Featuring hospital and health care headlines from the media and Web.

Iowa News

Questions of trust, competition arise after Mercy’s cancer center announcement
One community leader is calling Mercy Medical Center’s cancer project as “tantamount to a declaration of war.” “The medical arms race that is now seemingly inevitable (is) a race this community can’t afford,” Pat Baird, retired AEGON USA president/CEO, wrote in an e-mail that has been widely circulated. On Wednesday, Mercy leaders announced plans to build a $10.7 million Destination Cancer Center. Mercy’s goals are to offer the center as a regional destination that brings all components of cancer care under one roof. (KCRG)

Cancer won’t wait; center needed now
This project will contribute significantly to the economic development of downtown, create new jobs and cement Cedar Rapids’ reputation for high-quality, low-cost health care. We are committed to taking an “all-local” approach to construction of the new facility, using area architects and contractors. The $10.7 million building is not dependent upon tax dollars, due to the hospital’s strong financial position and generous benefactors, nor will it interrupt the current flow of street traffic. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

Many twists in quest for medical district
Health care leaders were touting the city’s low-cost, high-quality care just as changes were being contemplated to the medical landscape. Last fall, city officials announced plans to create a medical district anchored by St. Luke’s Hospital and Mercy Medical Center in southeast Cedar Rapids. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)

Hospitalist helps healing process at Virginia Gay Hospital
One of the biggest changes at the hospital is one that puts Virginia Gay Hospital on par with major health systems and universities.  The hospital has employed three providers to take on the roles of emergency room specialist and hospitalist.  Matt Wilden, PA-C explains: “It’s a concept that’s employed by the bigger hospitals on a routine basis.” (Cedar Valley Times)

Mercy Medical Center celebrates ‘Green Week’
Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City continues its quest to go green. The hospital is holding it’s second annual Green Week. While Mercy’s staff tries to be environmentally conscious year round, this week, there is extra focus on being kind to Mother Nature. One example is the addition of an organic growers farmer’s market offering fresh fruits, vegetables and desserts. (KMEG)

People with disabilities go on ski adventure
Kelly Van Veldhuizen-Post knew how to swim, but had never water-skied before she became wheelchair-bound 13 years ago. On Saturday, she was out on the water. She was one of 22 participants Saturday when Genesis Medical Center offered its seventh annual Adaptive Water Ski Clinic for people with physical disabilities. (Quad City Times)

U.S. News

Tighter medical privacy rules sought
The Obama administration is rewriting new rules on medical privacy after an outpouring of criticism from consumer groups and members of Congress who say the rules do not adequately protect the rights of patients. Democratic lawmakers and a few Republicans have denounced the rules, saying they fall short of offering patients the fullest protections possible. Hospitals and insurance companies, seeking to maintain greater control over patient notification, generally support the rules. The White House finds itself caught in the middle. (New York Times)

Sebelius could face health-reg fight
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius could find herself pitted between top Democrats on Capitol Hill and state insurance commissioners over a key section of the health care overhaul. Sebelius is waiting for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to suggest rules surrounding how much insurance companies must spend on medical costs versus administrative expenses or profits. (Politico)

Trust me I’m a doctor vs. physician quality report cards
As chief medical officer for a large health system, I never met a clinician who did not think that they did a good job at taking care of diabetic patients. And yet when I did an audit of their care, I found that many had suboptimal results. They were genuinely surprised that patients fall through the cracks and did not receive their required retina exams. (The Health Care Blog)

Doctor records taken offline
Illinois once provided the public with detailed histories of the state’s doctors — including whether the physician was convicted of a crime, fired by a hospital or forced to make a medical malpractice payment within the previous five years. Judging from online traffic, there was great hunger for that information: During the two years that they were posted, the physician profiles generated 130,000 clicks per week. But access to the profiles came to a screeching halt in February (Chicago Tribune)

U.S. inaction lets look-alike tubes kill patients
Researchers have traced hundreds of deaths and serious injuries to feeding tube mix-ups. But no one knows the real toll, because this kind of mistake, like medication errors in general, is rarely reported. A 2006 survey of hospitals found that 16 percent had experienced a feeding tube mix-up. Experts and standards groups have advocated since 1996 that tubes for different functions be made incompatible — just as different nozzles at gas stations prevent drivers from using the wrong fuel. (New York Times)