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People, Places, Processes & Products that Influence the Supply Chain |
| Newswire Archive 2008 | |
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January • February • March • April • May • June • July • August • September • October • November • December |
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January 2008 Members of AAASC and FASA overwhelmingly approve merger
CBSPD announces new flexible endoscope
reprocessing Addicts stealing hand sanitizer from hospital Reactor shutdown delays hospital scan tests More babies born prematurely, new report shows
Novation announces winners of 2008 Bob
Majors Memorial Scholarship |
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Members
of AAASC and FASA overwhelmingly approve merger
Members of the nation’s two largest and most influential ASC associations, the American Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers (AAASC) and FASA, overwhelmingly voted to approve the proposed merger of the two groups in independent votes each organization conducted. As a result, on January 1, 2008, AAASC and FASA will join together to become one organization that will be known as the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, or the ASC Association. "The new ASC Association will provide a unified voice for ASCs and enhance the value of all the benefits and services that both AAASC and FASA currently offer their members," said current FASA President and future ASC Association Chief Executive Officer Kathy Bryant. "While both AAASC and FASA were legally required to obtain the approval of their members for the merger to occur, we were pleased to find that approval of the merger was nearly unanimous and the members of both associations are clearly looking forward to the advantages the new ASC Association will offer them." The new ASC Association’s Board will be led by Chair Alsie Sydness-Fitzgerald, CASC, current chair-elect of FASA. David Shapiro, MD, currently a member of the AAASC Board of Directors, will become chair-elect of the new ASC Association Board and take office as chair at the conclusion of Sydness-Fitzgerald’s term. www.aaasc.org
CBSPD announces new flexible endoscope reprocessing The Board of Directors of the Certification Board for Sterile Processing & Distribution, Inc. announces that the inaugural examination for flexible endoscope reprocessors will be administered during the first week of February, 2008. The CBSPD offers competency-based certification examinations during four "windows" a year; usually the first full week of February, May, August and November. The CBSPD is very excited about this sixth certification program which joins the technician, supervisor, manager, surgical instrument processor and Ambulatory Surgery sterile processing technician examinations. As the only sterile processing certification program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, this certification will enhance patient safety in the GI flexible endoscope processing area. The CBSPD has been working closely with the Society for Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA) to develop this program. Mary Beth Hepp, President of SGNA and a physician representative from the American Society of Gastroenterology were guests at the November CBSPD Board of Directors meeting held in Philadelphia. According to Nancy Chobin, RN, CSPDM, Executive Director of the CBSPD, "This is an exciting time for the CBSPD which administers certification examinations throughout the continental US and in over 14 international countries". This exam was a natural progression in the competency-based certification process which is the core of the CBSPD certification." The credential will be called "Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor" or "CFER". The Role Delineation study (Job Analysis) which was performed in the summer of 2007, identified 10 content areas (domains) with a total of 58 knowledge areas. This demonstrates the sophistication and extent of the competence required for flexible endoscope reprocessors. Candidate Bulletins (which contains the exam outline) and application forms are now available and a Study Guide will be completed by January 2008. For Candidate Bulletins, application forms and any additional information, visit the CBSPD webpage at: www.sterileprocessing.org or call the CBSPD at 800-555-9765. Addicts stealing hand sanitizer from hospital Hand-sanitizing dispensers at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada have been ripped from the walls by addicts due to the product’s high alcohol content. St. Paul’s spokesman Gavin Wilson said the hospital conducted an audit and found that an average of 18 dispensers and bottles have been vandalized and/or stolen every month since January 2007. A security guard caught one thief with 10 bottles in his possession, bottles he had planned to sell. The hand sanitizer is 70 percent alcohol. There are about 1,000 dispensers at St. Paul’s. About seven out of every 1,000 patients admitted to hospital gets a healthcare-acquired superbug infection, often because of poor hand hygiene on the part of visitors and healthcare professionals. Dr. Elizabeth Bryce, medical director of infection control at Vancouver Coastal Health, said Vancouver General Hospital has had only a few reports of addicts stealing the contents of the hand-sanitizer units. Hospitals are now looking at ways to "bolt down or lock" the dispensers. In the current edition of the British Medical Journal, University of Newcastle toxicologist Alison Jones and co-authors reported the results of what is believed to be the first study of the unintended effects of the introduction of hand-sanitizing products in hospitals. The British study, which spanned three years, cited the case of an alcoholic woman who fell into a coma after drinking a 500-ml bottle of the hand rub. She was found on a hospital bathroom floor, clutching an empty bottle with another nearby. Although many products, including those used at St. Paul’s and other hospitals throughout the Vancouver area, contain agents that make the solution taste bitter, addicts are so desperate they seem not to care. Reports of individuals ingesting the product has led pediatric and geriatric units in hospitals across the province to put hand sanitizers in safer locations to guard against accidental exposures. "Children may mistake the products for water and patients with dementia may also be confused by it," said Bruce Gamage, an infection control cosultant at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. "The ethyl alcohol in these kinds of products is the same kind of grain-based alcohol that you have in liquor, but it is much higher in content so it can be toxic if one drinks it in large enough quantities." (The Vancouver Sun) Reactor shutdown delays hospital scan tests On November 30, 2007, MDS Nordion released a public statement announcing an imminent shortage of molybdenum-99 used in the manufacturing of technetium-99m generators and iodine-131 because of an extended shutdown of the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Chalk River, Ontario. MDS Nordion later announced that the NRU reactor shutdown was expected to extend into January 2008. Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), which runs the NRU reactor, had originally scheduled a regular maintenance shutdown for the week of November 19. However, as the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) staff reported to the Commission Tribunal on December 6, the AECL management decided to maintain the NRU Reactor in an extended shutdown to work on emergency power supply availability to the main heavy water pumps. In the interim, the practice of nuclear medicine across North America is in serious danger. An increasing number of hospitals and imaging centers across the United States and Canada are prioritizing their patient lists and may be unable to appropriately treat many patients with cancer, thyroid, heart, and kidney disease. The Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) supports the safe operation of the NRU reactor. However, SNM and the international medical-scientific community is frustrated by the circumstances and the apparent lack of a contingency plan to ensure an adequate supply of molybdenum-99 in the United States and Canada during the extended maintenance of the NRU facility. Patients’ lives are now at risk. Over the past few days, many hospitals began facing a shortage of a radioactive substance called technitium-99 that is injected into patients to do these body scans. And that has forced them to cut back on the procedures. "Many, many hospitals are working at about 20 to 30 percent of capacity" in doing the scans in the United States and Canada, estimated Dr. Sandy McEwan, president of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, based in Reston, VA. He said he didn’t know how many scans had been postponed. SNM will continue to work directly with relevant federal agencies and industry leaders in the United States and Canada to keep the medical-scientific community informed regarding the status of the molybdenum-99 shortage and surrounding issues. SNM will make every effort to best represent the medical community throughout this patient care crisis. www.snm.org More babies born prematurely, new report shows The preterm birth rate rose again in 2005 and preliminary data for 2006 show a continued increase, underscoring the urgent need for a sustained, comprehensive plan to address this growing crisis."The more we learn about the terrible consequences of an early birth, the more determined the March of Dimes is to understand what causes preterm birth and how it can be prevented," said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. "That’s why we are supporting a U.S. Surgeon General’s conference for 2008 to bring together experts and develop a national agenda to prevent preterm labor and delivery." Prematurity is the leading cause of death in the first month of life, and even late preterm infants have a greater risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), feeding difficulties, temperature instability (hypothermia), jaundice and delayed brain development. In 2005, preterm birth costs the nation more than $26.2 billion in medical and educational costs and lost productivity. Average first year medical costs were about 10 times greater for preterm than for term infants. The National Center for Health Statistics released final birth data for 2005 showing that the preterm birth rate, the percentage of babies born at less than 37 weeks gestation, is continuing its relentless rise, with more than 525,000 babies, or 12.7 percent, born prematurely. That’s up from 12.5 percent in 2004 and the 2006 preliminary report indicates that the preterm birth rate will continue its upward trend and reach 12.8 percent, about 543,000 babies. The preterm birth rate has increased more than 20 percent since 1990. The data can be found at www.cdc.gov/nchs Novation announces winners of 2008 Bob Majors Memorial Scholarship Novation, LLC, the healthcare industry’s leading contracting services company of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), announced the winners of the first Bob Majors Memorial Scholarship. Novation established the scholarship to honor Robert "Bob" Majors, a former director of materials management and alliance member who passed away in January 2007. Dale Montgomery, vice president of support services at VHA-member Hays Medical Center in Hays, KS, and James Shepherd, director of materials at UHC-member University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and Hospitals in Albuquerque, NM, were both recognized with this honor. Each will receive a $2,500 scholarship to attend a 2008 materials management-related conference or leadership education opportunity. The scholarship is only open to VHA and UHC alliance members. "I would like to congratulate Dale and James for being chosen for this award," said Joellyn Willis, president at Novation. "Both exemplify characteristics that Bob Majors was known for — a love of materials management and a commitment to continuous learning. We hope that they too can help foster a passion for learning in others, as well." The Bob Majors scholarship, awarded annually, was established to honor Majors’ commitment to learning, his many contributions to healthcare supply chain management and his unwavering support of Novation, VHA and UHC. HPN Montgomery has worked in health care for more than 40 years. He began his career as an orderly at the Hays Medical Center where he also worked as a physical therapy technician before assuming responsibility for the purchasing department. An interest in business and a passion for affecting patient care — he found materials management a great career choice. "I knew Bob Majors well and I really respected his work ethic and his opinions. To be named the first VHA recipient of this award is very humbling to me," said Montgomery. "I share this award with all those people I’ve worked with throughout my career, including those with Novation and VHA, and feel that these relationships are invaluable to my success in supply chain." Shepherd "fell into" materials management more than 40 years ago. He has worked in the hospital industry for eight years, which he finds rewarding because he enjoys his career and the sense of community service that his job offers. "The hospital industry offers an opportunity to use skills that while they are not clinical, still serve the community — there’s a great deal of satisfaction in this," Shepherd said. The Bob Majors scholarship, awarded annually, was established to honor Majors’ commitment to learning, his many contributions to health care supply chain management and his unwavering support of Novation, VHA and UHC.
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New study: US ranks last among other industrialized nations on preventable deaths VHA Inc. study reveals hospital spending for contracted services is expected to grow in 2008 -09 Premier’s web-based tools alert, detect and track infections Medicare to provide better oversight of suppliers of certain medical equipment FDA clears first test designed to detect/identify 12 respiratory viruses from single sample Nonhospital healthcare workers at substantial risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens |
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New study: US ranks last among other industrialized nations on preventable deaths The United States places last among 19 countries when it comes to deaths that could have been prevented by access to timely and effective healthcare, according to new research supported by The Commonwealth Fund and published in the January/February issue of Health Affairs. While other nations dramatically improved these rates between 1997–98 and 2002–03, the U.S. improved only slightly. If the U.S. had performed as well as the top three countries out of the 19 industrialized countries in the study there would have been 101,000 fewer deaths in the U.S. per year by the end of the study period. The top performers were France, Japan, and Australia. In "Measuring the Health of Nations: Updating an Earlier Analysis," Ellen Nolte and Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine compare trends in deaths that could have been prevented by access to timely and effective healthcare. Specifically, they looked at deaths "amenable to healthcare before age 75 between 1997–98 and 2002–03." Nolte and McKee found that while other countries made strides and saw these types of deaths decline by an average of 16%, the U.S. experienced only a 4% decline. "It is notable that all countries have improved substantially except the U.S.," said Nolte, lead author of the study. The authors also note that "it is difficult to disregard the observation that the slow decline in U.S. amenable mortality has coincided with an increase in the uninsured population, an issue that is now receiving renewed attention in several states and among presidential candidates from both parties." "It is startling to see the U.S. falling even farther behind on this crucial indicator of health system performance," said Commonwealth Fund Senior Vice President Cathy Schoen. "By focusing on deaths amenable to healthcare, Nolte and McKee strip out factors such as population and lifestyle differences that are often cited in response to international comparisons showing the U.S. lagging in health outcomes. The fact that other countries are reducing these preventable deaths more rapidly, yet spending far less, indicates that policy, goals, and efforts to improve health systems make a difference." In 1997–98 the U.S. ranked 15th out of 19 countries on the "mortality amenable to healthcare" measure. However, by 2002–03 the U.S. fell to last place, with 109 deaths amenable to healthcare for every 100,000 people. In contrast, mortality rates per 100,000 people in the leading countries were: France (64), Japan (71), and Australia (71). The other countries included in the study were Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Study authors state that the measure of deaths amenable to healthcare is a valuable indicator of health system performance because it is sensitive to improved care, including public health initiatives. It considers a range of conditions from which it is reasonable to expect death to be averted even after the condition develops. This includes causes such as appendicitis and hypertension, where the medical nature of the intervention is apparent; it also includes illnesses that can be detected early with effective screenings such as cervical or colon cancer, and tuberculosis which, while acquisition is largely driven by socio-economic conditions, is not fatal when treated in a timely manner. VHA Inc. study reveals hospital spending for contracted services is expected to grow in 2008 -09 A new study released by VHA Inc., a national healthcare alliance, reports that 70 percent of hospitals expect their volume of contracted services to grow or remain unchanged over the next two years. The survey that garnered responses from 161 hospital administrators, materials managers and support service executives indicates that hospitals outsource and purchase services as a way to address shortage issues and reduce operating costs. Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of respondents reported that their hospitals use contract services because they lack internal resources. The study also reports that 29 percent of respondents use supplier diversity as criteria when evaluating suppliers. One area where hospitals are planning to focus their outsourcing efforts is Information Technology. According to the study, nearly two-thirds (63 percent) are planning to invest in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems. One third (34 percent) of respondents already look to outside suppliers for assistance with their Information Technology needs. The study revealed that the top services hospitals currently outsource include: Support services:Document management/shredding services and laundry services (74 percent); Capital asset: Facility and equipment planning (58 percent); Clinical operations: On-call radiologists/nighthawk services (56 percent); Revenue management: Billing/collections (55 percent); Human resources: Computer-based learning systems and employee benefit plans (52 percent). The study is the seventh in a series of research studies that VHA has conducted on services contracting. Premier’s web-based tools alert, detect and track infections The Premier Inc. healthcare alliance announced 10 new hospitals contracting to use SafetySurveillor, its web-based tool to detect and alert staff of healthcare acquired infections (HAIs) and protect patients by continuously tracking HAIs and antibiotic use to monitor prevention and control activities. The Pennsylvania based hospitals selecting SafetySurveillor are: Geisinger Health System, Danville – three hospitals; Frankford Hospitals, Philadelphia – three hospitals; St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network, Bethlehem – four hospitals. By implementing the SafetySurveillor infection prevention
system, these facilities join more than 150 other hospitals that have
selected SafetySurveillor over the past year to enhance patient care. In
addition, SafetySurveillor has been chosen by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention as an HAI surveillance system software vendor
participant in developing a standards-based solution for transmission of HAI
data from existing commercial software systems to the agency’s National
Healthcare Safety Network.
www.premierinc.com
Medicare to provide better oversight of suppliers of certain medical equipment The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced 70 new areas across the nation that will be part of the second phase of a competitive bidding program designed to help lower Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket costs and improve their access to certain high quality durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS). Ten areas currently participate in the program providing greater beneficiary access to certain DMEPOS, including standard and complex power wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen supplies and equipment, hospital beds and certain devices. This expanded program also enables federal officials to prevent unscrupulous suppliers from participating in Medicare. Additionally, once the competitive bidding program is fully implemented nationally, it is expected to save beneficiaries and Medicare $1 billion annually. "Competitive bidding means that Medicare beneficiaries will have access to these products at substantially lower costs," said CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems. Under the competitive bidding program, suppliers that wish to offer certain items and services to people with Medicare will have to submit bids to CMS, indicating the prices at which they are willing to supply these items to beneficiaries, prices that CMS believes will be closer to the prices charged in the current market. Currently Medicare, and beneficiaries, pay for items based on a fee schedule that, in general, is based on the average payments Medicare has paid for DMEPOS items in the past. Although the fee schedule is updated annually, CMS believes it is not representative of the true market prices of these items and services. Most beneficiaries pay 20 percent of the total cost for these items and services and should expect to see savings from this program because when the total cost decreases, beneficiaries’ coinsurance also decreases. Suppliers must also meet high quality standards established by CMS and be accredited by one of ten organizations chosen by Medicare. The final deadline for all suppliers to obtain an initial accreditation is September 30, 2009. However, suppliers that want to participate in this second phase of the competitive bidding program will have to be accredited well in advance of that deadline to be awarded a contract with CMS. Additional information on the DMEPOS competitive bidding program is available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CompetitiveAcqforDMEPOS/ FDA clears first test designed to detect/identify 12 respiratory viruses from single sample The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared a test that simultaneously detects and identifies 12 specific respiratory viruses. The xTAG Respiratory Viral Panel, is the first test for the detection and differentiation of influenza A subtypes H1 and H3. The new panel is also the first test for human metapneumovirus (hMPV), newly identified in 2001. The new test, manufactured by Toronto-based Luminex Molecular Diagnostics, amplifies viral genetic material found in secretions taken from the back of the throat in patients with possible respiratory tract infections. Other viruses identified by the test include: influenza B; respiratory syncytial virus subtype A and B; parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3; rhinovirus; and adenovirus. Nonhospital healthcare workers at substantial risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens In one of the largest studies of its kind, researchers from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health assessed the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens among non-hospital based registered nurses (RNs), and found that nearly one out of 10 of the more than 1100 nurse participants reported at least one needlestick injury in the previous 12 months. Findings of the study are published in the December issue of Industrial Health. According to Robyn Gershon, DrPH, principal investigator and professor of Sociomedical Sciences at the Mailman School of Public Health, "These rates of exposure are surprising since they are similar to rates reported for hospital-based nurses, even though hospitalized patients generally have high levels of acuity of patient care than are typically performed in community healthcare settings." But, as Dr. Gershon and colleagues point out, these findings are not completely unexpected since patient care, including more complex types of care, is increasingly delivered at non-hospital based healthcare facilities, including out-patient clinics, nursing homes, doctor’s offices, patients’ homes, and public health clinics. The authors note that increasingly complex procedures, many of which involve needles and other sharp instruments, are being performed, primarily by well-trained registered nurses, in these non-hospital settings, thereby increasing the potential risk of exposure. The population at risk is large, since non-hospital based nurses represent a substantial portion of the overall nursing workforce; approximately 40% of the 2.3 million RNs in the U. S. are employed in non-hospital settings. Extrapolated to the entire non-hospital based RN workforce in the U.S., the authors estimate that the annual number of needlesticks in the non-hospital RN workforce may be in excess of 145,000 per year. Importantly, the researchers found that 70% of the exposed nurses were never seen by a healthcare provider at all, even though appropriate and timely follow-up of these incidents can reduce the risk of infection.
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AACN and AONE announce plans for nurse manager certification exam HealthGrades: 27 percent lower mortality at top hospitals CrossWalk enables accurate, defensible supply pricing ASHES and ALM announce pricing program Pandemic Operations Guide for the healthcare supply chain Amerinet web-based tools strengthens providers financial performance |
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The Board of Directors of the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) has donated over $175,000 in research grants to three groups supported by collegiate institutions. AHRMM contributed $75,000 to ASU to support further development and implementation of SCMetrix - a sophisticated online benchmarking tool to help hospitals compare their supply expense and supply chain processes to those of peer hospitals. AHRMM and the W.P. Carey School of Business began work on the joint project in 2007. In 2006, AHRMM granted ASU $100,000 to determine the study's metrics, build the survey tool and the program's Web site, and host several educational seminars to help hospitals gain a better understanding of SCMetrix and promote project participation. This year's grant will support the tool's continued development and refinement and will further assist with the marketing and educational efforts so that more hospitals will learn how to become part of SCMetrix and begin importing their data into the online system. A hospital does not have to attend the webinar to obtain the tools. Instead, they recommend that you listen to the web recording and download the tools at this site - https://webapp.asu.edu/scmetrix/app?page=Partcipate&service=page. The downloadable tools are located on the web page under Participate. AHRMM also donated $50,000 to the MEHD Group, a healthcare supply chain initiative within the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics created to drive innovation in the field. The MEHD Group will use the AHRMM grant to create new insights, technologies, and business practices to improve healthcare delivery everywhere. In doing so, they will conduct research to identify the dynamics of the current healthcare supply chain, apply scenario-based planning methodologies to the healthcare supply chain, and recommend and develop innovative strategies, policies, and technologies. The MEHD Group has partnered with several companies to move this initiative forward including Caremark, Pfizer, Cardinal Health, and Cephalon. CIHL, a collaboration of University of Arkansas researchers, healthcare providers, interested corporations, and government agencies seeking healthcare supply chain and logistic innovations, received $50,000 for its initiative "Identifying Opportunities for Cost and Quality Improvements in Healthcare Logistics." CIHL was established through an initial investment of $1 million and primary funding commitments from strategic partners Wal-Mart, Blue Cross and Blue Shield (of Arkansas, Alabama, and Illinois) and VHA to recover significant costs and achieve new efficiencies through the healthcare supply chain while improving safety, quality, and equity of patient care. For more information on SCMetrix, please visit http://www.scmetrix.org. For more information on the work of the MEHD Group, please visit http://ctl.mit.edu. For more information on CIHL, please visit http://cihl.uark.edu. AACN and AONE announce plans for nurse manager certification exam The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and
the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) announced that they
have expanded their partnership to develop the first certification exam
designed exclusively for nurse managers. This latest partnership effort is
rooted in AACN’s and AONE’s 6-year collaboration to AACN Certification Corporation completed a study of nurse manager practices which found that frontline nurse managers are generally prepared for their leadership roles through on-the-job training. This certification will provide a way for nurse managers to validate that they have acquired the essential knowledge and skills necessary to be effective in their role. A previously developed Nurse Manager Inventory Tool and ENMO fill an unaddressed need organizations and individuals had for assessing and developing nurse manager leadership skills. More information is available on both organizations’ web sites at www.aacn.org and at www.aone.org. HealthGrades: 27 percent lower mortality at top hospitals Patients treated at top-rated hospitals nationwide are
nearly one-third less likely to die, on average, than those admitted to all
other hospitals, according to a study released by HealthGrades, the leading
independent healthcare ratings organization. Patients who undergo surgery at
these high-performing hospitals also have an average five percent lower risk
of complications during their stay, researchers found. The annual
HealthGrades Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence study, now in its
sixth year, identifies hospitals in the top five percent nationally in terms
of mortality and complication rates for 27 procedures and diagnoses, from
bypass surgery to total knee replacement. Hospitals achieving this level of
care are designated Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence by
HealthGrades and are identified on the organization’s consumer web site. To
name hospitals in the top five percent for clinical excellence, the
HealthGrades’ study analyzed nearly 41 million hospitalizations during the
years 2004, 2005 and 2006 at all 4,971 of the nation’s nonfederal hospitals.
Disparities in the hospital care patients receive, based simply on where
they choose to seek treatment, highlight a troubling phenomenon in the U.S.
healthcare system: a persistent and preventable gap between high-quality
hospitals and the rest of the field. The 2008 study found that 171,424 lives
may have been saved and 9,671 major complications avoided during the three
years studied, had the quality of care at all hospitals matched the level of
those in the top five percent. In comparing hospitals in the top five
percent, designated as Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence, with
all other hospitals, the HealthGrades study found: On average, a 27 percent
lower risk of inhospital risk-adjusted mortality was experienced by Medicare
patients at Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence in a number of
procedures and diagnoses such as: cardiac surgery, COPD, stroke, pulmonary
embolism and sepsis, etc. Individuals can see how their local hospitals are
rated, at www.healthgrades.com.
CrossWalk enables accurate, defensible supply pricing MedAssets Inc. announced the release of version 3.0 of CrossWalk. Initially launched in March 2005, CrossWalk links a hospital’s supply item file to its chargemaster enabling a process by which mark up strategies can be modeled before implementation to understand gross and net revenue impact. The linkage also allows ongoing monitoring of the markup strategy and provides the ability to continuously enforce accurate and defensible pricing of supplies. Additionally, CrossWalk helps hospitals identify costly items not in the supply item file and items that are being purchased off-contract and outside of the standard purchasing processes. The latest release of CrossWalk increases the accuracy and defensibility of supply charges by allowing users to pull cost data from multiple sources, including the supply item file and invoice records, and provides new and improved cost validation. CrossWalk incorporates this more complete and accurate cost data into the application and makes it readily viewable so users can cross-check and identify discrepancies in their data. ASHES and ALM announce pricing program The American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES) and the Association for Linen Management (ALM) announced a pricing program for the benefit of members in both organizations. According to the agreement, ALM and ASHES will offer special discounted pricing levels for products and services to members of the other organization. This agreement will allow members of ALM to purchase products and services offered by ASHES at a discounted rate and vise versa. Patti Costello, ASHES Executive Director, stated that "given the fact that over 63 percent of our members have responsibility for linen distribution and over 43 percent are responsible for processing the textiles, ASHES saw an opportunity to join forces and maximize the opportunity for our members." Further information will be available at www.ashes.org and www.almnet.org. Pandemic Operations Guide for the healthcare supply chain As part of its continued commitment to emergency preparedness planning, the Health Industry Distributors Association announces the release of its 2007-2008 Pandemic Operations Guide: Planning Considerations for the Medical Products Distribution Industry. The report is the third in HIDA’s emergency preparedness series. Included are: Targeted planning tips; An extensive scenario-specific product formulary; An overview of the current pandemic threat; and additional resources. Key issues for distributors and manufacturers such as staffing, warehousing, and transportation also are highlighted. "Emergency preparedness is a subject that demands continued diligence, especially for those in the healthcare supply chain," said Matthew J. Rowan, HIDA President and CEO. "This guide is designed to help members of the medical products community take additional steps to prepare their businesses, staff, and customers." HIDA’s Pandemic Operations Guide is available in PDF format and features Q&As with distributors, manufacturers, and the U.S. Departments of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security. For more information on this report or to learn about others in the series, visit HIDA at www.hida.org. Amerinet web-based tools strengthens providers financial performance Amerinet has announced the release of its enhanced Total Spend Management Web-based solutions designed to equip healthcare providers with the strategic resources to reduce costs, increase revenue and optimize financial resources. The portal to the next evolution of Web-based tools, programs and services found on Amerinet’s member resources Web site provides real-time access, 24 hours a day to members’ contract information, purchasing history and financial information. The featured areas of the site include Amerinet’s Total Spend Management tools and services, Competitive Portfolio, TargetBuys, Reports, ValuSource and Amerinet Choice, Amerinet’s private-label brand. The new enhanced site also includes overviews of Amerinet’s new Total Spend Management Web-based tools created to address members’ price accuracy and data integrity challenges. The enhanced site also includes standard industry benchmarks for supply chain, financial/profitability and medical implants. http://www.amerinet-gpo1.com/amerinet.aspx
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APRIL 2008 America’s 50 best hospitals 2008 released by HealthGrades FDA releases container system integrity testing in lieu of sterility guidelines New CDC study underscores impact of older adult falls K-C has kicked off its "Not on My Watch" Prevention Campaign Cosmetic products may cause fatal infections in critically ill patients SafetySurveillor continuously detects, monitors HAIs via Web-based application |
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America’s 50 best hospitals 2008 released by HealthGrades HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings organization, has identified America’s 50 Best Hospitals, an elite class of top-performing facilities based on clinical outcomes. To identify the 2008 designees, HealthGrades researchers analyzed approximately 100 million hospitalization records from nearly 5,000 hospitals, from the years 1999 to 2006. To be listed among America’s 50 Best Hospitals, facilities must have demonstrated clinical outcomes among the top five percent in the nation, not just in one medical specialty, but aggregated across 27 different procedures and diagnoses, and must have maintained this superior level of care during all years studied. These hospitals were found to have an average 27 percent lower mortality rate, on average, than all other U.S. hospitals. For the second consecutive year, the list contains nationally known facilities, such as Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. But the list also identifies many hospitals that do not have national brand names, but that continue to demonstrate patient outcomes that are superior to their peers across the country. As with all HealthGrades awards, the HealthGrades America’s 50 Best Hospital designation is based exclusively on clinical outcomes - risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for patients at nearly every hospital in the nation. Hospitals cannot apply for this independent analysis, and they cannot opt-in or out of being rated. HealthGrades’ annual assessment of mortality and complication rates in American hospitals analyzes specific procedures and diagnoses and then risk-adjusts the data to account for differences in patient populations among hospitals. Hospitals that received that designation the most consecutive times over the last six years were named HealthGrades America’s 50 Best Hospitals.HealthGrades makes available to the public, at no charge, the quality ratings of every nonfederal hospital in the country at www.healthgrades.com. FDA releases container system integrity testing in lieu of sterility guidelines Products labeled as sterile are expected to be free from viable microbial contamination throughout the product’s entire shelf life or dating period. For products labeled as sterile, they consider sterility to be a stability characteristic. As a result, the stability protocol should include confirmation of continuing sterility throughout the product’s shelf life or dating period. The minimum sterility testing generally performed as a component of the stability protocol for sterile products is at the initial time point (release) and final testing interval (i.e., expiration). Additional testing is often performed at appropriate intervals within this time period (e.g., annually). However, sterility tests for the purpose of demonstrating continuing sterility have limitations, with respect to the method’s reliability, accuracy, and the conclusions that may be derived from the results. Because of the limitations, sterility tests are not recommended as a component of a stability program for confirming the continued sterility throughout a product’s shelf life or dating period. Alternative methods may be more reliable in confirming the integrity of the container and closure system as a component of the stability protocol for sterile products. This guidance document provides information that the FDA recommends you consider when you propose using alternative methods to sterility testing to confirm the integrity of a container and closure system throughout the product’s shelf life or dating period. The recommendations in this guidance document apply to both pre- and post-approval stability protocols for sterile biological products, human and animal drugs, including investigational and bulk drugs. For medical devices, the recommendations in this guidance document apply to stability protocols for those devices labeled as sterile. The advantages of using container and closure system integrity tests in lieu of sterility tests in the stability protocol for sterile products include: Such alternate methods may detect a breach of the container and/or closure system prior to product contamination; Some of the alternate methods used to evaluate container and closure integrity can conserve samples that may be used for other stability tests; Alternative test methods may require less time than sterility test methods which require at least seven days incubation; and the potential for false positive results may be reduced with some alternative test methods when compared to sterility tests. The full report is at
http://www.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/contain.htm
New CDC study underscores impact of older adult falls About five percent of all people over age 65 had to see a healthcare provider or restrict their activity due to a fall during a three-month period, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An estimated 5.8 million adults over age 65 reported they fell at least once in the previous three months, and 1.8 million of them sought medical help or restricted their activity for at least a day, said the study in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. To estimate the frequency of a broad range of fall injuries, the researchers analyzed data from the CDC's 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. In an effort to improve recall accuracy, elders were asked if they had fallen and been injured within the previous three months. Researchers caution that this is a snapshot and should not be used to estimate the number of annual falls. Among other findings: No difference existed in the percentage of men and women who reported falling in the previous three months, but about 36 percent of women reported injuries compared to about 25 percent of men. American Indian/Alaska Natives reported the highest percentage of falls (28 percent). About 30 percent of people who fell reported sustaining an injury that led them to visit a healthcare provider or restrict their activity for at least a day. As the U.S. population ages, the problem of older adult falls is expected to increase. For communities, CDC has three resources that can help them develop effective fall prevention programs for seniors:Preventing Falls: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/preventingfalls CDC's work in preventing older adult falls: www.cdc.gov/injury. K-C has kicked off its "Not on My Watch" Prevention Campaign Kimberly-Clark has launched a strong "Not on My Watch" campaign against Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAI). They have created a unique bus tour which officially kicked-off in late February in Dallas, where its first stop was at Novation and VHA. More than 200 caregivers experienced the tour bus with 32 CE programs delivered during three sessions. Also attending were several senior vice presidents and vice presidents representing contract management and clinical safety. Kimberly-Clark’s HAI Education Bus, is a 45-foot long, mobile classroom outfitted for interactive training on effective ideas in HAI management and prevention. It will partner with hospitals around the country to facilitate continuing education based on the most current research in HAI prevention. The education programs offered are provided by K-C’s Knowledge Network. Ultimately the bus serves as a practical resource for helping busy healthcare professionals refresh their knowledge of techniques for addressing healthcare-associated infections ranging from surgical site infection to ventilator-associated pneumonia, at their hospital’s front door. The bus will visit 39 hospitals in eight months. The campaign will also
provide facilities with a toolkit containing the elements necessary to
implement an internal HAI campaign of their own as well as a robust website,
which features online resources and the success stories of HAI prevention
champions.
Cosmetic products may cause fatal infections in critically ill patients Healthy consumers can handle the low levels of bacteria occasionally found in cosmetics. But for severely ill patients these bacteria may trigger life-threatening infections, as patients in the intensive care unit at one Barcelona hospital discovered after using contaminated body moisturizer. The Burkholderia cepacia bacteria outbreak is detailed in the open access journal, Critical Care. Five patients suffered from infection including bacteremia, lower respiratory tract infection and urinary tract infection associated with the bacterial outbreak in August 2006. Skin care products sold in the European Union are not required to be sterile, but there are limits to the amount and type of bacteria that are permitted. Researchers tested a number of environmental samples, and discovered that moisturizing body milk used in the patients’ care was a B. cepacia reservoir. Tests on sealed containers of the moisturizer confirmed that the bacteria had not invaded the product after it had been opened, but that it was contaminated during manufacturing, transportation or storage. "This outbreak of nosocomial infection caused by B. cepacia in five severely ill patients supports a strong recommendation against the use cosmetic products for which there is no guarantee of sterilization during the manufacturing process," says study author Francisco Álvarez-Lerma. B. cepacia is a group or "complex" of bacteria that can be found in soil and water. They have a high resistance to numerous antimicrobials and antiseptics and are characterised by the capacity to survive in a large variety of hospital microenvironments. These bugs pose little medical risk to healthy people. However, those with weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases, particularly cystic fibrosis, may be more susceptible to B. cepacia infection. B cepacia is a known cause of hospital infections. In an unrelated study, scientists in Japan discovered a new species of bacteria that can live in hairspray. According to the results published in the March issue of the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. "Contamination of cosmetic products is rare but some products may be unable to suppress the growth of certain bacteria," says Dr. Bakir from the Japan Collection of Microorganisms, Saitama, Japan. SafetySurveillor continuously detects, monitors HAIs via Web-based application SafetySurveillor helps hospitals meet state-mandated public reporting of certain HAIs, including screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile, some of the most common and harmful infections found in hospitals today. With the automated SafetySurveillor system, hospitals can detect HAIs, alert staff and facilitate timely intervention to reduce and prevent infections. Premier’s SafetySurveillor is one of the HAI surveillance system software vendors participating in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention project to develop a standards-based solution for transmission of HAI data from hospitals using existing commercial software systems to the agency’s National Healthcare Safety Network.
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MAY 2008 AHRMM launches standards website MedAssets launches national vendor management program Survey queries ASCs on electronic documentation, reimbursement, revenue streams
Global medical nonwoven disposables market |
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AHRMM launches
standards website The Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) has launched a new micro Web site for healthcare providers, www.standards.ahrmm.org, focused on supply chain data standards. The Web site features GS1 standards – GLN, GTIN, and GDSN – that are used by 90 percent of the companies and organizations around the world, information on the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code (UNSPSC) and the Unique Device Identifier (UDI) program. It is a starting point for healthcare supply chain professionals to find basic information on data standards, answers to frequently asked questions, useful links, pilot reports and case studies and data exchange. "Using GS1 standards will help support industry-wide adoption of data standards in the healthcare supply chain and AHRMM is pleased to support this effort," said AHRMM Executive Director Deborah Sprindzunas. "The first step is for supply chain professionals to become educated about what the data standards are and how they will benefit you, your hospital, and contribute to patient safety and quality." GS1 is a non-profit organization that owns the data standards and promotes efficient data exchange for trading partners. GS1 is the parent company of GS1 Healthcare US. Healthcare providers may join GS1 Healthcare US online through AHRMM’s new standards Web site. MedAssets launches national vendor management program MedAssets has launched a vendor management program designed to help hospitals fully develop and implement vendor policies. This turn-key vendor management program, developed and launched by MedAssets’ Spend Management segment, will also help address regulatory demands by providing vendor credentialing services offered by REPtrax, the emerging national standard in vendor credentialing. Maureen Gender, president of the spend management segment, MedAssets Inc. said, "With the aid of over sixty healthcare systems from MedAssets Supply Chain Systems’ advisory committees, our team spent the last year developing a vendor management program. Vendor credentialing was included in the program because having an established standard was identified as providing very high value for both healthcare providers and suppliers. Providers gain one point of management for all vendor credentials for regulatory demands. Vendors through one point of management gain a single passport that is acceptable by a large and growing group of hospitals, rather than having to be credentialed by multiple programs. Key factors in selecting REPtrax included value proposition to hospitals, ability to address regulatory demands, low cost for vendors as well as fairness to the entire vendor population." The program will be managed by the Aspen Healthcare Metrics business unit. It will provide a suite of services including the creation and deployment of vendor credentials, focusing beyond just the actual documents, but into the hospital wide adoption and enforcement of these policies so that it becomes an integral part of the hospital’s culture. This consistent best practice approach will not only drive value to the hospital but to the vendor community as well. "The REPtrax platform is of no charge to the hospital, and vendors that join the REPtrax community can have the confidence that their universal membership will be valid for all REPtrax hospitals, very much like an electronic passport," said Peter Sheehan, Business Development for the REPtrax platform. www.medassets.com/EnterpriseSolutions/home.aspx.
Survey queries ASCs on electronic documentation, reimbursement, revenue streams Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) appear to face challenges, but see promise in the adoption of electronic documentation. According to an independent national survey of ASC administrators, 82 percent of ASCs do not use an Electronic Health Record (EHR), 85 percent use paper perioperative notes, and 74 percent use dictation and transcription for the generation of physician procedure notes. The study was commissioned by Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students. Wolters Kluwer Health provides electronic procedure documentation and patient charting solutions for hospitals and ASCs through its ProVation Medical brand. Forty-three percent of the administrators cite the following obstacles to electronically streamlining documentation: • Lack of interface with scheduling soft- ware and other existing systems • Lack of capital investment • Lack of software that will capture their patient mix • Lack of personnel to implement a new system. In addition, 49 percent have concerns revenue may be lost in the implementation process. Nearly one-fourth of the ASC administrators do not know their current per chart document management costs. Among those who are aware, 69 percent place this cost between $3.00 and $8.99. In the survey, 175 administrators considered these combined changes and estimated future revenue at their ASCs, making predictions based on full phase-in of the new reimbursement schedule. Forty-two percent of ASC administrators expect decreased revenue at their sites; of these administrators, 50 percent believe gastroenterology services will negatively impact revenue. Of those who anticipate increased revenue at their sites, 36 percent believe orthopedic services will have a positive effect on revenue.
Global medical nonwoven disposables market With increases in the range of infectious diseases and regulations put into effect in healthcare and hospital facilities, nonwovens has emerged as a goldmine for roll manufacturers fuelled by consumer demand. Nonwoven disposables are rapidly making inroads into the medical sector, principally driven by growing consumer awareness against spread of infectious diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis. The stringent standards being imposed by various regulatory agencies globally are also impacting the use of nonwovens positively. Though the medical market is increasingly moving towards non-invasive surgeries, overall impact on the nonwoven disposables market remains miniscule. The United States is the largest medical nonwovens market in the world and is projected to exceed $3.4 billion by the year 2010, as stated by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. With the volume of sophisticated hi-tech surgical intervention growing rapidly, Europe is projected to experience high growth in medical nonwovens sector in the coming years. Alternatively, Asia-Pacific offers massive potential in the long run largely driven by some of the fastest growing global economies, including China and India. Nonwoven disposables forms a part of a variety of medical applications, including the manufacture of surgical packs, sterilization packaging, protective footwear, facial masks, hospital beddings, linens, towels, drapes, gowns, and gloves among others. About 3.3 billion square yards of nonwoven material is used in medical and surgical applications in North America alone. This indicates the potential of the market lying ahead and opens up newer avenues for the producers. Among product segments, surgical nonwoven products market is the largest and the fastest growing segment and is projected to cross $5.0 billion by the year 2010. The report titled "Medical Nonwoven Disposables: A Global Strategic
Business Report" published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a
comprehensive review of market trends and issues, growth drivers,
demographic trends, product overview, product introductions/innovations, and
recent industry activity. Key players dominating the global medical nonwoven
disposables market include Ahlstrom Corporation, Asahi Kasei Corporation,
Attends Healthcare Products, Buckeye Technologies, Covidien, DUPONT,
Fiberweb Plc, Freudenberg Nonwovens, Hogy Medical, Kao Corporation,
Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Medline Industries, Mölnlycke Health Care,
Nissan Medical Industries, Polymer Group, Precision Fabrics Group, SCA
Novation launches MRSA program to help combat infection Novation, the health care contracting services company of VHA Inc., University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) and Provista, LLC, announced that it has launched an awareness program to fight methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA). Novation’s MRSA Solutions Set is a comprehensive online resource program that provides health care workers with solutions through Novation’s extensive portfolio to prevent, detect and treat the infection. The program is designed to be a one-stop, all-inclusive repository of Novation contracts, supplier resources, and clinical guidelines. The resource is part of a larger Infection Control portfolio which provides support for members in their fight against all hospital-acquired infections (HAI’s). The MRSA Web portal provides health care personnel: "MRSA Clinical Encounter" – a virtual tour of six different hospital rooms that indicates where transmission of MRSA most often occurs; Links to contracted products that offer assistance with preventing, detecting or treating MRSA; Links to supplier educational programs that assist members in understanding more about MRSA and hospital-acquired infections; Access to accepted procedures or guidelines. Most of the products in the infection control portfolio are available through standardization programs or as NOVAPLUS branded products, which ensures members can accommodate their infection control needs while achieving cost savings. For more information visit: www.novationco.com. McKesson acquires Rosebud Solutions McKesson Corporation announced it has acquired Rosebud Solutions, LLC, a provider of software solutions to track and manage instruments, endoscopes and tissue implants for surgical services, as well as medical crash carts and mobile equipment. The Rosebud Solutions portfolio is designed to create efficient and responsible workflow processes in the surgical, central services and sterile processing departments to help hospitals improve patient care, reduce surgical delays and costs and save staff time. The Rosebud Solutions software set helps central services/sterile processing departments and surgical services electronically manage, track and reduce costly waste for thousands of expensive surgical trays and instruments that are used in several locations throughout the hospital. The solutions also help hospitals manage regulatory requirements for safe tissue and implant management. For instance, surgical managers can determine the tissue implant inventory on-hand and expirations and in turn, they can record proper storage and reconstitution of these implants required by the Joint Commission. With the addition of Rosebud Solutions, McKesson’s surgical suite seeks to meet the growing demands of the perioperative,anesthesia and central services areas. The acquisition also expands McKesson’s materials management solution with mobile medical equipment and tray management and tracking capabilities. Comprising integrated scheduling, perioperative charting, anesthesia management and instrument and tissue tracking.
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JUNE 2008
Are you ready for the
3 "G’s"?
Kimberly-Clark Health Care and 3M join forces to empower central
sterilization personnel
MedAssets to acquire Accuro Healthcare Solutions CMS proposes more accurate payment rates for Medicare skilled nursing facilities Medicare costs estimated to top $21.1 billion for 5 years of care for elderly cancer patients |
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Are you ready for the 3 "G’s"? AHRMM will be hosting GS1sessions at the AHRMM Annual Conference. The sessions will take place; Monday, July 21; Learning Lab 1 - 2:45 pm – 4:00 pm; Learning Lab 2 - 4:15 pm – 5:30 pm: Tuesday, July 22; Learning Lab 3 - 1:45 pm – 3:00 pm ;Learning Lab 4 - 3:15 pm – 4:30 pm. For information on the conference, visit http://www.ahrmm.org/ahrmm/conference/annualconf08/ AHRMM has endorsed the use of GS1 GLN (accurate location identification), GTIN (accurate product identification), and GDSN (accurate data) can help deliver the right product, to the right patient, at the right time. The 3 "G’s" are the foundation of the GS1 System of global supply chain standards that have delivered proven results for over 30 years in other industries. The healthcare industry movement to GS1 standards has begun – are you ready? Learn how these standards can help you and your company improve patient safety, and at the same time improve supply chain efficiency. Presented by GS1 Healthcare US experts, this how-to session provides an overview of the standards, benefits to be gained, and a tool kit to help you get started. GS1 is a non-profit organization that owns the data standards and promotes efficient data exchange for trading partners. GS1 is the parent company of GS1 Healthcare. U.S. Healthcare providers may join GS1 Healthcare US online through AHRMM’s new standards Web site. http://www.ahrmm.org/ahrmm_app/ext/standards/. Kimberly-Clark Health Care and 3M join forces to empower central sterilization personnel Kimberly-Clark Health Care and 3M Health Care announced the formation of a collaborative effort to empower Central Sterilization (CS) personnel in America’s hospitals. Designed to generate awareness and appreciation within hospitals for the CS department’s critical role in the prevention of hospital-associated infections. The "I Am Central" campaign was unveiled at the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) conference held May 3 – 7 in Reno, NV. Kimberly-Clark and 3M will provide participating hospitals with a campaign toolkit which contains educational information, brochures, posters and Post-it notes, all branded with the "I Am Central" theme. Hospitals are encouraged to kick-off an internal campaign to foster awareness about the importance and impact of the CS department within a medical facility. CS personnel can learn more about the "I Am Central" campaign and request a toolkit by calling their Kimberly-Clark or 3M sales representatives. For more information, contact Kimberly-Clark at www.kchealthcare.com or 1-800-742-1996 and 3M at www.3m.com/infectionprevention or 1-800-228-3957. MedAssets to acquire Accuro Healthcare Solutions MedAssets Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Accuro Healthcare Solutions, Inc., a provider of revenue cycle management (RCM) solutions focused on delivering tangible financial improvement to hospitals and other healthcare providers. MedAssets believes this acquisition will expand its leadership position in hospital-based revenue cycle management by creating a broader and more comprehensive suite of RCM ASP-based software and service solutions. The combination of MedAssets and Accuro creates a healthcare ASP-based technology and services provider with 2007 pro forma net revenue of approximately $278 million and pro forma adjusted EBITDA of approximately $87 million. The combination of MedAssets and Accuro is highly complementary from a product offering perspective and will present strategic benefits for MedAssets’ customers and shareholders given the following: A comprehensive, best-of-breed suite of RCM solutions from a single strategic provider with great depth of knowledge to solve meaningful revenue cycle and spend management issues; a quantifiable value proposition with products and services that deliver near-term financial ROI with minimal or no capital expenditure to the customer; an expanded customer footprint that achieves critical mass and offers additional opportunity to grow market share by leveraging MedAssets’ national sales organization and leadership position; and a commitment to invest in the development, integration and introduction of innovative solutions that deliver increasing value to help improve the financial success of healthcare providers. CMS proposes more accurate payment rates for Medicare skilled nursing facilities The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced its proposal for new, more accurate fiscal year (FY) 2009 payment rates for Medicare skilled nursing facilities that more closely reflect differences in patient care needs. Medicare pays skilled nursing facilities on a prospective payment system known as the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS). The SNF PPS uses a resource classification known as Resource Utilization Groups (RUGs) to help determine a daily payment rate. The RUGs reflect a patient’s severity of illness and the kind of services that a person requires, something known as "case-mix." CMS is now proposing to recalibrate the case-mix weights in order to reestablish budget neutrality on a prospective basis. CMS is also proposing to recalibrate the second part of the refinement package that accounted for the use of non-therapy ancillary services. In this manner, payments going forward would reflect the intent of the refinements, and payments to providers would more accurately and better reflect the service needs of Medicare beneficiaries. The proposed FY 2009 recalibration of these adjustments would result in a reduction in payments to nursing homes of $770 million, or 3.3 percent. However, this decrease would be largely offset by this fiscal year’s proposed update to Medicare payments to skilled nursing facilities. For more information, http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/snf.asp. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until June 30, 2008. Medicare costs estimated to top $21.1 billion for 5 years of care for elderly cancer patients The cost of cancer care for elderly Medicare patients varies by tumor type, stage at diagnosis, phase of care, and survival, according to a new study published online April 29 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The 5-year cost is highest for patients with lung, colorectal, and prostate cancers. The estimated cost for 5 years of care for elderly Medicare patients diagnosed with cancer in 2004 is $21.1 billion. Cost estimates for cancer care are useful for the development and implementation of national cancer programs and policies. As the United States population expands and ages, the incidence of cancer and its associated costs are expected to rise. To estimate the cost of cancer care in the U.S., Robin Yabroff, Ph.D., of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., and colleagues used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) and SEER-linked Medicare files to identify 718,907 cancer patients and 1,623,651 control subjects without cancer. The team subtracted the Medicare expenses for matched control subjects from the Medicare expenses for individuals diagnosed with cancer. The balance was the estimated net cost of cancer care per individual. The mean net 5-year costs of care for elderly individuals varied widely, from less than $20,000 for patients with breast cancer or melanoma to more than $40,000 for patients with lymphoma, brain or other nervous system cancers, or cancers of the esophagus, ovaries, or stomach. Across all cancers, mean net costs were highest in the first 12 months of care and the last 12 months of life, and lowest in the period between the initial phase of care and last year of life. Physician compensation survey shows gender gap in earnings A compensation survey was sent to thousands of physicians practicing in major medical specialties throughout the United States by Jackson & Coker, a physician-staffing firm headquartered in Alpharetta, GA. The 943 respondents serve in private practice, prominent hospitals, single- and multi-specialty groups, and with large integrated health systems. Participants answered 24 key questions related to trends in physician compensation, their satisfaction with current earnings and reimbursement levels, and other aspects of the practice of medicine that have a bearing on their financial situation. The majority of all survey respondents were board certified (84%) and in practice ten years or longer (64%). The gender ratio of respondents: males (78%) and females (22%).The survey revealed stark differences in compensation related to medical specialty. Respondents were asked to state their current compensation. Unlike most physician compensation surveys, Jackson & Coker’s 2008 Physician Compensation Survey differentiated between responses of males versus females, leading to some interesting observations. Family Practice, which has always attracted females, showed a notable gender gap in earnings. In the lowest earnings category, most females (49%) and males (40%) indicated earning from $101,001 to $150,000. Both genders were even (23%) with regard to compensation in the $150,001 to $200,000 category. However, 6% of males (and no females) reported income at or above $300,001. OB/GYN is a medical specialty that is attracting female physicians, according to recent studies. Fifty-three percent of female physicians earn from $100,001 to $200,000. On the other end, 55% of male OB/GYN doctors earn between $150,001 and $250,000. Dermatologists’ compensation also showed a general difference. Female Dermatologists topped out at $250,000, whereas 17% of their male counterparts reported earnings in the range of $500,001 to $550,000. Female Anesthesiologists (43%) stated compensation in the $300,001 to $350,000 range, but not higher. Most male Anesthesiologists (14%) were in this earning category; yet nearly 20% indicated earnings in the $400,001 to $450,000 range. Nearly two percent of male MD’s reported earnings approaching $750,000. The surgical specialties attract more males and offer them greater compensation, by and large. A sizeable percentage of female Thoracic Surgeons reported earnings between $200,001 and $350,000. By contrast, 43% of their male counterparts reported earnings in excess of $450,000 to $1,000,000. Compensation disparity is also associated with Orthopedic Surgery. Fifty percent of female Orthopedists earn between $400,000 and $500,000. Only 15% of males fall into this category. However, almost one fourth of male Orthopedists earn between $500,000 and $1,000,000. One of the most interesting findings concerns General Radiology. The majority of females placed themselves in the compensation range of $300,001 to $350,000. Male Radiologists’ compensation ranged from almost 5% earning $150,000 or less, to an equal percentage earning over $700,000. The highest percentage of earnings for males (24%) was in the category of $350,001 to $400,000. The entire survey results are available in the Jackson &
Coker
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Medicare announces winning suppliers selected for equipment competitive bidding FDA addresses shortcomings in its foreign inspection program SPHERE collaborative designed to reduce healthcare’s carbon footprint Cases of recreational water illnesses on the rise SMI supports GS1 US standards and adoption alignment
Broadlane collaborates to improve healthcare conditions in developing
countries |
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Medicare announces winning suppliers selected for equipment competitive bidding The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the names of the 325 suppliers that have signed contracts with Medicare to provide certain medical equipment and supplies to beneficiaries in 10 communities across the U.S. at significantly lower prices than they are paying now. The new competitive bidding program goes into effect on July 1, 2008, in 10 communities. This program uses the local, competitive marketplace to lower the costs for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) for Medicare beneficiaries who use Medicare-contracted suppliers to obtain medical items and supplies. Because beneficiaries pay 20 percent coinsurance on the cost of DMEPOS, they will directly benefit from the savings. Based on bids submitted by these suppliers, beneficiaries and Medicare will see prices, on average, 26 percent lower than Medicare currently pays for the same items. CMS offered contracts to 23 percent of suppliers that submitted bids. These suppliers were in the winning price range and met quality and financial standards and disclosure requirements. Consumers, physicians and other providers can find a list of Medicare contract suppliers in the 10 initial areas of the program by visiting www.medicare.gov (under "Search Tools" select "Find Suppliers of Medical Equipment in Your Area) or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048). Additional information on the DMEPOS competitive bidding program is available at www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid FDA addresses shortcomings in its foreign inspection program FDA faces challenges managing its program to inspect foreign establishments that manufacture medical devices. GAO testified in January 2008 that two databases that provide FDA with information about foreign medical device establishments and the products they manufacture for the U.S. market contained inaccurate information about establishments subject to FDA inspection. In addition, comparisons between these databases—which could help produce a more accurate count—had to be done manually. Recent changes FDA made to its registration database could improve the accuracy of the count of establishments, but it is too soon to tell whether these and other changes will improve FDA’s management of its foreign inspection program. Another challenge is that FDA conducts relatively few inspections of foreign establishments; officials estimated that the agency inspects foreign manufacturers of high-risk devices (such as pacemakers) every 6 years and foreign manufacturers of medium-risk devices (such as hearing aids) every 27 years. Finally, inspections of foreign manufacturers pose unique challenges to FDA, such as difficulties in recruiting investigators to travel to certain countries and in extending trips if the inspections uncovered problems. FDA is pursuing initiatives that could address some of these unique challenges, but it is unclear whether FDA’s proposals will increase the frequency with which the agency inspects foreign establishments. Few inspections of foreign medical device manufacturing establishments have been conducted through FDA’s two accredited third-party inspection programs—the Accredited Persons Inspection Program and the Pilot Multi-purpose Audit Program (PMAP). Under FDA’s Accredited Persons Inspection Program, from March 11, 2004—the date when FDA first cleared an accredited organization to conduct independent inspections—through May 7, 2008, four inspections of foreign establishments had been conducted by accredited organizations. An incentive to participation in the program is the opportunity to reduce the number of inspections conducted to meet FDA’s and other countries’ requirements. Disincentives include bearing the cost for the inspection, particularly when the consequences of an inspection that otherwise might not occur in the near future could involve regulatory action. The small number of inspections completed to date by
accredited third-party organizations raises questions about the practicality
and effectiveness of these programs to quickly help FDA increase the number
of foreign establishments inspected.
SPHERE collaborative designed to reduce healthcare’s carbon footprint The Premier healthcare alliance has announced a climate and energy collaborative focused on reducing the healthcare industry’s carbon footprint. SPHERE – Securing Proven Healthcare Energy Reduction (for the) Ecosystem – will build on Premier’s environmental leadership and commitment to a healthy environment, focusing on reducing industry energy costs and greenhouse emissions. Healthcare ranks as the country’s second most energy intensive industry, spending more than $6.5 billion each year while experiencing double-digit cost increases. Volatile energy prices are diverting money needed for critical healthcare quality and safety improvements. Hospitals are the sector’s largest energy consumer and producer of greenhouse gases (GHG). The industry’s reliance on non-renewable energy sources contributes to the emission of GHG, driving climate change and impacting public health from air pollution. SPHERE’S primary goals are to help alliance members reach measurable targets to: reduce energy cost; reduce overall energy usage and GHG emissions. SPHERE will enable Premier members to support patient and public health through cost-effective, environmentally sensitive energy procurement, use and management practices. It will also bring hospitals together to share best practices and benchmark their energy use. As part of SPHERE, Premier will collaborate with Practice Greenhealth, a new non-profit organization and successor to Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E), Green Guide for Health Care and Healthcare Clean Energy Exchange to lead the first large-scale, healthcare reverse auction for energy. The healthcare focused, Web-based, electronic energy auction establishes competition among energy suppliers to reduce prices of energy and environmental commodities enabling hospitals to lock in more stable pricing and increase their percentage of green/renewable energy purchases. For more information regarding SPHERE, please visit www.premierinc.com/sphere. Cases of recreational water illnesses on the rise Cryptosporidiosis or Crypto, a chlorine-resistant parasite, is likely to pose an even bigger challenge in the future. More recreational water illnesses (RWI) outbreaks were reported in 2007 than ever before, and the numbers could increase in the coming years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). RWIs are illnesses that are spread by swallowing, breathing, or having contact with germs in the water of swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers, or oceans. "The leading cause of RWI outbreaks is Cryptosporidium or Crypto, a chlorine-resistant parasite, primarily associated with treated swimming places, such as pools and water parks," explained Michele Hlavsa, an epidemiologist at the CDC. During 2004-2007, the number of Crypto cases tripled. At the same time, the number of Crypto outbreaks linked to swimming pools more than doubled. Because Crypto is chlorine resistant, even a well-maintained pool can transmit this parasite. "People need to practice healthy swimming habits, such as not swimming when they have diarrhea, not swallowing the water, taking a shower before swimming, washing their hands after using the toilet or changing diapers, and washing their children thoroughly, especially their bottoms, with soap and water before swimming. To prevent outbreaks, we encourage pool operators to add supplemental disinfection to conventional chlorination and filtration methods," adds Hlavsa. Symptoms generally begin two to 10 days (average seven days)
after becoming infected with the parasite. Crypto is characterized by watery
diarrhea lasting one to three weeks. It can be spread by swallowing
recreational water contaminated with Crypto or by putting something in your
mouth or accidentally swallowing something that has come in contact with the
stool of a person or infected animal. Other symptoms include stomach cramps
or pain, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, fever, and weight loss. For more
information, check your state’s Web site at
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/state.htm.
SMI supports GS1 US standards and adoption alignment The Strategic Marketplace Initiative (SMI), a non-profit organization comprised of senior executives from 35 IDNs and 36 healthcare suppliers and service companies, announced their support for the recent industry alignment efforts behind GS1 US and the GS1 set of data standards. SMI, a founding member of the Healthcare Supply Chain Standards Coalition (HSCSC), has actively supported efforts to unify healthcare supply chain stakeholders behind a common set of data standards with a common implementation effort. The HSCSC recently announced unification with the GS1 US Healthcare adoption effort, following their 2007 recommendation for industry adoption of GS1 data standards. "The industry’s alignment with GS1 US, combined with the resources, guidance, and experience of the GS1 US professionals, helps position the healthcare supply chain as never before for the actual adoption of common global data standards," said Carl Manley, SMI’s Chairman of the Board and Vice President of Supply Chain at Sentara Health. "It is now the time for action," continued Manley. "Through industry adoption of the Global Location Number (GLN) and Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), progress can be made to achieve a safer, more efficient supply chain." For the last three years, SMI’s members have actively supported HSCSC data standards efforts, creating standards "early adopter" workgroups, assuming leadership positions, and educating members. "One primary challenge has been the industry’s fragmentation of efforts and resources," said Tom Hughes, Executive Director of SMI. "With GS1 US’s dedicated professional staff resources, industry adoption efforts are expected to accelerate." At the recent SMI Forum in Orlando, Dennis Harrison, President of GS1 US Healthcare, introduced SMI members to the GS1 organization, explaining GS1’s organization both globally and here in the United States. SMI’s Early Adopter Workgroups also met to review progress and lay the groundwork for their involvement with the GS1 US Committees. GS1 is a non-profit organization that owns the data standards and promotes efficient data exchange for trading partners. Healthcare providers may join GS1 Healthcare US online through AHRMM’s new standards website at: www.standards.ahrmm.org. Broadlane collaborates to improve healthcare conditions in developing countries Broadlane announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement with MediSend International, a Dallas-based non-profit humanitarian organization, to support MediSend’s mission of improving healthcare systems in developing countries through sustainable programs in education and the distribution of desperately needed medical supplies and biomedical equipment. Under this agreement, Broadlane will actively work with its suppliers and clients – acute care hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, physician practices and other healthcare providers – to donate new medical supplies, equipment and biomedical equipment to MediSend’s global healthcare initiatives. 
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AUGUST 2008
CMS proposes quality improvements for hospital outpatient
Broadlane announces majority investment by Being an MRSA carrier increases risk of infection and death
Third year of groundbreaking Medicare value-based purchasing demonstration
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CMS proposes quality improvements for hospital outpatient and ASCs for 2009 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that will update payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2009 and improve quality of services provided in hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). The proposed rule builds on efforts across Medicare to transform the program into a prudent purchaser of healthcare services, paying based on quality of care, not just quantity of services. The proposed rule will update rates paid under both the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and the ASC Prospective Payment System (ASC PPS). The proposed rule includes a 3.0 percent annual inflation update to Medicare payment rates for most services that would be paid under the OPPS to more than 4,000 hospitals and community mental health centers in CY 2009. The proposed changes would affect outpatient services furnished by general acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, inpatient psychiatric facilities, long-term acute care hospitals, community mental health centers, children’s hospitals, and cancer hospitals. CMS projects that hospitals would receive $28.7 billion in CY 2009 for outpatient services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries. Furthermore, CMS expects to make payments of almost $3.9 billion in CY 2009 to the approximately 5,300 ASCs that participate in Medicare. In the past, the increase in Medicare’s payment for outpatient services has not been specifically tied to the quality of healthcare. The law now requires that the annual OPPS payment inflation update be reduced by 2.0 percentage points for hospitals that do not meet quality reporting requirements. In order to receive the full OPPS payment update for services furnished in CY 2009, hospitals must report data in CY 2008 on seven quality measures of emergency department and perioperative surgical care. CMS is proposing to add four new measures of imaging efficiency to the seven existing quality measures for purposes of the CY 2010 update. CMS is also seeking public comment on eighteen additional potential quality measures in areas ranging from screening for fall risk to cancer care that are under consideration for future years. CMS is also encouraging greater efficiency by changing how it pays for imaging services when multiple services are provided in one session. Under the proposal, CMS would make a single payment for multiple services of a particular type (such as multiple ultrasound procedures) performed in a single hospital session. In addition to ultrasound, CMS is proposing to apply this policy to computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging services. CMS is also proposing changes to the hospital Medicare cost report to improve the accuracy of future cost estimates used to determine payment for drugs and biologicals. Under the proposed rule, the amount beneficiaries will pay for outpatient services would continue to decline based on a formula in the Medicare law that is designed to provide a gradual transition to 20 percent coinsurance. For more information on the CY
2009 proposals for the
Broadlane announces majority investment by Broadlane has announced that TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P., a private equity firm based in New York and London, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority interest in the company. Under terms of the agreement, Broadlane’s senior management team will continue to retain a significant ownership interest in the company. Terms were undisclosed and completion of the transaction, which remains subject to approval by regulatory authorities and other closing conditions, is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2008. Broadlane’s chairman and chief executive officer Charles E. Saunders, M.D., who has been with the company since 2003, has announced that he will step down from his current position upon the closing of the transaction. David C. Ricker, Broadlane’s founder, president and chief operating officer, will succeed Dr. Saunders as Broadlane’s chief executive officer. In addition, a new fully-independent board of directors will be named following the completion of the transaction. Furthermore, upon successful completion of the transaction, Tenet Healthcare will no longer maintain an ownership interest in the company, but will remain a Broadlane client. TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P. is a private equity firm with in excess of $3.5 billion of capital management. For more information, visit www.broadlane.com. Being an MRSA carrier increases risk of infection and death Patients harboring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for long periods of time continue to be at increased risk of MRSA infection and death, according to a new study in the July 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. MRSA is an antibiotic-resistant bacterium that can cause a variety of serious infections. The bacterium most commonly colonizes the nostrils, although it can be found in other body sites. Most research has focused on people who are newly colonized by the bacteria and has found that they are at substantial risk of subsequent infections. The new study shows that the increased risk of infection continues, with almost a quarter of MRSA-colonized patients developing infections after a year or more has passed since the colonization was confirmed. The infections include pneumonia and bloodstream events, and some infections were linked to deaths. "Since infection risk remains substantial among long-term carriers of MRSA, these patients should be targeted for interventions to reduce subsequent risk of infection along with patients who newly acquire MRSA," said author Susan Huang, MD, MPH. The researchers showed that one-third of new MRSA carriers in a large tertiary care medical center developed infections within the year following the first detection of colonization. But, as Dr. Huang points out, "risks beyond the first year of carriage were largely unknown." In this study, Dr. Huang and coauthor Rupak Datta, MPH, followed 281 patients who had been MRSA-positive for at least one year and some for more than four years. Of these, 23 percent developed a MRSA infection within the year-long duration of this study. Pneumonia was the most common infection. MRSA was identified as a contributor to the deaths of 14 of the patients. In their paper, the authors suggest that the MRSA infection risk may be more closely tied to a hospitalization event than to the duration of carriage. Third year of groundbreaking Medicare value-based purchasing demonstration The latest results of the Premier Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration (HQID) show dramatic across-the-board improvement in the performance of participating hospitals. Launched in October 2003 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Premier Inc. Healthcare Alliance, HQID involves about 250 hospitals in 36 states. The demonstration was designed to test new payment systems under Medicare that would improve the safety, quality and efficiency of care delivered in the nation’s hospitals. The outcomes from the third year of this demonstration provide yet even more evidence that paying for performance in health care in these innovative Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) initiatives can dramatically improve the quality of health care delivered to hospital patients. Individual hospital improvements are striking. Fifteen hospitals moved from "worst to first" rankings, moving from the bottom to the top fifth of hospitals in one or more clinical areas. These hospitals improved by an average 32.6 percentage points in quality scores over three years.For more information on the measures, go to: www.qualitydemo.com HPN The top-performing 112 hospitals earned a total of $7.0 million in incentive payments for substantial and continual advancement in quality of care. For the third year of HQID, Sacred Heart Medical Center, in Spokane, WA, received the highest clinical areas. CMS has awarded more than $24.5 million over the first three years of the project. The quality incentive payment of $385,342 for achieving top performance in four of the five HQID project was extended by CMS for an additional three years through September 2009. For complete information about the HQID project and to view a list of those hospitals ranking in the top 50 percent in each focus area, visit www.cms.hhs.gov/HospitalQualityInits.
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SEPTEMBER 2008 MEDICA 2008 entrance passes allow free public transportation AACN launches upgrade to critical care orientation e-learning course Bariatric patients have 65% lower chance of complications at top hospitals Novation issues online Environmentally Preferred Purchasing product catalog Hospitals in Texas, Florida and New York set pace for improved performance 82 percent of Americans think healthcare system needs major overhaul |
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MEDICA 2008 entrance passes allow free public transportation MEDICA 2008, 40th International Trade Fair with Congress - World Forum for Medicine, visitor, exhibitor and press entrance passes will again allow free use of all public transportation within Düsseldorf and neighboring cities on all days of the show. MEDICA 2008 will take place from November 19 – 22, 2008 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany. Over 4,000 exhibitors and 137,000 visitors from around the world are expected to take part in MEDICA 2008. Products exhibited include: electromedical equipment and medical technology; laboratory equipment; rescue and emergency equipment; diagnostics; pharmaceuticals; physiotherapy and orthopedic technology; single-use products and consumer goods; communication and information technology; facility management; clothing; medical furniture and equipment; building technology; and services. The U.S. Pavilions at MEDICA 2008 will be organized by Messe Düsseldorf North America, the U.S. subsidiary of the show’s organizer Messe Düsseldorf. In one of the U.S. Pavilions, laboratory equipment, reagents, invitro/invivo diagnostics, devices, systems and pharmaceuticals will be presented while the other Pavilion will feature medical technology and electromedical equipment. Messe Düsseldorf North America helps participants in making all overseas arrangements, from customs clearance and freight forwarding to travel arrangements and hotel accommodations in Düsseldorf. For more information, visit www.mdna.com or www.medica.de AACN launches upgrade to critical care orientation e-learning course AACN has announced the launch of a major upgrade to the Essentials of Critical Care Orientation (ECCO). This proprietary e-learning program has become the gold standard in Web-based critical care education. ECCO 2.0 is a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of critical care nursing, providing the theoretical foundation necessary to care for critically ill patients. ECCO 2.0 is an interactive Internet-based program that can be accessed anytime, anyplace, offering an affordable orientation solution for nurses who wish to practice in the critical care environment. Experts in nursing and nursing education designed the content utilizing the most current adult learning theories. ECCO provides a total of 69 hours of CE credit and is composed of 10 learning modules, organized using a body systems approach: Modules are comprised of multiple lessons that provide in-depth, interactive content with rich graphics and illustrations that keep learners engaged. Each module addresses the anatomy and physiology of the body system, relevant diagnostic information, and the clinical presentation and management of common disorders for each of the body systems. For more information on ECCO 2.0 and other AACN E-Learning,
please call (800) 899-2226 or go to
www.aacn.org/e-learning.
Bariatric patients have 65% lower chance of complications at top hospitals Bariatric surgery patients treated at highly rated hospitals have, on average, a 65 percent lower chance of experiencing serious complications compared to patients who undergo surgery at poorly rated hospitals according to a study released by HealthGrades, an independent healthcare ratings organization. HealthGrades’ third annual Bariatric Surgery Trends in American Hospitals study, which evaluated bariatric surgical outcomes at every hospital that performed them in 17 states, also found that the complication rate for these surgeries continues to rise, increasing six percent from 2004 to 2006. One possible reason: lower volume facilities have higher complication rates. Complications associated with gastric bypass surgery accounted for the highest rise in complications, increasing 17 percent. Comparatively, complications from less invasive laparoscopic surgery increased by just more than one percent. Complications associated with bariatric surgery include heart attack, kidney failure, stroke and post-surgical infections. From 2004 through 2006, open gastric bypass procedures declined by 81.82 percent while during the same time period laparoscopic procedures increased 418.86 percent. Meanwhile, the total volume of bariatric surgical procedures in the U.S. continues to grow rapidly. The American Society for Bariatric Surgery estimates that such surgeries have increased 1,431 percent in the last decade to more than 250,000 annually. Additionally, the study found that a typical patient having a bariatric surgical procedure at a five-star rated hospital in one of the 17 states studied has on average, a 65 percent lower chance of experiencing one or more inhospital complications than at a one-star rated hospital and a 41 percent lower chance than at a three-star rated hospital during 2004- 2006. In addition to the free hospital-quality ratings, Web site visitors can also research surgeons who perform bariatric surgery as well as medical-cost reports that detail all of the costs, including out-of-pocket expenses, for the procedure. The full study and individual hospital ratings for bariatric surgery and other procedures can be found at www.healthgrades.com. Novation issues online Environmentally Preferred Purchasing product catalog Novation is developing an Environmentally Preferred
Purchasing (EPP) product online catalog. With nearly 300 products and
growing, the new catalog aims to assist members in achieving green
purchasing objectives in specific functional areas. The catalog is organized
by traditional healthcare organization service areas such as, anesthesia,
facilities, food, furniture, medical and surgical. Products and services are
highlighted within the catalog with descriptions of their environmental
benefit and product images.The Environmental Benefit section offers buyers
extended information about why the product is an EPP product. The EPP
catalog lists products that offer green benefits and are available for
purchase at Novation contract pricing. The online catalog will be available
through
www.novationco.com.
Hospitals in Texas, Florida and New York set pace for improved performance Thomson Reuters has released its annual study identifying hospitals that demonstrated the fastest, most consistent improvement in the nation over five consecutive years. Nine of the 100 leading hospitals are in Texas. Florida and New York are each home to eight, and Pennsylvania boasts seven. Kentucky and Tennessee each have six winning hospitals, and California and Michigan have five apiece. Overall, U.S. hospitals struggled to improve their performance from 2002 to 2006, the period covered by the study, but the winning hospitals illustrate that rapid, across-the-board improvement is attainable. The study — Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals: Performance Improvement Leaders, 5th Edition — examined the performance of more than 2,800 U.S. hospitals on a variety of clinical, financial, operational and patient safety criteria to identify the 100 winners. The hospital assessment project, which dates back to 1993, was formerly called the Solucient 100 Top Hospitals program. The study rated hospitals on eight factors: patient mortality, medical complications, patient safety, length of stay, expenses, profitability, cash-to-debt ratio, and use of evidence-based medicine. Researchers evaluated 2,867 short-term, acute care, non-federal hospitals grouped into five categories: major teaching hospitals, other teaching hospitals, large community hospitals, medium-sized community hospitals, and small community hospitals. The study analyzed publicly available Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review data, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Hospital Compare data set. It found that the 100 Top Hospitals Performance Improvement Leaders, went from having more patient deaths and adverse safety events than expected to fewer than expected; increased expenses only 2.5 percent during the five-year study period, on average, compared with a 17.4 percent increase among their peer hospitals; increased profit margin from less than 1 percent to 6.9 percent; reduced average length of stay by nearly a day, despite greater severity of illness. The vast majority of peer hospitals, however, showed appreciable improvement in only three categories — mortality, length of stay, and patient safety. More than half of the hospitals studied had improved survival rates (lower mortality indices), and one-third decreased their average patient stay. Fourteen percent of all hospitals showed significant improvement on the majority of patient safety measures studied. For the remainder of the measures, the majority of peer hospitals had no statistically significant change in performance. Financially, most hospitals were treading water — 84 percent showed no marked change in profitability and 77 percent showed no change in cash position. Two-thirds of the hospitals did not significantly decrease their expense per adjusted discharge, and the other third saw an increase in expense per discharge. View a list of the winning hospitals by category. 82 percent of Americans think healthcare system needs major overhaul Americans are dissatisfied with the U.S. healthcare system and 82 percent think it should be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt, according to a new survey released by The Commonwealth Fund. The Commonwealth Fund Commission on A High Performance Health System released a report outlining what an ideally organized U.S. healthcare system would look like, and detailing strategies that could create that organized, efficient healthcare system while simultaneously improving care and cutting costs. The survey of more than 1,000 adults was conducted by Harris Interactive in May 2008; and the vast majority of those surveyed, nine out of ten, felt it was important that the two leading presidential candidates propose reform plans that would improve healthcare quality, ensure that all Americans can afford healthcare and insurance, and decrease the number of uninsured. One in three adults report their doctors ordered a test that had already been done or recommended unnecessary treatment or care in the past two years. Adults across all income groups reported experiencing inefficient care. And, eight in ten adults across income groups supported efforts to improve the health system’s performance with respect to access, quality and cost. The survey, Public Views on U.S. Health Care System Organization: A Call for New Directions, found that, in addition to respondents’ overall dissatisfaction with the healthcare system, people are frustrated with the way they currently get healthcare. In fact, 47 percent of patients experienced poorly coordinated medical care in the past two years, meaning that they were not informed about medical test results or had to call repeatedly to get them, important medical information wasn’t shared between doctors and nurses, or communication between primary care doctors and specialists was poor. Respondents pointed out the need for a more cohesive care system. For the complete report visit
www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/
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Supply chain ‘hall of fame’ inducts nine Top US healthcare organizations announce compendium of strategies to prevent deadly HAIs HHS announces physical activity guidelines for Americans ASHES announces re-election of President Cermignano |
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Supply chain ‘hall of
fame’ inducts nine Bellwether League Inc., the Schaumburg, IL-based healthcare supply chain "hall of fame," inducted its first group of industry pioneers at its inaugural Honoree Induction Dinner in Chicago. Nine supply chain innovators were honored for their achievements and vision during a ceremony Tuesday, October 28, at the Renaissance Chicago O’Hare Suites Hotel. BLI’s nine honorees for 2008 are the late Dean S. Ammer, Ph.D., Lee C. Boergadine, Gene D. Burton, Charles E. Housley, Thomas W. Kelly, William J. McFaul, Tom Pirelli, Donald J. Siegle and Alex J. Vallas. Each recipient’s bellwether profile can be found on Bellwether League Inc.’s website. Bellwether League Inc. also recognized and highlighted its 2008 founding sponsors, leading companies that represent the key segments within supply chain management – manufacturing, distribution, group purchasing and cost management services. They are Owens & Minor Inc., Hospira, Premier Purchasing Partners L.P., Kimberly-Clark Health Care and MedAssets. For more information, visit Bellwether League Inc.’s website at www.bellwetherleague.org. Top US healthcare organizations announce compendium of strategies to prevent deadly HAIs The Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals was produced by SHEA and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), in partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA); the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology Inc. (APIC); and The Joint Commission, which accredits more than 15,000 U.S. healthcare organizations. Infection control experts at SHEA and IDSA will assume responsibility for updating these strategies as science evolves. With the support or endorsement of an additional 29 healthcare organizations, the Compendium is a good starting point for addressing this critical public health issue before it worsens. "In developing these strategies, we looked at all existing HAI guidelines and literature to create recommendations that are understandable, easy-to-use and stress accountability," said David Classen, M.D., IDSA spokesperson and co-author of the strategies. Six of the most important preventable HAIs with the greatest impact on morbidity and mortality were identified. Recommendations are prioritized into two categories: basic practices for all acute care hospitals and special approaches for extraordinary circumstances. Two sections focus on preventing spread of specific organisms: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI), also known as C. diff. Four sections focus on device-and procedure-associated HAIs: Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI); Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP); Urinary tract infection (UTI), the most common HAI with about 80 percent of urinary tract infections acquired in the hospital attributable to long-term use of urinary catheters; Surgical site infection (SSI) which occurs in 2 to 5 percent of patients undergoing inpatient surgery in the United States with an estimated 500,000 occurring annually. With patient concerns for HAIs growing, the partners decided the time was right to review and synthesize current guidelines and develop practical strategies that are easily implemented by healthcare professionals. The urgency is heightened because the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will no longer reimburse hospitals for costs related to treating certain HAIs. "Relevant, evidence-based guidelines must serve as the basis for infection prevention implementation strategies," said Robert A. Wise, M.D., vice president, Standards and Survey Methods, The Joint Commission. "The Compendium meets a great need for clear, user-friendly language, and was an important component in the development of The Joint Commission’s 2009 National Patient Safety Goals on HAIs." Additional information about the compendium, can be found by visiting
www.preventingHAIs.com.
HHS announces physical activity guidelines for Americans Adults gain substantial health benefits from two and a half hours a week of moderate aerobic physical activity, and children benefit from an hour or more of physical activity a day, according to the new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The comprehensive set of recommendations for people of all ages and physical conditions was released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The guidelines are designed so people can easily fit physical activity into their daily plan and incorporate activities they enjoy. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans are the most comprehensive of their kind. They are based on the first thorough review of scientific research about physical activity and health in more than a decade. A 13-member advisory committee appointed in April 2007 by Secretary Leavitt reviewed research and produced an extensive report. For more information about the "Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans," visit www.hhs.gov or www.health.gov/paguidelines. ASHES announces re-election of President Cermignano The American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES) board of directors announced the re-election of Tina Cermignano, CHESP, as society president for 2009. Cermignano is currently serving as 2008 president. Cermignano’s year-long term as 2009 President begins January 1, 2009. Cermignano is the Operations Manager for Quality and Environmental Services at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She has been an ASHES member since 1987 and has 24 years of healthcare experience. She began her career in laundry services before moving to environmental services where she serves today. ASHES members also elected two representatives for the 2009-2011 board of directors with both having three-year terms beginning January 1, 2009: Michael Bailey, CHESP: Bailey is currently at Greenville Hospital System in Greenville, SC, where he serves as Director of Environmental Services. Gary L. Dolan: Dolan is currently at The Village at Penn State, State
College, PA, where he serves as Director, Environmental Services.
AHRMM announces newly elected officials The Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) has announced the winners of its 2009 board of directors elections. Newly elected officials include: President-elect Ray Moore, CMRP, MBA; Region 3 Representative Amanda Llewellyn, CMRP, FAHRMM; Region 6 Representative Annette Pummel, CMRP; Region 9 Representative Kathi J. Pressley, CMRP, FAHRMM; and Military Region Representative Lieutenant Colonel Paul J. Davis, CMRP. The new officers will begin their terms on January 1, 2009. President-elect Moore is a system-level contract manager in the corporate materials management department at PeaceHealth, a multi-state Pacific Northwest IDN (Interstate Delivery System) and brings over 18 years of supply chain experience to the office of President. As AHRMM President-elect, Moore’s responsibilities include serving on both the AHRMM Executive and Nominating Committees, developing the Association’s strategic plan and budget and in the absence of the president assuming the duties of that office. The new regional representatives are responsible for advocating for their constituents by conveying regional issues to the board as well as carrying out the mission of the organization. For more information, visit www.ahrmm.org. ASHES launches practice guidance on environmental cleaning The American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES) of the American Hospital Association has developed two new products: "Practice Guidance for Healthcare Environmental Cleaning" and "From Top to Bottom: The Environmental Services Series," to provide recommended practice guidance for cleaning and disinfecting protocols in healthcare facilities. "Practice Guidance for Healthcare Environmental Cleaning" prepared by ASHES and reviewed by infection control professionals contains detailed and practical recommendations for cleaning and surface disinfection of clinical and non-clinical areas of healthcare facilities. The publication includes a CD outlining the procedures; facilitating customization for unique healthcare environments. Professionals new to healthcare and those looking to revise policies and procedures manuals should be particularly interested in this publication. "From Top To Bottom: The Environmental Services Series" is a three-part DVD series offering training solutions to Environmental Services and Infection Prevention & Control Managers challenged with employee turn-over, limited training tools, and language barriers when teaching critical skill sets in environmental cleaning. The DVDs are based on the ASHES publication "Practice Guidance for Healthcare Environmental Cleaning" and are available in both English and Spanish. The production of the DVDs was made possible by an unrestricted educational grant provided by Kimberly-Clark Professional. For more information on both of these products visit www.ashes.org and click on Learn.
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DECEMBER 2008 Joint Commission monograph to offer promising strategies for immunizing healthcare personnel CDC: New cases of diagnosed diabetes on the rise 90% AHRMM and HIMSS partner on Supply Chain Technology Symposium at HIMSS09 |
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Joint Commission monograph to offer
promising strategies for immunizing healthcare personnel In an effort to help improve the rate of healthcare worker influenza immunization, The Joint Commission will produce a new monograph that includes examples of successful strategies and tools that have been used to improve immunization rates. The monograph, with funding from sanofi pasteur, will be produced in partnership with leaders in the fields of infection prevention and infectious disease from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). The free, educational monograph, planned for publication in mid-2009, will include: Information about the impact and prevalence of the acquisition and transmission of influenza in the healthcare workplace; An overview of barriers to successful influenza immunization programs and strategies for overcoming them; and a compilation of promising practices and effective strategies for implementing healthcare personnel influenza immunization programs. Healthcare organizations are encouraged to submit examples of immunization programs that have successfully increased immunization rates among healthcare personnel. Submissions can be made online at www.jointcommission.org/PatientSafety/InfectionControl CDC: New cases of diagnosed diabetes on the rise 90% The rate of new cases of diagnosed diabetes rose by more than 90 percent among adults over the last 10 years, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data, published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, show that in the past decade, the incidence (new cases) of diagnosed diabetes has increased from 4.8 per 1,000 people during 1995-1997 to 9.1 per 1,000 in 2005-2007 in 33 states. For more information about diabetes, visit
www.cdc.gov/diabetes. AHRMM and HIMSS partner on Supply Chain Technology Symposium at HIMSS09 The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and AHRMM are once again co-sponsoring a pre-conference symposium on Supply Chain Management at the HIMSS09 Conference, Saturday, April 4, 2008 in Chicago. This symposium views the supply chain from a broad industry perspective and the role it plays in impacting clinical and financial performance. The HIMSS09 conference begins with pre-conference symposiums on April 4 and continues through Thursday, April 9. Topics at the symposium will include; The Evolving Global Healthcare Supply Chain: Clinical, Financial and Operational Performance Impacts; Global Data Synchronization & the Healthcare Supply Chain; A Blueprint for Integrating Standards into Operations - Healthcare Implementation of GS1 Standards: Progress, Pilots and Prognosis; Applying Supply Chain Best Practices to Healthcare; Linking Value Analysis to Clinical Outcomes; and Innovative Strategies for Clinical, Supply Chain, and Financial Performance. Registration for the Saturday supply chain symposium is $275. AHRMM members may also receive the HIMSS member discount pricing for the HIMSS conference. Save money now by signing up before January 27 and receive the early bird discount. Visit HIMMS website for information and registration at www.himssconference.org Heart failure hospitalizations up sharply Hospitalization rates for heart failure among older Americans have increased dramatically in the past three decades, an epidemic that represents a mounting burden on the healthcare system, a new study has found. In 2006, an estimated 807,082 men and women over 65 were hospitalized for heart failure, up from 348,866 in 1980 — a 131 percent increase. And the increase in hospitalization rates has been more dramatic among women than men, according to the Drexel University study, presented at the American Heart Association’s annual scientific sessions. Study findings include: The hospitalization rate for heart failure jumped 131 percent between 1980 and 2006.; The number of women hospitalized for heart failure increased 55 percent annually, compared to 20 percent annually for men.; The relative risk of being hospitalized for heart failure was 37 percent higher for those living from 2002 to 2006 than for those living from 1980 to 1984.; People aged 85 and older had four times the risk of being hospitalized with heart failure, compared to those aged 65 to 74.
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