|
| Hot Issues |
| Publications |
| Advocacy Center |
| Research & Data |
| Education |
| News Media Center |
| Find a Hospital Job |
| Membership |
| Corporate Partners |
| Home |
Search:
 |
Monday, May 3, 2004
The American Hospital Association (AHA) has formed a new task force to focus on the challenges posed by the influx of physician-owned specialty hospitals and other limited-service providers. Ken Hanover, president and CEO of the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, is a member of the new Task Force on Delivery System Fragmentation. The task force is charged with developing strategies to address services offered by specialty providers and evaluating models that could provide physicians with appropriate opportunities to invest in or partner with full-service hospitals. The panel succeeds an earlier task force that investigated niche provider issues and contributed to Congress placing an 18-month moratorium on physician billing for self-referrals to new physician-owned hospitals in the Medicare Modernization Act passed at the end of last year. For more Ohio-specific information on this issue, visit http://www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/issues/conflict.htm. (Mary Yost, maryy@ohanet.org)
Tuesday, May 4, 2004
As hospital associates gear up for this year’s OHA Annual Meeting on June 14-15, they are invited to squeeze every opportunity from the two-day event by checking into the many available luncheons. Various organizations host luncheons as part of the meeting, providing information and additional networking opportunities. For more information on any of the events listed below, or to register for these events or the OHA Annual Meeting, visit http://www.ohanet.org/annualmeeting/.
Monday
The OHA Compliance Officers Network Luncheon/Society of Healthcare
Attorneys
The luncheon includes general and roundtable discussion on
topics such as the treatment of minors and minors’ consent, on-call
physician service issues, recent changes in the medical malpractice
insurance market and much more.
Ohio Society for Healthcare Administrative Professionals Luncheon
Cheryl Herbert, president and CEO of Morrow County Hospital will
present “Crucial Conversations.”
Tuesday
American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Breakfast
Richard A. Henault, ACHE chair and executive vice president of
the Methodist Health System Association will present.
Healthcare Financial Management Association/COPAM
Kameron McQuay, accountant and consultant with Blue & Co, LLC, will
present.
Public Relations Luncheon
Gail Hogan with Reputation Management Associates will offer
media training and expert advice based on her 25 years of news
broadcasting experience.
Wednesday,
May 5, 2004
Incumbent Worker Training Grants Awarded
The Research and Educational Foundation of the
Ohio Hospital Association has awarded $1.2 million to Ohio hospitals for
incumbent worker training programs through a grant from the Ohio
Department of Job and Family Services. Thirty-one Ohio hospitals will
receive funding through the grant, which is aimed at helping hospitals
work toward overcoming health care personnel shortages by training
current employees in key shortage areas.
The initial award letters have been sent to hospital CEOs and the
designated grant coordinators and a list of hospitals receiving funding
is available online at
http://www.ohanet.org/workforce/traininggrant.pdf. OHA thanks all
applicants and congratulates grant recipients. The selection process was
very competitive and the proposals received by OHA highlight the
extensive measures hospitals are taking to solve workforce shortages.
For those interested in or involved with writing grants for hospitals,
OHA is offering a grantwriting track at the Annual Meeting on June 14 at
the Columbus Convention Center. To learn more about this educational
opportunity, visit
http://www.ohanet.org/annualmeeting/. (Susan Zabo,
susanz@ohanet.org)
HIPAA Seminar Postponed
Thursday,
May 6, 2004
Hospital leaders from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., this week to discuss current issues and meet with legislators as part of the American Hospital Association (AHA) annual meeting.
Sen. Gordon Smith, R-OR, Rep. Eric Cantor, R-VA, Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-ND, and Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-CA, participated in a "Congressional Crossfire" debate, disagreeing on medical liability reform legislation but finding common ground in feeling that Congress likely would do nothing this year to deal with the problem of the uninsured. Smith, Becerra and Pomeroy also agreed that Congress should reject further reductions in Medicaid spending. Smith and Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-WV, plan to propose $6 billion in emergency federal fiscal relief to help states support their Medicaid programs.
Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, also spoke to hospital representatives about her concerns on the issue of niche providers and her disappointment with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' recent release of a final 75 percent rule for inpatient rehabilitation facilities before a study could be conducted to assess the rule's impact on providers and patient care. She also outlined her five-point plan for improving the health care system, including major improvements in research and technology.
AHA officials and other legislators encouraged hospital leaders to continue sharing concerns about issues pressing to hospitals, and several Ohio hospital representatives visited with lawmakers and members of their staffs this week as well.
Friday, May 7, 2004
Giving Thanks: Recognizing the People Behind Health Care in Ohio
Though not marked with turkey and cranberry sauce, thanksgiving will be in the air this month as the nearly 230,000 employees of Ohio’s community hospitals receive recognition. National Hospital Week kicks off May 9 and runs until May 15, with hospitals honoring the outstanding performance of all hospital associates, and National Nurses Week, May 6-12, lauds the efforts of the nation’s nearly 2.7 million nurses.
This month’s recognition events pay tribute to the vital work of hospital caregivers in their work, but what about the efforts many of them make after clocking out for the day--or night? Many of the people drawn to careers in health care also devote themselves to the health and well-being of their communities beyond the hospital walls. Hospital associates in Ohio donate personal time to work with local students, teaching about healthy lifestyle choices or even math and English, or volunteer time to make other positive changes in their communities.
Hospitals and community members have the opportunity this month to highlight the ongoing dedication and efforts of health care workers in both their hospitals and their communities. For a brief overview of the many contributions of hospitals and their associates statewide, visit www.ohanet.org/CareCampaign/video/ohamed.wmv to view a five-minute video. For more information and examples of Ohio hospitals’ and employees’ exemplary work in their communities, view the May Healthbeat at www.ohanet.org/healthbeat/2004/0504.htm.
In Other News…