by Dan Royer on Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Leave a CommentFeaturing hospital and health care headlines from the media and Web.
Iowa News
Grassley defends Medicare drug benefit, tax cuts
Sen. Chuck Grassley’s campaign manager, Bob Renaud, responded to criticisms leveled in Monday’s forum about Grassley’s support for tax cuts and his role as an architect of the 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit. Democrat Roxanne Conlin leveled most of the attacks against Grassley, a Republican who seeks his sixth term this fall. (Des Moines Register)
How to recruit more family doctors
After Jacob Hollenbeck’s bath Tuesday evening, the 3-year-old Iowa City boy went to bed complaining of an earache.In the morning, dad Randy brought his son to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Pomerantz Family Pavilion where they met with Dr. Katie Imborek, a second-year resident in the family medicine program. (Iowa City Press Citizen)
Govt warns health insurance industry on mergers
In a blunt warning to the health insurance industry, the Obama administration said Monday it won’t hesitate to block mergers that threaten to stifle competition. Justice Department antitrust chief Christine Varney told a lawyers’ conference that vigorous enforcement of anti-monopoly laws is vital to the success of the new health care law, particularly in trying to control rising premiums. (Associated Press)
Countdown continues on Minnesota nurses’ strike
Five days after Twin Cities nurses voted to authorize a strike, there’s been little movement on either side. Both sides have publicly declared they would like to return to the negotiating table — to stave off what would be the biggest strike in nursing history if 12,000 Twin Cities nurses walk out of 14 hospitals. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
A new Web-based tool seeks to help patients spend less time in the waiting room before seeing their doctor. The application, called MedWaitTime, allows patients to check before their appointment whether their doctor is running late, akin to getting a flight-status update before going to the airport. (Wall Street Journal)
After Eric Heininger left his job (and medical insurance) to follow his girlfriend to graduate school in New Haven, he wanted to get a physical, so he volunteered to take part in a medical study. (New York Times)
by Scott McIntyre on Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Laurie Peiffer (left), unit secretary on the Genesis Medical Center rehabilitation unit, and occupational therapist Gretchen Cluff gather "pillowcase" dresses that they and other volunteers made for Haiatian children.
Even in a disaster with the magnitude of the Haiti earthquake, little things can make a big difference.
That’s why a group of employees from Genesis Health System in Davenport has partnered with community members to sew “little dresses” for needy Haitian girls.
In the occupational therapy office at Genesis, seasoned seamstresses and volunteers who had never sewn united for one common goal: To create a little joy for youngsters living in a country hard-hit by natural disaster. And now the movement has grown to include other volunteers in the hospital and beyond.
To date, at least 200 dresses have been sewn by about 30 volunteers. Just a few days ago, the dresses were delivered to orphanages in Haiti by Genesis rehab nurse Deb Stockdale, who has made an annual medical mission trip to the country for the past 10 years.
The outpouring is far more than unit secretary Laurie Peiffer ever expected when she heard about a ministry called “Little Dresses for Africa” and went to the Web site to find out more. About the same time, news of earthquake devastation in Haiti dominated the news. She recruited occupational therapist Gretchen Cluff to help her organize a similar effort at Genesis for young girls in Haiti.
“What’s better than a little girl getting a new dress?” Peiffer said. “The dresses have a very simple design and require minimal sewing. Some are made of pillow cases and others from remnants of fabric, but they’re brightly colored and personalized.”
Owners, employees and customers from local stores donated fabric, time and talent.
Peiffer remembered a special Sunday at Genesis when volunteers came together to sew.
“We started the day with 40-50 already-completed dresses,” she said. “A couple of customers from Hancock Fabrics brought in about 25. By the end of the day, we had 136 dresses completed.”
She adds, “We want to do this on an ongoing basis — maybe get a sewing group together once a month or every other month to make the dresses.”
Of course, the sewing team cares about Haitian boys, too.
“We’re taking new T-shirts for the boys, so they’ll have something new to wear as well,” says Stockdale, who also collects other donations from Genesis employees ranging from toothpaste and toothbrushes to other sundry and medical supplies.
by Scott McIntyre on Monday, May 24, 2010
Featuring hospital and health care headlines from the media and Web.
Iowa News
State policy muzzles Iowa advocate for elderly, feds say
The U.S. Administration on Aging has ordered the Iowa Department on Aging to change a policy that, in its view, prohibits Long-Term Care Ombudsman Jeanne Yordi from giving information to, or testifying before, the Iowa Legislature about issues affecting the elderly. (Des Moines Register)
Iowa doctor fearful for Haitians’ future
Haitians are rebuilding their homes and lives in the wake of January’s catastrophic earthquake, but many of them remain afraid to sleep inside buildings, an Iowa City physician who works there said. Dr. Chris Buresh said many Haitians would rather spend their nights outside than risk having walls collapse on them if another earthquake strikes. The results have included rampant outbreaks of malaria. (Des Moines Register)
Firefighters, hospital donate equipment to Haiti
Firefighters in five Northeast Iowa communities banded together to donate equipment to Haiti, which still is recovering from January’s devastating earthquake. Enough equipment was donated to make 20 fire-protection suits, including coats, boots and helmets, as well as axes. The Waverly Health Center also donated heart monitors and other materials. (Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)
U.S. News
Massachusetts insurers may slash rates to hospitals
Massachusetts health insurers say they want to freeze or slash payments to some hospitals and large physician groups this year, setting up the toughest contract negotiations in memory and creating the potential for disruptions in where patients get their care. Other providers would get small increases, at most. (Boston Globe)
Health care law faces test as regulators settle which plans must do what
Now that Congress has imposed new requirements on health insurance plans, regulators are trying to resolve another big question: Which plans must comply with the requirements? (Washington Post)
Obama’s health IT leader says doctors will embrace change
“Information is the lifeblood of medicine and health information technology is the circulatory system,” says David Blumenthal, who’s optimistic that the stimulus incentives will succeed in overcoming resistance to change. “I foresee the EMR becoming as important to medical practice as the stethoscope and the examining table.” (Kaiser Health News)
Medicare to test allowing more than palliative care in hospice
New changes to Medicare and Medicaid payment could address the emotionally wrenching dilemma faced by physicians and terminally ill patients forced to choose between continuing curative treatments and taking advantage of hospice care programs’ in-home palliative, psychological and spiritual services. (American Medical News)
Could a ‘presumed consent’ law boost organ donation?
A so-called “presumed consent” law is now on the table in New York State. Assemblyman Richard Brodsky has introduced two-part legislation that would, initially, prevent a person’s intent to donate an organ to be trumped by a family’s wishes, and later, presume a person’s willingness to donate unless he had specifically opted out. (Wall Street Journal)
Millions of Medicaid kids don’t get exams
Almost three-quarters of children on Medicaid in nine states are not getting all of their legally required medical, vision and hearing examinations, including immunizations, according to a new government study. Doctors say regular checkups are especially important for low-income children who are at higher risk for chronic problems including obesity, depression and poor cognitive development. (Chicago Sun-Times)
by Dan Royer on Monday, May 24, 2010
In an effort to meet the ever growing needs of patients, continuing to lead health care best practices and improve quality and technology, many Iowa hospitals and communities across the state are making investments into their health care infrastructure this spring and summer.
Hospitals in Algona, Clarion, Clarinda, Chariton, Belmond and Sioux Center, just to name a few, are undergoing some changes.
In Algona, a new three-story addition is being added, and should be finished by June. Scott Curtis, CEO of Kossuth Regional Medical Center said the first phase of the hospital’s new construction will be completed in June.
The new addition will allow for private inpatient rooms, each equipped with a full private bath. The addition will also bring about improvements on the first floor of the hospital, restructuring the dining area, kitchen and materials management area.
Curtis said that the new inpatient rooms will also include enhancements aimed at improving patient and staff safety. “We’re also adding new patient lifts to each room to increase patient and staff safety,” Curtis said.
On the exterior, the hospital is adding a healing garden, to provide recreational and scenic space for patients while in recovery.
Kossuth Regional Health Center operates a 24-bed critical access hospital, two physician clinics, home care, hospice and public health nursing agencies.
“We’re excited about the improvements this will bring for our patients and the efficiencies it will bring for our staff,” Curtis said.
The second phase is expected to be completed by December.
by Scott McIntyre on Friday, May 21, 2010
Featuring hospital and health care headlines from the media and Web.
Iowa News
Proposed medical mall amplifies business potential
Build it and more will come. That’s the big- picture view of Priority One economic group President Mark Seckman regarding the Physicians Clinic of Iowa’s plan to build an all-in-one medical mall in the recently formalized medical district in downtown Cedar Rapids. (Corridor Business Journal)
Skiff back in black for consecutive months
For the first time in years, Skiff Medical Center recorded back-to-back months of profit, yet the publicly-owned hospital has still lost almost $3 million for the fiscal year. After recording a total profit of $347,000 in March – money made from investments totaled $174,000 – Skiff brought in slightly more money than it spent in April, recording a profit of $27,000. (Newton Daily News)
Iowa boy’s award-winning essay recounts cancer treatment
I am glad that I survived this horrible, horrible disease. Thanks to my family, friends, and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics I know that if the cancer comes back I will have lots of people watching my back. (Quad-City Times)
U.S. News
Hospital groups fight plan to cut $4.5B from Medicare
Hospital groups are pushing back against a provision in the pending tax extenders bill they say could slash their Medicare payments by $4.5 billion over 10 years. Hospitals fear the provision could forbid them from billing some care administered within 72 hours of a patient’s admission separately from the bill they would send for a patient’s hospital stay, which is less lucrative. (The Hill)
Doctors in Texas to assist hospitals in Massachusetts
A group of community hospitals in Southeastern Massachusetts has taken the unusual step of partnering with doctors from an out-of-state academic medical center to provide cancer treatment — instead of one of Boston’s prestigious hospitals. (Boston Globe)
Nine California hospitals fined for medical errors
Three facilities in Orange County and the Inland Empire each face a $50,000 penalty. They and the other penalized hospitals must submit plans to correct the problems. (Los Angeles Times)
The prevention dilemma
There will never be enough federal money to address every prevention need. What the secretary needs to decide is whether there is sufficient political courage to concentrate early prevention funding to deliver a knockout blow to the leading cause of premature death in the country: tobacco. (Kaiser Health News)
Trade group and UnitedHealth join on coverage effort for restaurant workers
The initiative is one of the largest private-sector efforts to expand health coverage. Its creators say it could help cover the 4 million to 6 million restaurant employees without health benefits. (Los Angeles Times)
Physicians file lawsuit against FTC on ‘red flags’ rule
The American Medical Association (AMA), American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC) today filed a suit in federal court seeking to prevent the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from extending identity theft regulations to physicians. (American Medical Association)
Next up: battle over new tax bill
Top Democrats introduced legislation that would raise taxes on investment managers, as well as many professionals and some multinational businesses, to offset the cost of a new grab bag of economic-relief initiatives. But some doctors, lawyers and other professionals who operate through certain small-business corporations would face higher taxes. (Wall Street Journal)
