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Monday,
September 25, 2006
OHA has taken the first step to stop proposed increases in energy rates on behalf of Cincinnati-area hospitals. Late last week OHA filed a Motion to Intervene in proceedings of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) regarding Duke Energy of Ohio’s application to modify its market-based standard service offer effective Jan. 1, 2009. Duke Energy Ohio, which acquired Cinergy and Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company, would decrease rates for residential consumers but increase rates for non-residential consumers including hospitals. OHA argued it has an interest in the proceedings because the cost of electricity represents a significant component of total hospital expenses.
If OHA’s motion is approved by the PUCO hearing examiner, OHA will be permitted to advocate in the PUCO rate hearing process on behalf of Cincinnati-area hospitals. OHA is working with those hospitals and the Greater Cincinnati Health Counsel. OHA’s Motion to Intervene is available online at http://dis.puc.state.oh.us/CMPDFs/JXV8Q$U6O8L5+XOF.pdf. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)
EDITOR’S NOTE: OHA is in the process of updating our email and web servers. During this time, there may be some problems accessing OHA Web sites. Additionally, e-mail may not be received in a timely fashion. If you need to contact anyone at OHA, and are not receiving a response to an attempt to communicate via e-mail, please call our office at 614.221.7614. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006 OHA Center for Education
Hospitals’ Heartbeat William J. Polzin, M.D.
A look inside
William’s
nomination –
Wednesday,
September 27, 2006 The Hospital Compare Web site has been updated with performance information on heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infection prevention from participating hospitals through the end of 2005. Available at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov and www.medicare.gov, the site was developed in 2005 by the Hospital Quality Alliance to publicly report credible and user-friendly information about the quality of care delivered in the nation’s hospitals. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)
BioOhio Event Kicks Off Oct. 23 Ohio hospitals are invited to participate in BioOhio 2006: Building the Bioscience Workforce, a two-day event to boost the bioscience workforce. On Oct. 23, Omeris, which is sponsoring the event, will debut the Ohio Bioscience Career Fair, an event designed to give job seekers the opportunity to meet face-to-face with more than 30 of Ohio's elite bioscience employers and begin the interview process for open positions. On Oct. 24, leaders from the business, academic, and government circles will discuss the importance, challenges, and opportunities associated with developing a skilled workforce to support Ohio's bioscience ambition.
Visit www.omeris.org/programs/bioohio.asp for more information about the career fair and seminar and to access the registration form and agenda. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’ Heartbeat A 2006 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award
Margie Theibert, RN Intensive Care Unit Good Samaritan Hospital Dayton
A look inside Margie’s nomination – In 1968, five days after graduating from nursing school, Margie Theibert walked into the ICU at the Cleveland hospital where she had just completed her last rotation. “My new supervisor said, ‘Thank God, you’re here,’ ” Margie recalls. “That was my orientation. So I just did it!” And she’s been doing it ever since.
Today, Margie Theibert, RN, CCRN, is
a nurse supervisor in the 25-bed ICU at Good Samaritan Hospital
in Dayton, where she has worked since 1975. In addition to
excelling in her supervisory roles, Margie stays as close as she
can to bedside nursing. Margie volunteers with Life Connections
of Ohio as an advocate for organ/tissue donation. She has also
built two homes in Dayton with Habitat for Humanity’s Women
Build program.
Thursday,
September 28, 2006
To help hospitals comply with the new statute and to encourage consistent disclosure of this information across the membership, OHA has developed – using best practices from several member hospitals – a sample price information list template. This template includes information beyond what is required by HB 197, such as an explanation of charges and why patients may see additional, separate charges from their physicians – all in an effort to help patients better understand the information hospitals are now required to make available online. To download a copy of the template as well as an instruction sheet for using the template, visit OHA’s Web site at www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/issues/public_disclosure.htm. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org; Jeff Klingler, jeffk@ohanet.org) Governor Voices Support for SmokeFreeOhio Last week Gov. Bob Taft officially announced his support for SmokeFreeOhio (Issue 5), an initiative to ban smoking in public places that has been certified for the ballot. OHA and over 100 Ohio hospitals and health systems officially support SmokeFreeOhio. Learn more about the issue and view other supporting organizations at www.smokefreeohio.org/oh/. Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell’s office this week also certified a separate issue, Smoke Less Ohio (Issue 4), an initiative backed by the tobacco industry that would amend the constitution to permit smoking in bars and specific other businesses and would repeal city-wide smoking bans currently in place throughout Ohio. Both issues still face pending legal action that could eliminate either or both from the November ballot. Watch for upcoming educational information about State Issue 5 and visit www.friendsofohiohospitals.org/ballot/ for more information about these and other issues and races to be decided in this November's general election. (Stacey Conrad, staceyc@ohanet.org) OHA’s October Education Opportunities Fall is here and with it comes a host of new education programs offered by OHA’s Center for Education. Join colleagues from around the state to learn from noted authorities, renew acquaintances at professional society events or learn at home or work with OHA phone seminars. Visit www.ohanet.org/education/education_programs.asp to see a list of the October educational opportunities.
The OHA Board of Trustees separately hosted both Ohio gubernatorial candidates as part of its September Board dinner and meeting, posing questions on the candidates’ plans for health care if elected as the state’s newest governor. View the September Healthbeat to learn what Democrat Ted Strickland and Republican Ken Blackwell had to say to OHA’s Board about the following key issues:
Voters head to the polls Nov. 7 to select Ohio’s 68th governor and cast their vote on candidates and issues. To learn more about the candidates and issues appearing on the ballot, or to register to vote, visit Friends of Ohio Hospitals’ Web site at www.FriendsofOhioHospitals.org/. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’ Heartbeat Dixie Kirkland, RN, CEN A look inside Dixie ’s nomination –Grandview Medical Center’s Emergency Services Coordinator, Dixie Kirkland, RN began her Nursing career nearly 40 years ago. Dixie has never forgotten her struggles in the early part of her career and she passes support and encouragement to her students and team members when they are faced with challenges. She channels her love for people through healthcare into the community with volunteer work and educational programs. Once when asked what keeps her motivated she responded, “Nurses see people at the best and the worst times of their lives. It is our gift from God to be there to help them cope through it all. This is the best job anyone could ever do; the rewards for the soul are amazing.” © 2001-2008 OHA. Last updated
January 03, 2008. |
