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As Dec. 7 is the first time in Ohio’s history that all Ohioans will be able to visit any public place in a completely smoke-free environment, the American Cancer Society is inviting Ohio’s citizens to enjoy a night on the town. Ohioans are encouraged to go out and celebrate the SmokeFreeOhio victory by patronizing the state’s many newly-smoke-free businesses. For more information about the implementation of the Smoke Free Workplaces Act, view an OHA Bulletin at www.ohanet.org/Bulletins/2006/06-012.htm. (Stacey Conrad, staceyc@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’
Heartbeat
Keith
Shipman, RT, BS, MS
A look
inside Keith’s nomination –
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 Hospitals Lead the Way Ohio’s hospitals continue to receive recognition for their quality health care services and they also remain at the research forefront. Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati was awarded nearly $300,000 in grants from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for a program focused on reducing medical errors through simulations. It was one of 19 projects selected nationally to receive funding. In addition, Dayton Children’s Medical Center's pediatric intensive care unit received the 2007 ICU Design Citation Award from the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the American Institute of Architects. Press Ganey Associates honored the following Ohio hospitals with Summit Awards recognizing patient satisfaction scores: Affinity Medical Center, Massillon; Lodi Community Hospital; McConnell Heart Health Center, OhioHealth, Columbus; New Albany Surgical Hospital; and Shriners Hospital for Children, Cincinnati. Galion Community Hospital, Grandview Medical Center in Dayton; and Mercy Memorial Hospital in Urbana earned Compass Awards for their improvement. OhioHealth received a Success Story Award for demonstrating leadership and implementing organizational change to increase customer satisfaction. Marion General Hospital was granted Three-Year Approval with Commendation to the cancer program by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Seventeen Ohio hospitals ranked among the country’s top 200 hospitals for its billing accuracy in the Top 200 Coding Hospitals in the U.S. report conducted by Ingenix. View the full list at http://go.ingenix.com/top200winner/attachments/2006_top_200_report.pdf.
Premier Health Partners,
Dayton, received the Greater Dayton Workplace Diversity
Award from the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, The
Dayton Foundation Diversity Task Force and the National
Conference for Community and Justice of Greater Dayton.
(Mary Sterenberg,
marys@ohanet.org)
Med Mal Bill Now on Lame Duck Docket Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) this week introduced legislation on behalf of OHA that would build on medical liability lawsuit initiatives the General Assembly enacted in 2002, including immunity for free clinics. House Bill 692 would:
The bill also includes a provision which would prevent state hospitals from arguing in the Ohio Court of Claims that an injured victim must go on Medicaid in order to claim damages against a state hospital, and bar state hospitals from arguing that the damages owed to injured parties should be reduced by the amount a plaintiff did or could have received from Medicaid. OHA will continue to follow and report on HB 692 throughout the lame duck session. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org; Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)
Thursday,
November 30, 2006
OHA is reviewing the legislation, House Bill 690, sponsored by Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), and is working with a coalition of employer groups to ensure the bill provides clear direction to employers, while complying with the Constitutional changes approved by voters. (Nancy Falk, nancyf@ohanet.org)
CMS Provides Outpatient Rates Online The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) posted on its Web site Medicare payment information for physician and hospital outpatient services as part of an initiative to increase the health care information available to consumers. The data include rates for more than 70 physician services rendered in non-office settings, as well as 19 services usually performed in a physician’s office. Earlier this year, CMS posted Medicare rates for inpatient services and ambulatory surgery centers. View the information at www.cms.hhs.gov/HealthCareConInit/. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’ Heartbeat A 2006 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award
Betty Fisher, RN Specialist, Radiology Mount Carmel East Columbus
A look inside Betty’s nomination –
Betty has
been with Mount Carmel East for 24 years. Her employment
started with a position as a nursing assistant and she is
currently a registered nurse in radiology. She has fought
many personal battles over the past several years. Her
personal goals have been set and achieved. She believes in
and displays authentic loving and compassionate values.
Betty is the nurse who is an example to young minds that
have the interest and the desire for a career in health
care.
Friday, December 1, 2006 Sen. Steve Stivers (R-Columbus) this week introduced legislation that requires hospitals to operate 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week emergency departments and maintain Medicaid and Medicare provider agreements. Senate Bill 400 also provides exemptions to these requirements and would permit the director of health to seek an injunction for violations. This bill in part addresses hospitals’ ongoing concern with the growth of limited-service specialty hospitals—particularly after the expiration of a federal moratorium on these facilities in August. The legislation has not yet been referred to a committee but is expected to receive action before the end of the lame duck session at the end of the year. OHA is coordinating meetings to encourage hospital representatives to meet with legislative leaders. View the bill at www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/resources/24houreds120406.pdf. (Reed Fraley, reedf@ohanet.org) © 2001-2008 OHA. Last updated
January 03, 2008. |
