http://www.cahcnews.com/index.html California Healthcare News RSS Feed en-us Copyright 2010, David Peel epeel@wahcnews.com (Elizabeth Peel) dpeel@wahcnews.com (David Peel) Mon, 17 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT Mon, 17 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss20 http://www.cahcnews.com/images/cahnmasthead.gif http://www.cahcnews.com/index.html 72 13 http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams-0612.pdf The American Medical Association’s fourth annual National Health Insurer Report Card found that commercial health insurers average a 19.3 percent error rate in processing claims, up 2 percent from the previous year. Mon, 07 May 2012 14:05:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams-0612.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-evalente-0612.pdf Nearly 50 girls swarmed the Peralta hallways at Samuel Merritt University (SMU) dressed in green and brown uniforms with patch-work badges sashed across their outfits. Scouting for Nursing is an annual event led by nursing students in the Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Mon, 07 May 2012 14:10:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-evalente-0612.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-vaguilar-0612.pdf Our hospital recently made the journey from a predominantly paper based workflow to an electronic medical records system (EMR) with Cerner Corporation, the largest provider of electronic medical systems in the United States. Mon, 07 May 2012 14:12:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-vaguilar-0612.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ucla-0612.pdf Recently opened to accolades from the healthcare and architectural community, UCLA Health System’s new Outpatient Surgery Center and Medical Building is a stunning addition to its Santa Monica campus. Mon, 07 May 2012 14:15:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ucla-0612.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-evalente-0512.pdf Mentoring has become a hot topic in graduate departments these days, and women students in particular are urged to find mentors who can help them navigate their careers and guide them in successfully combining full-time careers with satisfying personal and family lives. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-evalente-0512.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-providenceni-0512.pdf Providence Southern California’s decision to launch a nursing institute aligned with its focus on advancing and enhancing the professional role of nurses in the future of healthcare. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-providenceni-0512.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams-0512.pdf As the health care reform initiatives begin to take hold, all stakeholders are looking for ways to maintain or increase their market share, and contain costs, by forming strategic alliances. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams-0512.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dpeel-0512.pdf California health plans finished 2011 strong with all but six of the largest thirty-five plans reporting a profit. The change in net income from 2010 was mixed (seventeen lower, eighteen higher) suggesting 2012 premium increases will be consistent with other years. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dpeel-0512.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-rcordova-0512.pdf A new era in pediatric and adolescent healthcare was born in Southern California on July 17, 2011. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles carefully moved 191 inpatients into its new 317-bed, $636 million state-of-the-art hospital building, the Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-rcordova-0512.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-vnielsen-0512.pdf Nearly 40% of the 3.99 billion prescriptions dispensed in the United States during 2010 were prescribed for the treatment of chronic disease states such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and COPD/asthma. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-vnielsen-0512.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams-0412.pdf In the era of health care reform, one of the most significant issues everyone is facing is increasing costs. Yet organizations that have 50 or more employees can control expenses while maintaining valuable health care options for employees— through proper design and administration of a self-funded plan. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams-0412.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-nhail-0412.pdf Sepsis can be a killer. When Kaiser Permanente looked at their mortality rates back in Spring 2008, they saw a higher average than the national Medicare average as well as Southern California averages. “We immediately did a drill down to understand what was behind the numbers,” said Barbara Crawford, vice president for quality and regulatory services. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-nhail-0412.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-pwilson-0412.pdf When the Valley Community Clinic’s Dental Center opened in 2003, its program was created for, and focused on, adult patients. However, when the VCC Pediatric Center opened in 2005, Dental Director Dr. Rachel Goldberg, became concerned that very few children were coming to the Dental Center. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-pwilson-0412.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-lbanfe-0412.pdf Have you ever been involved in a game of “phone tag” with someone? If so, you know the feeling of healthcare providers everywhere who struggle to connect with busy specialty care physicians to discuss a patient’s care. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-lbanfe-0412.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mhanlon-0312.pdf Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s Regional Infectious Disease (ID) Chief Dr. Kalvin Yu and tertiary medical center ID lead Dr. Jim Nomura implemented a two site pilot in late 2010 that resulted in over 1,500 hospital patients having expert review of their antimicrobial regimen and up to a quarter of these patients having an improvement made in the dosing, medication or duration of their treatment. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mhanlon-0312.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-tschmalzried-0312.pdf From the medication that helps people cope to the advanced surgical procedures that have transformed their lives, modern medicine wouldn’t be possible without clinical research. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-tschmalzried-0312.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mercymedctr-0312.pdf Small towns and rural communities have long been at a disadvantage when it comes to specialty medical care. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mercymedctr-0312.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-jheller-0312.pdf Starting or jump-starting an online marketing strategy can raise many questions. The first of which are “Where do we start?” and “How should we go about attaining our goals?” Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-jheller-0312.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-redlands-0312.pdf The community of Redlands, CA has a big care focus. Now in its second century, the 229-bed Redlands Community Hospital (RCH) recently completed a $13 million expansion of its second floor, showcasing its medical and surgical patient care areas. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-redlands-0312.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-krebay-0312.pdf Yes, of course, it’s a 10-letter word. But those of us who have been in the health care industry for a while can remember the days of managed care, when capitation was marred by many negative characteristics including an intense and distracting bottom-line focus, inadequate technology that didn’t always facilitate data capture and care management, and a shortage of clinical oversight and involvement. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-krebay-0312.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-palmdalermc-0212.pdf Palmdale Regional Medical Center started their Rounding for Success program to better connect upper management and directors to staff and patients. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-palmdalermc-0212.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dprice-0211.pdf Studies continue to point out that only around 20% of merger and acquisition activity achieves targeted expectations. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dprice-0211.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-santaclaravalley-0212.pdf A strong sense of social obligation is driving the construction Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital Systems $300 million replacement hospital in San Jose. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-santaclaravalley-0212.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-rmcsanjose-0212.pdf Located in East San Jose, Regional Medical Center of San Jose is in the early stages of a major expansion project. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-rmcsanjose-0212.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-communitymemorial-0112.pdf Ventura County has seen a lot of activity recently in midtown Ventura where Community Memorial Health System is building a six-story plus basement replacement for Community Memorial Hospital. CMHS, a California non-profit public benefit corporation, has chosen to build its new $280 million seismically compliant hospital adjacent to the existing facility on its 11.5-acre campus. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-communitymemorial-0112.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-whitememorial-0112.pdf White Memorial Medical Center, a member of Adventist Healths not-for-profit, faith-based health system, has had notable success with safety initiatives. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-whitememorial-0112.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-providenceholycross-0112.pdf Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, has been part of the North San Fernando Valley community since the Sisters of the Holy Cross founded it in 1961. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-providenceholycross-0112.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dpeel-0112.pdf California domestic health plans recently reported third quarter 2011 financial results and thirty of the largest thirty-five plans recorded a profit. However, twenty-one of the plans reported lower net income than the same time period in 2010, suggesting premiums may rise more than usual in 2012. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dpeel-0112.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-tonnell-1211.pdf Non-unionized health care employers especially clinics and other non-hospital employers may feel like the government has made them a target. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-tonnell-1211.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dprice-1211.pdf This columns focus on trends and opportunities underscores that, as an industry, we are facing a wide array of opportunities and challenges. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dprice-1211.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-jstacy-1211.pdf It is an unfortunate reality of our era that health systems will have to deal with the stresses of patient decontamination. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-jstacy-1211.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-amasser-1211.pdf Sometimes, a patient needs care your facility cant offer. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-amasser-1211.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-radychildren-1211.pdf Rady Childrens Hospital and Sanford Childrens Clinic have opened a 28,500 sf pediatric specialty services, primary care and urgent care facility in Oceanside, California. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-radychildren-1211.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-rgregory-1211.pdf Once healthcare was safe but relatively ineffective. Today its trending toward efficiency but is more dangerous. Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-rgregory-1211.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-palomar1111.pdf On the west side of the Escondido city limits, Palomar Pomerado Health is building the hospital of the future. Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-palomar1111.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-slockridge-1111.pdf Perception is everything, well not quite, but it is actually 30% of the calculation towards earning back the 1% Medicare takeaway. Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-slockridge-1111.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-lp-1111.pdf As an old Chinese proverb says, Crisis can be used as an opportunity by some. Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-lp-1111.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-jkim-1111.pdf Between 2006 and 2010, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center saw our emergency department (ED) volume rise 30% to a total of 79,900 patients. Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-jkim-1111.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-crivard-1111.pdf Certain portions of the recently passed health care reform law are in the headlines, and in the courts, as opponents of the legislation seek to roll back or repeal what they view as governmental overreach. Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-crivard-1111.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mserota-1111.pdf AltaMed Health Services recently became the first organization in the nation to earn the Gold Seal of Approval in compliance with The Joint Commissions standards for Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH). Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mserota-1111.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mnelson1011.pdf In 2007, just after a series of devastating clinical events occurred, Enloe Medical Center had lost the confidence of the community. When asked, On a scale of 0-10, how would you rate the hospital? only 46% responded with a 9 or 10. This meant Enloe was in the bottom 2% nationwide. Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mnelson1011.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-cgarner1011.pdf In this present era of health care reform, providers across the nation have an even greater abundance of legal issues on which they must focus their attention. Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-cgarner1011.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-sbryant1011.pdf A skydiver jumping from an airplane demonstrates the ultimate level of trust in the person who packed the parachute. The slightest lack of confidence in the chutes function would keep even veteran skydivers onboard. Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-sbryant1011.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-suttereden1011.pdf Though the new Sutter Medical Center Castro Valley, which replaces Eden Medical Center in Alameda County, originated as many of the newest California medical facilities have, due to the seismic safety standards, there are differences. Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-suttereden1011.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dpeel0911.pdf California hospitals posted strong 2010 financial results as eighty-five of the largest one-hundred hospitals recorded positive Pretax Net Income. Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dpeel0911.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-huntington0911.pdf The only trauma center in the San Gabriel Valley is fast closing on Phase I of its 4-Phase Emergency Department expansion. Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-huntington0911.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams0911.pdf The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a final rule on HIPAA electronic standards that would replace ICD-9 code sets with the greatly expanded ICD-10 code sets for claims, remittance advice, eligibility inquiries, referral authorizations, and other transactions. Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams0911.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-tmiles0911.pdf New data available from both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Premier healthcare alliance offer health care providers their best opportunity yet to determine whether participating in an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) would be beneficial. Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-tmiles0911.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-lrubino0911.pdf Mothers gather to talk about fashion, food and formula. Their young children color and read in Dr. Cleo’s Corner. Seniors sit while taking a break from walking in the air conditioned mall. And, a middle aged man talks with staff about healthcare access and options. This scene happens every day at the Molina Healthcare Information Center. Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-lrubino0911.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-lrosenthal0911.pdf HITEC-LA, the Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) for Los Angeles County, was formed to help health care providers select the right certified electronic health record (EHR) system for their practices, and guide them through the entire implementation process to reach meaningful use. Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-lrosenthal0911.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-cdick-muehlke0911.pdf In collaboration with Hoag Hospital, Alzheimer’s Family Services Center, affiliated with the Hoag Neurosciences Institute, developed the Memory Care Tools (MCT) – a creative, activity-based approach to improving care of hospitalized patients with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. Nurses are encouraged to Mon, 15 Aug 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-cdick-muehlke0911.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-asmith0811.pdf As hospitalists become increasingly central to the clinical, financial and operational success of their facilities, hospital management must think through their expectations for their hospitalist service in order to promote alignment with the goals and mission of their hospital. Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-asmith0811.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-crivard0811.pdf Health care reform has always been complicated, but the complexity is escalating at an accelerated pace. One of the reasons for this growing intricacy is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), enacted in March 2010, which requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a Medicare Shared Savings Program by the start of 2012. Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-crivard0811.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams0811.pdf Health care reform has placed an increased focus on accountability for quality outcomes and, at the same time, low-cost care. Health care leaders should evaluate the degree to which hospital mergers or affiliations will offer improved quality of care and lower costs in their own facility. Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams0811.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-kaiser0811.pdf Alameda County residents are watching a 60-acre site near the freeway in San Leandro that's busy with construction crews and equipment. Soon, they'll have something to see: steel girders, the first visual evidence of the area's new, six-story, 434,000 sf medical center, slated to open in 2014. Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-kaiser0811.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-cgarner0711.pdf Imagine finding yourself in a hospital, only to discover that you no longer have a mouth or ears. You cannot explain your symptoms, identify next of kin, or describe your medical history, nor can you understand the doctor's diagnosis, instructions, or prognosis. For the growing number of patients in Emergency Rooms across the United States who arrive unable to communicate effectively in English, this is no dream, but a frightening reality. Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-cgarner0711.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-choc0711.pdf Inpatient volume had more than doubled, and hospital referrals from four counties were in the hundreds - that's what drove Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children's) to build their new 425,000 sf patient care tower. Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-choc0711.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-arentfox0711.pdf The Medicare Secondary Payer ("MSP") statute was originally enacted by Congress in 1980 to reduce federal health care costs. (42 U.S.C. ? 1395y(b).) Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-arentfox0711.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ataddey0711.pdf Whether the California seismic retrofit mandate looms imminently or stands unthreateningly in the future depends on the applicable implementation dates and your facilities' specific needs. Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ataddey0711.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-kcampbell0711.pdf The Efficiency Wage Theorem (EWT) suggests that worker productivity is elastic in response to wages; in other words, if paid more, more motivated workers will take self-organizing actions to increase their rate of work (Osterman, 1994). Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-kcampbell0711.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-evalente0711.pdf When Thanh Hua, a podiatry student in the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) program at California School of Podiatric Medicine (CSPM), a school within Samuel Merritt University (SMU), set out to create a new healthcare option for the uninsured, she turned to her undergraduate school, UC Davis. Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-evalente0711.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-nschmit0711.pdf No more disasters! With earthquakes, tornados, floods, hurricanes and other natural events in the news, the goal of no more disasters seems unrealistic. But, is it? Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-nschmit0711.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-rubino0611.pdf Caring for some of California's most vulnerable citizens is nothing new for Molina Healthcare of California. Currently Molina manages over 15,000 Seniors and Persons with Disabilities (SPDs) members (5% of Molina's total California membership). And company-wide Molina has been managing this population for 30 years and currently serves 150,000 in the states where we operate health plans. However beginning in June, Molina and other Medicaid health plans will begin managing more of these members. Mon, 09 May 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-rubino0611.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ppearson0611.pdf The Family Outreach Support Clinic (FOSC) is a collaboration of our Primary Care clinic and the Center for the Vulnerable Child (CVC), departments within Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland (CHRCO) that serve the community of the East Bay of the greater San Francisco Bay area in California. Mon, 09 May 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ppearson0611.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-childrens0611.pdf North of Fresno, in Madera County, has been the home of Children's Hospital Central California since the 1990s, when seismic requirements drove the building of a new facility. Now consistent growth has driven an expansion. According to Jessie Hudgins, Children's Vice President of Facilities, "Inpatient services were up 4% and outpatient services were up 10% annually. Demand forecasts showed a definitive need for additional capacity in pediatric care units, operating rooms, imaging and the ED." The hospital, which serves all of Central California, has recently completed a 60,000 sf, two-story addition, named for its largest contributor, Paramount Farms. Mon, 09 May 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-childrens0611.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dfeider0611.pdf Medical professionals are sensitive to potential claims from employees for age, gender, race, national origin, citizenship, religious, sexual orientation, and disability discrimination or workplace harassment claims. That said, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) which investigates and prosecutes claimed violations of federal employment laws, reports that retaliation claims are on the rise and exceed those alleging any other type of claim at this point in its history. Retaliation is perceived as a "growth industry" for lawsuits. Mon, 09 May 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dfeider0611.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-stoelrives0611.pdf The federal health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, requires employers to report the cost of employer-sponsored health coverage on employees' W-2 forms. The IRS recently released additional information on this requirement: Notice 2011-28, available at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-11-28.pdf. Mon, 09 May 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-stoelrives0611.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-jcrottogini0611.pdf Homelessness in the United States continues to grow at an alarming rate, with an increasing number of this population consisting of families with children. Mon, 09 May 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-jcrottogini0611.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ccarr0611.pdf A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed that patients who received early palliative care had "significant improvements in both quality of life and mood compared to patients receiving standard care. Mon, 09 May 2011 13:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ccarr0611.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-kvillanueva0511.pdf A devastating earthquake. A raging storm. An unrelenting flood. Each of these natural disasters could easily disable or dismantle the best-built health care facility in the world, as recent events in Japan have made all too clear. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-kvillanueva0511.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-cheard0511.pdf The healthcare market is scintillating with change. There is the prospect of millions of newly insured, wide adoption of electronic health records, and novel mechanisms to insure efficiency and improved quality. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-cheard0511.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-bcra0511.pdf While Lean design--particularly Lean Production Preparation Process (Lean 3P)--is quickly becoming de riguer on healthcare design projects, even the 3P process itself is subject to streamlining with technological advances. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-bcra0511.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-spaul0511.pdf Healthcare Reform is impacting hospital supply chain management and pushing its evolution. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-spaul0511.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-vhess0411.pdf Some healthcare leaders might say it's an oxymoron. But even those who readily believe it is in fact possible to achieve a constant state of "paradise" or "bliss" at work might think that finding or creating Professional Paradise in today's climate of healthcare reform is ludicrous. In fact, in today's business and economic climate, helping employees find their Professional Paradise is no longer an option for leaders - it's a requirement. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-vhess0411.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ryounts0511.pdf In a region where access to care for the poor has advanced to a state of crisis, the Community Health Referral Network offers a promising new model of care coordination and delivery. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ryounts0511.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-nhaile-sulpizio-0511.pdf In April 2011, San Diegans gained their first and only dedicated cardiovascular center with research, programs and patient services all in one location. The culmination of a seven-year project, the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center was named for Richard and Maria (Gaby) Sulpizio, who bestowed a $10 million dollar leadership gift on the University of California, San Diego. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-nhaile-sulpizio-0511.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams0411.pdf No one knows whether the health care reform law will withstand the series of challenges that now confront it in the courts, Congress, and the states. But one thing is certain: Whether it's through decreasing fraud and abuse or increasing operational efficiency, the drive to cut health care administrative costs will continue, no matter how the health care reform battle turns out in 2011 and 2012. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams0411.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-gmennegar0411.pdf Despite the strong push for physician practices to go paperless through the adoption of EMR and EHR, many are still drowning in paper. In the back office, practices are inundated with patient and insurance company payments, EOB's and other mail. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-gmennegar0411.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-apgar0411.pdf Imagine being in compliance with federal regulations, no matter how often they change, covering your entire security and privacy footprint, thereby minimizing the legal risks that come with being a healthcare organization in today's world. Sounds dreamy, kind of like head-in-the-clouds type thinking, right? Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-apgar0411.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-cwinner0411.pdf Using best practices in hospitals is an important aspect of improving patient outcomes. Our knowledge of healthcare practices has never been greater or communication so rapid and widespread. Yet implementing these best practices continues to be difficult and slow in coming. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-cwinner0411.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-lomalinda0411.pdf Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta began as a joint venture between Loma Linda University Medical Center and the Physician's Hospital of Murrieta LCC, which came about when PHM and representatives from LLUMC became acquainted and worked on a partnership agreement. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-lomalinda0411.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-evalente0411.pdf Since 2009, students from the Samuel Merritt University (SMU) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Physician Assistant (PA) programs have been providing free health screening checks to an underserved community in South Hayward. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-evalente0411.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-cope0311.pdf Published in February 2011 in Medical Care, a recent study found that care management for low-income adults reduced inappropriate emergency department (ED) utilization. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-cope0311.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/az-mayoproton0311.pdf When Mayo Clinic announced construction of a $188 million cancer treatment center, it energized the Phoenix, Arizona area. Not only will the highly precise technology allow patients to have shorter treatment times and fewer side effects, but it also provides what is often a more cost effective solution for patients suffering from particular types of cancer. Sun, 06 Feb 2011 08:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/az-mayoproton0311.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/wa-mthurston0311.pdf A recent Washington State Department of Health study found that about one in three Washington adults ages 25 or older had fasting blood glucose levels indicating pre-diabetes. Sun, 06 Feb 2011 08:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/wa-mthurston0311.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-sstelzriede0311.pdf Responsibilities of audit committees have increased significantly over the past 20 years. Although some committees have shifted to accommodate new structures and operations, many have been slow to embrace the increase in roles and responsibilities, leaving them vulnerable to shareholder and stakeholder scrutiny. Sat, 05 Feb 2011 11:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-sstelzriede0311.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-bsjw0211.pdf Human resource professionals are critical to the success of every organization. As the New Year begins, they should ensure their companies have updated policies and employees trained on new and developing issues. Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-bsjw0211.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/wa-wasca0211.pdf Ambulatory surgery centers are collaborating with public and private health plans to help reduce healthcare costs. We are also actively engaged with the Department of Health on patient safety issues. Learn more in our article. Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/wa-wasca0211.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/co-flight0211.pdf Flight For Life Colorado was the first civilian, hospital-based helicopter program in the nation, and began service in 1972 with a single Aloutte III helicopter. Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/co-flight0211.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-stoelrives0111.pdf The passage of federal healthcare reform in 2010 marks a new era for employer-sponsored health plans. Along with the requirements of other recently passed laws, group health plans must comply with several new provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA") summarized in this article. Mon, 13 Dec 2010 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-stoelrives0111.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-djohnson0111.pdf Physician reimbursement has been central to the extensive debate over health care reform. Understanding the essentials of physician reimbursement is fundamental to understanding healthcare finance, the recently approved changes to our health care system, and how to respond as those changes take effect. Mon, 13 Dec 2010 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-djohnson0111.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/az-dpeel0111.pdf Arizona hospitals report a wealth of data each year to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). They are required to report financial, utilization and staffing information using a form called the Uniform Accounting Report (UAR). Mon, 13 Dec 2010 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/az-dpeel0111.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/co-dmeyers.pdf The CU School of Medicine advances medical education services to Colorado in many ways. This article will focus on two efforts, Mon, 13 Dec 2010 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/co-dmeyers.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-pgoldberg1210.pdf Your healthcare organization is being constantly besieged with change and uncertainty: healthcare reform, patient safety, cost reductions, reimbursement changes, etc. There is one certain and mandated change, which if not completed, could bring many of your organization's activities to a grinding halt - the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10. With a deadline of October 2013, this important project should be close to the top of today's priority list. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-pgoldberg1210.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-rlahner1210.pdf Such frenzied messages are the stuff of sleepless nights for hospital administrators. But, in spite of administrators' best efforts, these calls are a given hazard of the business, and this was indeed the call received several years ago by a startled Los Angeles hospital CEO. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-rlahner1210.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-bcra1210.pdf In the healthcare field, we all use a number of different tools to assist us in effective management of our current facilities and sound strategy for future development and growth. We manage using dashboards, spreadsheets, charts, trends, and management reports, among many others. Working with C-level healthcare executives and administrators, we get to see first hand how disparate and disconnected these tools can become, making management less a visual tool and more an "in the numbers" process. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-bcra1210.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/co-dpeel1210.pdf Colorado health plans, administering health benefits for over 1.5 million people, reported solid financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2010. When compared to the same period in 2009, investment revenues and net income were up and enrollment and total revenues were down. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/co-dpeel1210.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/or-bbow1210.pdf Two years ago I spent the better part of seven days at the bedside of my eighty-five year old mother who had fallen and was hospitalized in a highly reputable Portland hospital. While the experience was difficult for her, it was profound for me. Despite two decades of hospital employment, I had never spent this amount of concentrated time viewing the world from the standpoint of the person at the center of our work--the patient. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/or-bbow1210.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dpeel1210.pdf In a sign of continued stability for the California Health Plan industry, twenty-eight of the largest thirty plans reported positive net income through the first six months of 2010. Total enrollment of 20.9 million was comparable to the same time period in 2009 while total revenues of $47.8 billion were up $1.9 billion. Investment revenues were considerably higher during the first six months of 2010 with $624.8 million reported versus $193.9 million reported during the same time period in 2009. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dpeel1210.pdf http://www.akhcnews.com/newsletters/ak-mossadams1210.pdf The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was designed to simplify health care administration and improve efficiency and cost effectiveness. But much to everyone's surprise, the legislation didn't have a tremendous impact until 2003, when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services mandated the use of electronic data interchange (EDI) and set standards for information privacy and security. More recently HIPAA introduced a new National Provider Identifier (NPI) system, creating unique identifiers for physicians and health care organizations across the United States. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:00:00 PST http://www.akhcnews.com/newsletters/ak-mossadams1210.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-djones0610.pdf According to a recent survey by the California Institute for Nursing & Health Care (CINHC) of healthcare employers, approximately 40 percent of new graduates may not find jobs in California Hospitals. In response to this problem, we present A Solution to the New Nursing Graduate Hiring Dilemma, by Deloras Jones, RN, MS, Executive Director of CINHC. Thu, 06 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-djones0610.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-wharris0610.pdf In their article, Retirement Plan Management: A Brave New World of Compliance, Ward Harris and William Small describe some of the key compliance obligations facing institutional plan sponsors. They suggest were not far from government mandated compliance reporting that is similar to food labeling. An interesting example of what this might look like is presented. Thu, 06 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-wharris0610.pdf http://www.wahcnews.com/newsletters/wa-pi0610.pdf Janet Jay, Sales and Service Representative of Physicians Insurance Agency, describes how a good Employment Practices Liability policy can help guide you, and provide coverage, when there is an employment claim. Thu, 06 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.wahcnews.com/newsletters/wa-pi0610.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-bblair0610.pdf In her article, Managing in the Next Decade and Beyond: Challenges and Strategies of Chaos Management, Billie Blair, PhD, President and CEO of Change Strategists, Inc., reasons that chaos management is the new normal of health care management practice, requiring a high level of skill, a thorough understanding of technique, and a sound measure of courage and constancy. Thu, 06 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-bblair0610.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-hospitalfinancialsthrough123109.pdf Financial results of the largest 50 California hospitals Thu, 06 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-hospitalfinancialsthrough123109.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-tkumura0510.pdf Physician integration strategies are increasing as hospitals attempt to secure a stable base of physicians to work with. Tom Kumura, FHFMA of Kumura & Associates, Inc. describes some of these strategies in his article, Physician Integration - California Style. Sun, 04 Apr 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-tkumura0510.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-gnorris0710.pdf Why Owner Controlled Insurance Programs (OCIP) save California hospitals on construction costs. Sun, 06 Jun 2010 06:38:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-gnorris0710.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-jdopoulos0710.pdf An Option for the Ages: Market Turmoil has put Federal Hospital Mortgage Insurance in the Spotlight. Here's why it Should Stay There. Sun, 06 Jun 2010 06:38:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-jdopoulos0710.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-camden0710.pdf The process of care redesign associated with managing effectively within a global payment (Part A and Part B) can be an early stepping stone to developing more comprehensive models of care integration, such as an accountable care organization. Sun, 06 Jun 2010 06:38:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-camden0710.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mchenry0810.pdf What retirement plan and foundation fiduciaries need to know in order to be sure their plan administrative costs are priced properly. Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:32:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mchenry0810.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dpeel0810.pdf California Health Plan financial results for the first quarter of 2010 compared to the first quarter of 2009. Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:33:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dpeel0810.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams0810.pdf How Accountable Care Organizations bring together a group of health care providers - provider care physicians, specialists and hospitals, for example - to be accountable to a specific population. Sat, 17 Jul 2010 09:34:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mossadams0810.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-jmock1010.pdf When a brand new hospital opens its doors, the expectations are always high for delivering a stellar patient experience. That was certainly the case when the Loma Linda University Heart & Surgical Hospital (LLUHSH) opened its doors in January 2009. As the newest acute care facility affiliated with Loma Linda University Medical Center, LLUHSH provided the opportunity to apply the latest "best practices" in patient care while fulfilling the mission of bringing health, healing, and wholeness to humanity Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:50:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-jmock1010.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ibarnett1010.pdf Physicians should analyze their practice, assess their options, and focus honestly on their goals for the next 5 to 10 years. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:50:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-ibarnett1010.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dfisher1010.pdf Amid the politics and the chaos of the PPACA lies a tremendous opportunity for human resource professionals to lead their organizations toward new and better strategic objectives. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:50:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dfisher1010.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dparnami1010.pdf Hospitalists Helping Hospitals Go Electronic Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:50:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-dparnami1010.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mnelson0910.pdf How Enloe Medical Center turned around their hospital operations by emphasizing quality. Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:50:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-mnelson0910.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-pfrisch0910.pdf This article is intended to help organizations take a step back to reasonably ensure they are compliant with HIPAA/HITECH and if not, what key risk areas to address first. Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:50:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-pfrisch0910.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-lp1110.pdf What executives need to consider in terms of hospital debt when acquiring or affiliating with another hospital. Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-lp1110.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-rlewis1110.pdf Methods for hospitals to guard against RAC audit losses. Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-rlewis1110.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-djohnson1110.pdf An overview of current pharmacy reimbursement contracting methods. Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-djohnson1110.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-wsmall1110.pdf An article about the new disclosure requirements for employee retirement plans. Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ca-wsmall1110.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/or-bmcmullan1110.pdf By combining the knowledge and experience of healthcare providers, health plans, hospitals, purchasing groups and patients, we can develop a new and innovative model of care that addresses the needs of all involved. Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/or-bmcmullan1110.pdf http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ak-rmadison1110.pdf Alaska's healthcare provider community is moving toward the benefits of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), largely through the efforts of two champion organizations formed to help guide them across the digital divide: The Alaska EHR Alliance (the "Alliance") formed in 2005 (www.aehra.org), and its partner organization the Alaska e-Health Network (AeHN) (ak-ehealth.org) formed in 2008. Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:00:00 PST http://www.cahcnews.com/newsletters/ak-rmadison1110.pdf