8, 2009, Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press) 

Speech Marks Turning Point in Debate
President Obama’s speech to Congress marked a clear turning-point in the health care debate, and Democrats in Congress will now try to capitalize on the momentum. From a policy standpoint, Mr. Obama’s speech strongly affirmed that Senator Max Baucus, the Montana Democrat who has led the only effort to fashion a bipartisan compromise on health care, is in the driver’s seat.  (September 10, 2009, David M. Herszenhorn, New York Times) 

How to bargain hunt for health care
When Bridget and Scott Bear were expecting their first child, they wanted to know what it would cost so they could set aside enough money in their health savings account.  The Omaha, Nebraska, couple went to Alegent Health’s Web site and found the My Cost function, entered their insurance information and learned the hospital charges would be around $2,500, Bridget Bear said.  (September 10, 2009, Davis S. Martin, CNN) 

Data Fuel Regional Fight on Medicare Spending
For years, health policy experts have said health care spending is much higher in New York City and Boston because doctors and hospitals there provide more services, practicing medicine in a more intensive way.  But new numbers are adding fuel to a raging debate over what Congress should do to reduce geographic disparities in Medicare spending. The debate involves a combustible mix of health policy and money. (September 7, 2009, Robert Pear, New York Times) 

Hospital CEOs manage staff time, inventory to cut costs
Criticism came from almost every corner leading up to Obama’s speech before Congress on Wednesday night, yet many hospital CEOs aren’t complaining, at least not publicly.  They say that the hospitals they run are rife with inefficiency and that they are optimistic that the $155 billion in savings is do-able with the help of business disciplines, such as the Toyota Production System, lean manufacturing and Six Sigma.  (September 10, 2009, Des Jones, USA Today) 

“Death Panels” Born in Heartland Hospital
In La Crosse, Wisconsin, Gundersen Lutheran has long been a pioneer in ensuring that the care provided to patients in their final months complies with their wishes. More recently, it has taken the lead in seeking to have Medicare compensate physicians for advising patients on end-of-life planning. (September 5, 2009, Alec MacGillis, Washington Post) 

Designers create symbols to show way in hospitals
Hospitals can be tough to navigate, especially for immigrants who speak little or no English.  So students at four colleges have designed a series of navigation symbols—from a large white tooth to show dental services, to a head with gears inside depicting mental health services—as a way to help guide immigrants through the daunting mazes of hospital hallways and buildings.  (September 5, 2009, Lisa Cornwell, San Jose Mercury News/Associated Press)