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May 2008
U.N. suspends Myanmar aid after supplies seized by Junta Physician compensation survey shows gender gap in earnings Study in 7,000 men and women ties obesity, inflammatory proteins to heart failure risk Research predicts hospital stays and measures effects of patient education among diabetics C. difficile exacts heavy toll at Ontario hospital Group urges F.D.A. to take Ortho-Evra contraceptive off market Hard sell to Medicare insurance buyers would get softer under new rules New CDC study finds arthritis can be a barrier for adults seeking to manage diabetes U.N. suspends Myanmar aid after supplies seized by Junta BANGKOK — The United Nations suspended relief supplies to Myanmar on Friday after the military government seized the food and equipment it had already sent into the country. Earlier, in a statement, Myanmar’s military junta said it was willing to receive disaster relief from the outside world but would not welcome outside relief workers. Nearly one week after a devastating cyclone, supplies into the country were still being delayed and aid experts were being turned back as they arrived at the airport. In the statement, the government said it would distribute international relief supplies itself. Paul Risley, a spokesman for the United Nations World Food Program, said, "all the food aid and equipment that we managed to get in has been confiscated." He said the World Food Program was suspending the few flights that the Myanmar authorities had so far allowed to enter the country until the matter was resolved. Myanmar said it had turned back one relief flight because, in addition to disaster relief supplies, it carried disaster assessment experts and an unauthorized media group. "Myanmar is not in a position to receive rescue and information teams from foreign countries at the moment," the statement, from the Foreign Ministry, said. “But at present Myanmar is giving priority to receiving relief aid and distributing them to the storm-hit regions with its own resources." The first of two major international aid shipments arrived Thursday by aircraft from the United Nations World Food Program, carrying high energy biscuits, water containers, food and plastic sheets. But two of four United Nations experts who flew in on Friday were turned back at the airport for unknown reasons, said John Holmes, a relief coordinator for the United Nations. Altogether, by one count, 11 chartered planes with relief supplies have landed in Myanmar, a tiny amount for a disaster that the United Nations said has affected 1.5 million people. By the government’s official count, 22,500 people have died, but Shari Villarosa, the top American diplomat in Myanmar, said the number could reach 100,000 if help was not prompt and the humanitarian situation worsened. One United Nations official said he had never seen delays like this before in delivering relief supplies and aid officials. In Indonesia after the tsunami in 2004, he said, an air bridge of daily flights was established within 48 hours. "The frustration caused by what appears to be a paperwork delay is unprecedented in modern humanitarian relief efforts," said the official, Paul Risley, a spokesman for the United Nations World Food Program, in Bangkok. He said his agency alone had submitted 10 visa applications for relief workers but that none had been approved before consulates shut down for the weekend. "We strongly urge the government of Myanmar to process these visa applications as quickly as possible, including working over the weekend," he said. In Thailand, in addition to aid workers United States Air Force transport aircraft and helicopters waited at an airport for permission to enter Myanmar with supplies. "We are in a long line of nations who are ready, willing and able to help, but also, of course, in a long line of nations the Burmese don’t trust," said United States Ambassador Eric John. He said that on Thursday Myanmar appeared to agree to accept American aid, but then said it would not accept the aid. He said it was not clear whether there had been a misunderstanding or a change of mind. Also
in Bangkok it appeared that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej had changed his
mind about visiting Myanmar to discuss the relief operation, canceling the
trip because the leaders would not welcome aid workers. "After they said
today they would not welcome foreign staff, there is no point of me going
there," Samak said. In New York, United Nations officials all but demanded
Thursday that the government open its doors. "The situation is profoundly
worrying," said Holmes, the United Nations official in charge of the relief
effort. "They have simply not facilitated access in the way we have a right
to expect." Holmes’s predecessor in that job, Jan Egeland, said, "children
are going to die from diarrhea because of this government’s inaction."
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 is 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.
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. In addition to base compensation, many physicians receive some sort of extra financial incentives (bonus, equity participation, etc.) that increase their overall earnings. Just over 35% of males and 70% of females receive additional financial benefits of $25,000 or less. Approximately 17% of females and almost 30% of males report added income in the $25,001 to $50,000 range. Twice as many male physicians (17% to 8%) indicated additional income in the category of $50,001 to $100,000. In the $200,001 to $250,000 range, no females reported extra earnings, compared with 2% of male physicians. Enjoying earned vacation is important to most physicians. Ten percent of both males and females are entitled to 1-2 weeks of vacation. Female doctors lead their male counterparts 25% to 16% with respect to 3 weeks of earned vacation. An equal amount (34%) reported 4 weeks. Females also take the lead (15% to 10%) regarding five weeks of vacation. Beyond that, male physicians clearly have the most vacation time. Thirteen percent of males (versus 10% of females) have six weeks. Three percent of males (versus 2%) have seven weeks of vacation. And 12% of males (versus 4%) have over eight weeks of time off. The amount of vacation earned and taken are two different matters. Males who take one week outnumber females two to one. Females who take 2 weeks have a slight edge over males who take the same amount (19% to 17%). The largest difference concerns 3 weeks (31% of females versus 21% of males). In the four week category, females outnumber males 29% to 26%. A conclusion that can be drawn from these results is that female physicians are generally entitled to less vacation time, but they take more of the amount of vacation they have earned. One reasonable explanation is that female doctors have more household and child-rearing responsibilities that prompt them to take full advantage of their earned vacation time. What physicians actually earn and what they perceive as adequate compensation are two different matters, according to the survey results. A key question of the survey asked: "Do you feel that when consumer healthcare insurance premiums have increased that your reimbursements have increased proportionately?" Overall, 5% of the respondents mentioned yes, whereas nearly 20 percent believed that reimbursement levels have stayed about the same. On the other hand, 76% of females and males felt that their reimbursement level has actually decreased in the recent past. A related question: "To what extent are current earnings in line with your skills, efforts and workload?" Only 8% indicated "very well," and only 31% believed they are "fairly" compensated or reimbursed. By contrast, 60% of all participants believed that they are underpaid by a significant amount. In sum, 77% of physicians believed that their compensation / reimbursement levels are at least 30% below their expected earnings. The survey indicated that 22% of physicians plan on seeking another position within the next six months. Thirteen percent foresee switching jobs from six months to one year. Fourteen percent expect to make a career move within a 2-4 year timeframe. Interestingly, 44% have no such plans at the present time. The
entire survey results are available in the Jackson & Coker Industry Report
at
THIS LINK.
Study in 7,000 men and women ties obesity, inflammatory proteins to heart failure risk Heart specialists at Johns Hopkins and elsewhere report what is believed to be the first wide-scale evidence linking severe overweight to prolonged inflammation of heart tissue and the subsequent damage leading to failure of the body’s blood-pumping organ. The latest findings from the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), published in the May 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, appear to nail down yet one more reason for the estimated 72 million obese American adults to be concerned about their health, say scientists who conducted the research. “The biological effects of obesity on the heart are quite profound,” says senior study investigator João Lima, M.D. “Even if obese people feel otherwise healthy, there are measurable and early chemical signs of damage to their heart, beyond the well-known implications for diabetes and high blood pressure.” He adds that there is “now even more reason for them to lose weight, increase their physical activity and improve their eating habits.” In the latest study, researchers conducted tests and tracked the development of heart failure in an ethnically diverse group of nearly 7,000 men and women, age 45 to 84, who were enrolled in the MESA study, starting in 2000. Of the 79 who have developed congestive heart failure so far, 35 (44 percent) were physically obese, having a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or greater. And on average, obese participants were found to have higher blood levels of interleukin 6, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen, key immune system proteins involved in inflammation, than non-obese adults. A near doubling of average interleukin 6 levels alone accounted for an 84 percent greater risk of developing heart failure in the study population. The researchers from five universities across the United States also found alarming links between inflammation and the dangerous mix of heart disease risk factors known as the metabolic syndrome. Its combined risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated blood glucose levels, excess abdominal fat and abnormal cholesterol levels, and particularly obesity, double a person’s chances of developing heart failure. “More practically, physicians need to monitor their obese patients for early signs of inflammation in the heart and to use this information in determining how aggressively to treat the condition,” says Lima, a professor of medicine and radiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and its Heart Institute. All MESA study participants, who will be followed through to 2012, had no pre-existing symptoms of heart disease. Upon enrollment, they all underwent a physical exam, including weight and body measurements, blood analysis and an MRI scan to assess heart function. “Our results showed that when the effects of other known disease risk factors - including race, age, sex, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, family history and blood cholesterol levels - were statistically removed from the analysis, inflammatory chemicals in the blood of obese participants stood out as key predictors of who got heart failure,” says Lima. C-reactive protein levels are widely known to rise dramatically and speed up the early stages of inflammation when cells swell up with fluid, leading to widespread arterial damage. One-fifth higher than average blood levels of fibrinogen, best known for its role in blood clotting but also a major player in muscle scarring, bumped up the risk of heart failure by 37 percent. When the inflammatory protein levels were included in the scientists’ statistical analysis, the heightened risk from obesity disappeared. “What this tells us is that both obesity and the inflammatory markers are closely tied to each other and to heart failure,” says lead researcher Hossein Bahrami, M.D., M.P.H. Bahrami says study results also point to inflammation as a possible catalyst in metabolic syndrome. Increased blood levels of albuminuria, a chemical more known for its association with impaired kidney function and metabolic syndrome boosted risk of a progressively weakening heart nearly tenfold among MESA participants. Bahrami, a senior cardiology research fellow at Hopkins, said “the basic evidence is building the case that inflammation may be the chemical route by which obesity targets the heart, and that inflammation may play an important role in the increased risk of heart failure in obese people, especially those with the metabolic syndrome.” He notes that previous studies, also done at Hopkins, have shown that even moderate exercise to lose abdominal fat dramatically offsets the harmful effects of metabolic syndrome on heart function.
Bahrami said the team’s next steps are to determine how, over a longer
timeframe, heart function changes with levels of inflammatory markers, and
to see if alterations to the immune system proteins halts or speeds up
disease. For additional information, go to:
http://www.hopkinsheart.org/ or
http://content.onlinejacc.org/
Research predicts hospital stays and measures effects of patient education among diabetics MedImpact unveiled a model that predicts the probability of inpatient hospital utilization among Medicaid recipients who suffer from diabetes. Modeling results showed that improving compliance with medications that control diabetes, along with encouraging the use of statins, may be associated with a reduction in inpatient hospitalizations. In a separate but related study, MedImpact demonstrated that education-based interventions are effective in promoting the continued use of statin therapy among diabetics. Both studies were part of a collection of poster presentations at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) 13th Annual International Conference held in Toronto, Canada this week. The event drew more than 1,600 researchers and other representatives from the health care community. ISPOR is a vital organization that supports those who study health care economics and the effects of health care interventions on patient well-being. “Research that can help identify specific predictors of undesirable outcomes, such as future hospitalizations, is very important,” said Dr. Louis Brunetti, senior vice president and chief medical officer for MedImpact. “When the health care community has a greater understanding of the factors that contribute to adverse events, we can work together to identify and implement strategies that successfully address them.” In the first MedImpact study presented at ISPOR, “Predictive Modeling for Medicaid Diabetes Patients,” MedImpact researchers demonstrated that diabetics who do not take insulin or other oral medications as prescribed by their physician are up to 57 percent more likely to be hospitalized. Similarly, diabetics who do not use a statin to help control cardiovascular complications that are often associated with diabetes are 72 percent more likely to require hospitalization. Previous inpatient history was also found to be a significant predictor. In the second study, “The Effectiveness of a Patient and Physician Educational Program in Initiating Statin Therapy among Diabetics,” MedImpact found that letter-based educational programs directed to physicians and patients are effective in promoting the use of statin therapy among diabetics. In this study, researchers from MedImpact demonstrated that among diabetics who were not taking a statin, as many as 22 percent added a statin to their drug regimen after the first phase of the intervention.
“These two studies really go hand-in-hand and demonstrate our commitment and
direct application to leverage MedImpact research,” said Dr. Brunetti. “Our
first study showed us where we needed to focus our attention to reduce the
likelihood of inpatient hospitalizations among diabetics. Our second study
validated the effectiveness of an educational program we designed and
implemented to address the factors that contribute the need for those
hospitalizations. Our solution was successful, easy and inexpensive. These
are just a few examples of how MedImpact clinical research and clinical
programs ultimately help our clients achieve lower net cost, higher quality
of care, and increased customer satisfaction.”
C. difficile exacts heavy toll at Ontario hospital TORONTO — A deadly outbreak of a highly contagious superbug at an Ontario hospital claimed the lives of one-third of the patients afflicted with the disease, a far greater toll than previously believed. Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital in Burlington announced yesterday that 91 of the 177 patients diagnosed with Clostridium difficile, commonly known as C. difficile, over a 20-month period ending last December died in the institution. It blamed the disease for 62 of the deaths. Joseph Brant is among a handful of hospitals in Ontario that have been hit with a severe outbreak of the so-called Quebec strain of C. difficile, a particularly virulent form that caused 2,000 deaths in that province. But in Ontario, the scope of the problem is not known, because hospitals are not required to release statistics on hospital-acquired infections to the public. Only a small number of the province's 154 hospitals, including Joseph Brant, voluntarily release such statistics. As a result, the public is in the dark about the extent of the problem even though Ontario is believed to have the highest rates of the superbug in Canada, said Michael Gardam, director of infection prevention and control for the University Health Network, who performed the mortality study on patients at Joseph Brant. He said the disease tends to afflict the elderly but also often goes undetected because it is easily misdiagnosed. The results of the study were sobering for everyone involved. It found that the outbreak of C. difficile began in May of 2006 - nine months earlier than hospital officials initially thought. The number of fatalities was also much higher than a previous estimate of 15 deaths and well above the rate experienced at other hospitals that have "come clean" in fighting the disease, Dr. Gardam said.
Ontario
Health Minister George Smitherman described the number of deaths as "very,
very startling." He vowed yesterday that the province will make public
reporting of such infections mandatory by the end of the year. "We have an
obligation for transparency and to apprise people of information that's
important to them, to know what risks are out there," Smitherman told
reporters. (The Globe and Mail) See
THIS LINK.
Group urges F.D.A. to take Ortho-Evra contraceptive off market A consumer advocacy group petitioned the government Thursday to pull the birth control patch off the market, calling it far riskier than the pill. Warnings about the Ortho-Evra weekly patch have escalated since a 2005 investigation by The Associated Press found that patch users had higher rates of life-threatening blood clots than did women who took birth control pills. Blood clots are a rare side effect for estrogen-related products. Some studies of the risk suggest that patch users have twice the risk of clots in the legs and lungs as do women who swallow the pill because patients absorb up to 60 percent more estrogen with the patch. The Food and Drug Administration updated the patch’s label in 2005, 2006 and earlier this year with clot warnings. Demand has dropped, to 2.7 million prescriptions filled in 2007 from the 9.9 million filled in 2004, Dr. Wolfe wrote. But he argued that the patch offered no better contraception in return for the extra risk. And he said lawsuits by women who claim they were harmed by the patch had unearthed two previously unpublished studies from Johnson & Johnson researchers who found higher estrogen exposure from the patch even before it won federal approval in 2001. A
spokeswoman for the patch’s maker, Ortho Women’s Health & Urology, a Johnson
& Johnson company, said, “Ortho-Evra is a safe and effective hormonal birth
control option when used according to its labeling.” (The Associated Press)
See
THIS LINK.
Hard sell to Medicare insurance buyers would get softer under new rules The Bush administration proposed on Thursday to crack down on the aggressive marketing of private Medicare insurance plans by outlawing unsolicited visits and telephone calls to beneficiaries, regulating commissions paid to sales agents and increasing the fines that could be imposed on insurers. Medicare “should not be undermined by the actions of a limited number of unscrupulous sales agents,” said Kerry N. Weems, the acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. In the last two years, Medicare beneficiaries and state officials have often complained that high-pressure sales tactics led some people to sign up for unsuitable policies. After reviewing comments from the public, federal officials intend to issue final rules before the marketing of plans for 2009 begins this October. The proposed rules respond to pleas by consumers, Congress and state officials, but do not go as far as they wanted. In particular, the proposal affirms the Bush administration’s view that “states do not have the authority to regulate the marketing” of private Medicare plans. The Bush proposal would prohibit door-to-door marketing of private Medicare plans. Agents could not accost beneficiaries in the parking lot of a center for the elderly, a clinic or an apartment building. Agents could respond to telephone inquiries, but they could not make “cold calls” to beneficiaries. The rules would set a $15 limit on the value of gifts and promotional items offered to potential customers. Insurance companies could offer coffee, soft drinks, snacks, pill dispensers and water bottles worth less than $15. But insurers could not offer free meals, whatever their value. This proposal would end a common practice. Insurers like Humana have signed up many beneficiaries at family restaurants where the companies provide sales presentations and meals. The proposed rules would also prohibit agents from offering annuities, life insurance and other “non-health care related products” while selling private Medicare plans. Under current rules, the government can impose a civil fine up to $25,000 for each serious violation. The proposed rule would allow larger fines, up to $25,000 for each beneficiary who was “directly adversely affected.” The Bush administration also wants to regulate sales commissions, to discourage agents from switching people inappropriately from one Medicare plan to another. Under the proposal, the commission paid for the initial sale and first year of coverage could not exceed the commission paid for renewal of coverage in a subsequent year. Many carriers now pay higher commissions in the first year. Some pay only for the first year, with no commission in later years. This creates a “financial incentive for agents to encourage beneficiaries to change plans each year,” the administration said. Of
the 44 million Medicare beneficiaries, at least 25 million are in some type
of private plan, either a Medicare Advantage plan, which provides a wide
range of health services, or a free-standing prescription drug plan, which
covers just medicines. Under the proposal, an insurer would have to pay the
same commission for all its Medicare Advantage plans and a uniform amount
for all its drug plans. An insurer could still encourage sales of the more
profitable products by paying higher commissions, $200 a year for sale of a
Medicare Advantage plan and $50 a year for a drug plan, for example. (The
New York Times) See
THIS LINK.
New CDC study finds arthritis can be a barrier for adults seeking to manage diabetes More than half of adults with diagnosed diabetes also have arthritis, a painful condition that can be a barrier to physical activity, an important health strategy for managing diabetes, according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in today′s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Nationwide, 46.4 million adults have arthritis and 20.6 million adults have diabetes, with nearly 7 in 10 having had diabetes diagnosed by a health professional. Research shows that engaging in joint-friendly activities such as walking, swimming, biking can help manage both conditions. The study, “Arthritis as a Potential Barrier to Physical Activity among Adults with Diabetes: United States, 2005 and 2007,” analyzed data on the prevalence of physical inactivity among adults with arthritis and diabetes in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The study suggests that the presence of arthritis acts as an additional barrier to physical activity among those with diabetes. The study found that 29.8 percent of adults with arthritis and diabetes were inactive, compared with 21.0 percent of people with diabetes alone, 17.3 percent of those with arthritis alone, and 10.9 percent of adults with neither condition. The study also found that the percentage of adults with diabetes and arthritis who are physically inactive varied among states, ranging from 20.2 percent in California to 46.4 percent in Tennessee. Adults with arthritis and diabetes have unique barriers to being physically active such as concerns about pain, aggravating or worsening joint damage, and not knowing how much or what types of physical activity are safe for them. These concerns must be addressed for adults with both conditions to become more physically active.
Disease
self-management classes, including exercise programs that address
arthritis-specific barriers, may help adults with arthritis and diabetes
better manage their disease. Programs proven to be effective in managing
arthritis, such as the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, the
Arthritis Foundation′s Exercise Program, and Enhance Fitness, are available
in many local communities nationwide. For more information, visit CDC′s
Arthritis Web site at
http://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/intervention.
Experts review influenza pandemic preparedness guidance Omnicell recognizes National Nurses Week B. BRAUN announces upgraded ambulatory and pain management pump – the Curlin 6000 CMS – at AACN CMS launches pilot to test personal health records for Medicare beneficiaries in South Carolina Broadlane and Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System Supply Chain Experts to Speak at NCI Study finds that fat cells die and are replaced Remote monitoring improves heart failure patients' health, may reduce hospital readmissions Experts review influenza pandemic preparedness guidance With the ongoing threat of an influenza pandemic demanding continued vigilance, 120 influenza and planning experts from WHO Member States, research institutions and UN agencies around the globe are meeting in Geneva this week to review the current WHO pandemic preparedness guidance. Key scientific and situational developments make the review particularly important. WHO will release the revised guidance later this year. "New concepts and tools including the International Health Regulations 2005, the global pandemic influenza action plan, antiviral and H5N1 vaccine stockpiles, pandemic severity scale and a rapid containment protocol have emerged since the last revision in 2005," said Dr Keiji Fukuda, Coordinator of the WHO Global Influenza Programme. "Experience gained through dealing with H5N1 outbreaks, and through active preparedness by many countries makes this review a crucial exercise." WHO first provided
such guidance in 1999 and since then, influenza pandemic preparedness has
become one of the central public health planning challenges. With the risk
level of an influenza pandemic unchanged, maintaining appropriate focus on
preparedness and ensuring that efforts contribute to broad public health
capacity are ongoing challenges. See
THIS LINK.
Omnicell recognizes National Nurses Week In honor of National Nurses Week, May 6 - 12, Omnicell Inc., a provider of system solutions to acute healthcare facilities, have announced a registration promotion to recognize the nursing profession. “Each day, millions of nurses use automated Omnicell solutions to effectively manage medications,” said Randall A. Lipps, president and chief executive officer, Omnicell Inc. “While contemplating this year’s National Nurses Week theme of “Making a Difference Every Day”, we reflect on the fact that the nursing profession is about the emotional devotion to caring for people. Omnicell admires their dedication and shares their commitment and passion for enhancing patient safety and finding more time for patient care through more efficient work processes.” Prizes for eligible
participants include an Apple iPod Nano and gift certificates to iTunes. A
prize drawing will occur on May 12, and winners will be announced on the
Omnicell Web site. Nurses can register on the Omnicell Web site now through
May 12, 2008. There is no cost to register. For more information please
visit
www.omnicell.com.
B. BRAUN announces upgraded ambulatory and pain management pump – the Curlin 6000 CMS – at AACN B. Braun Medical Inc., announced the launch of the Curlin 6000 CMS, made possible through its distribution agreement with Curlin Medical Inc. The Curlin 6000 CMS ambulatory electronic infusion system, which revolutionizes reliable, smart infusion technology with multi-therapy applications, will be presented at The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ (AACN) National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exhibition being held May 6-8 in Chicago (Booth #3246). The Curlin 6000 CMS is a comprehensive product that incorporates a convenient PCA pump with both PC and PDA connectivity, and state-of-the-art CMS (Clinical Management System) software. The system is an upgrade on the 4000 series and comes equipped with Information On Demand (IOD) technology and is capable of delivering IV therapy using syringes, bottles or bags. For added flexibility in hospital settings, the Curlin 6000 CMS offers multiple therapy modes beyond PCA, including TPN with ramp/taper, continuous and intermittent infusions in addition to PCA and epidural modes. Adding to the features of the Curlin Pain Management System, the Curlin 6000 CMS has built-in safety features; such as integral free flow protection from upstream occlusion detection and programmable medication limits. It also possesses a larger color screen making it easier to read. The verification and confirmation of dose changes before implementation reduces the risk of programming errors and improves infusion outcomes for patient safety. While the Curlin
6000 CMS is primarily useful for hospital pain management teams, it also
provides advantages for oncology, outpatient clinics, hospices and home
infusions. The system provides the highest standard of medication safety,
reducing therapy interruptions and catheter line complications as well as
improving flow accuracy. Additionally, the Curlin 6000 CMS is helpful not
only in drug administration, but also in event monitoring. The system gives
healthcare professionals the ability to retrieve detailed, data rich reports
based on the events stored in its log file. The report can indicate events,
tampering or incorrect pump settings. See
www.bbraunusa.com.
CMS launches pilot to test personal health records for Medicare beneficiaries in South Carolina The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new project that expands its efforts to encourage beneficiaries covered by traditional Medicare to take advantage of Internet-based resources to track their health care services and better communicate with their providers. The CMS pilot uses an on-line tool called a Personal Health Record (PHR) to give Medicare beneficiaries the ability to collect and then access information about their health or health care services, such as medical conditions, hospitalizations, doctor visits and medications, and collect information about their health. CMS is ensuring that strict privacy and security safeguards are in place to protect all beneficiary data. The pilot test will take place in South Carolina, where beneficiaries will be given an opportunity to use a PHR populated by their own Medicare claims data. Key information from hospital and provider medical claims will be automatically entered into the PHR once the individual registers and requests the data. Prescription drug information, even for individuals who participate with a Part D Drug Plan, will not be automatically entered into the PHR, but the individual may choose to enter his or her own prescription drug and over-the-counter medications into the PHR. A PHR is a record of health information that is under the control of the consumer or patient. Sometimes it only contains data entered by the individual or his or her provider, but it can also include information from a health plan – as is the case in this pilot, where Medicare provides information from its claims data base. A PHR is different than an electronic health record (EHR), which is owned by and under the control of the physician. One feature of this PHR allows individuals to look up information specific to their own personal health status and health conditions. The PHR tool used in this pilot also provides convenient links to carefully selected Web sites with educational material on health topics. This makes it easier for the beneficiary or other authorized users to do research that will help them understand their health issues and better manage their own care. The beneficiary also will control who is able to see the information in the PHR, and will decide whether and with whom the information can be shared – from health care providers to caregivers and family members. The pilot, which began on April 4, 2008, is expected to run for 12 months and CMS will use information gathered from the pilot to determine future steps with respect to PHRs. The PHR tool selected
for this pilot is offered by HealthTrio, which currently offers PHRs to
thousands of individuals through employer contracts. The Medicare data will
be provided through Palmetto GBA, a Medicare contractor serving the region,
which includes South Carolina. The pilot is being managed by QSSI,
headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, and is called “MyPHRSC,” where the “SC”
stands for South Carolina. The pilot is accepting enrollment online at
www.MyPHRSC.com and at local events in South Carolina.
Broadlane and Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System Supply Chain Experts to Speak at NCI Supply chain experts from Broadlane and Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System will speak about supply chain redesign at NCI’s Spring 2008 IDN Summit & Expo May 28-30, 2008 in Orlando, FL. David Klumpe, Pharm.D., executive vice president, enterprise accounts, Broadlane, and Don Klusmeier, supply chain executive liaison, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System (SCLHS), will present “Using Value Analysis Teams as the Catalyst for Supply Chain Redesign.” Participants will learn how an organization’s executive leadership team can promote the central role of clinicians in all supply chain decision-making activities through an integrated value analysis team (VAT) program. In addition, Sam Colletti, RPh, director, pharmacy operations, Broadlane, will moderate a panel discussion – “Pharmaceutical Supply Chain in the Event of Catastrophes.” Colletti is chairman of the NCI Pharmacy Education Committee and a member of Broadlane’s enterprise account team, serving CHRISTUS Health’s pharmacy clinical service line. Kristie Reeves-Cavaliero,
Pharm.D., BCPS, director, clinical pharmacy resources, Broadlane, will
present “National Patient Safety Goals 3E: Fundamentals and Compliance
Expectations.”
It has long been known that type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity, particularly fat inside the belly. Now, researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center have found that fat from other areas of the body can actually reduce insulin resistance and improve insulin sensitivity. In a study published in the May issue of Cell Metabolism, a team lead by C. Ronald Kahn, M.D. found that subcutaneous fat—fat found below the skin, usually in the hips and thighs—is associated with reduced insulin levels and improved insulin sensitivity. “This points to a new opportunity to find substances made by subcutaneous fat that may actually be good for glucose metabolism,’’ said Dr. Kahn, Head of the Joslin Research Section on Obesity and Hormone Action and the Mary K. Iacocca Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “If we can identify how subcutaneous fat does this, we will have a big clue as to where to look for these substances.” Kahn noted that obesity in the abdominal or visceral area—the classic “beer belly” or “apple” shape—increases the risk of diabetes and mortality, and said it has been thought that obesity in subcutaneous areas—the “pear” shape—might decrease such risks. “We started out to answer the basic question of whether fat inside the belly is bad for you because of where it is located, or is abdominal fat itself different from fat in other places,” said Kahn, an internationally recognized researcher in diabetes and metabolism. The researchers found that when subcutaneous fat was transplanted into the abdominal area, there was a decrease in body weight, fat mass, glucose and insulin levels and an improvement in insulin sensitivity. By contrast, transplantation of abdominal fat into either the abdominal or subcutaneous area had no effect. The paper concludes that subcutaneous fat is intrinsically different from visceral fat and may produce substances that can improve glucose metabolism. “The surprising thing was that it wasn’t where the fat was located,” Kahn said. “It was the kind of fat that was the most important variable. Even more surprising, it wasn’t that abdominal fat was exerting negative effects, but that subcutaneous fat was producing a good effect. Animals with more subcutaneous fat didn’t gain as much weight as they aged, had better insulin sensitivity, lower insulin levels and were improved all around.” Earlier studies in humans had shown that removal of subcutaneous fat by liposuction does not result in improvement of any aspect of metabolic syndrome, a collection of medical problems related to insulin resistance, but none had focused on possible good effects of this subcutaneous fat. However, one human study did show that obese individuals with high levels of both intra-abdominal and subcutaneous fat were more insulin sensitive than those with only high levels of intra-abdominal fat. In addition, Kahn
noted that a class of diabetes drugs called thiazoladines may cause patients
to gain weight in the subcutaneous area, yet also improve insulin
sensitivity. Kahn said it is possible that subcutaneous fat may be producing
certain hormones, known as adipokines, which produce beneficial effects on
metabolism. These effects may offset the negative effects produced by
abdominal fat. The next step is to identify how subcutaneous fat produces
these substances that improve metabolism and then find the substances
themselves with the idea of creating a drug that can do the same thing.
Study finds that fat cells die and are replaced Every year, whether you are fat or thin, whether you lose weight or gain, 10 percent of your fat cells die. And every year, those cells that die are replaced with new fat cells, researchers in Sweden reported Sunday. The result is that the total number of fat cells in the body remains the same, year after year throughout adulthood. Losing or gaining weight affects only the amount of fat stored in the cells, not the number of cells. The finding was published online Sunday in the journal Nature. Obesity investigators say the study raises tantalizing questions: What determines how many fat cells are in a person’s body? When is that number determined? Is there a way to intervene so people end up with fewer fat cells when they reach adulthood? And could obesity be treated by making fat cells die faster than they are born? “This is a new way of looking at obesity,” said Dr. Lester Salans,
an obesity researcher and emeritus professor at Mount Sinai School of
Medicine in New York. But for now, researchers say, they do not have a clue
about how to answer those questions. But the discussions stalled. It was not clear what to do about those discoveries or what they meant to efforts to help people lose weight. And no one had a method to ask whether fat cells were being created and destroyed during life. Few even thought to ask that question. That changed only recently when the new paper’s first author,
Kirsty L. Spalding, a neurobiologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden,
developed a way to ask whether new cells grow in the cortical and cerebellum
regions of the human brain. She found no new cells there since birth. One
day, she was giving a talk on her brain study when a scientist in the
audience, Erik Arner, suggested she use the method to look at fat cells.
(Dr. Arner is the second author of Dr. Spalding’s paper.) The method for
dating human cells takes advantage of an effect caused by above-ground
nuclear bomb testing that took place from 1955 to 1963. First the researchers confirmed that the number of fat cells
remained constant in adults. Obese people who had weight loss surgery had as
many fat cells two years after the surgery as before it, even though they
were much thinner. Then the investigators asked whether fat cells were being
born and dying. To do that, they examined fat cells taken from 35 people,
fat and lean, who had had liposuction or abdominal wall reconstruction. The
amount of C14 in the cells would reveal how old the cells were. Since the
number of fat cells remained constant, the number being born had to equal
the number dying. And a mathematical model would reveal the dynamics of the
cell turnover. “We found the cells were really quite young,” Dr. Spalding
said. “That tells us new cells are being born.” She added: “The
million-dollar question now is, What regulates this process? And where can
we intervene?” (
The New York Times) See THIS
LINK.
Remote monitoring improves heart failure patients' health, may reduce hospital readmissions A remote monitoring program can improve the condition of heart failure patients who are mobile and may reduce hospital readmissions, according to a pilot study reported at the American Heart Association’s 9th Scientific Forum on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke. The study, conducted by the Center for Connected Health, a division of Partners HealthCare, included 150 heart failure patients admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. Sixty-eight patients (average age 70) were randomized to receive usual care for heart failure. The remaining 82 patients were offered remote monitoring. Forty-two patients accepted the monitoring program; the remaining 40 patients declined to participate. This study reports the findings in the first three months of follow-up on all patients. “The goal of our Connected Cardiac Care program for this group of patients is to reduce hospital readmissions, provide timely intervention and help them understand their condition using home telemonitoring,” said Ambar Kulshreshtha, M.D., M.P.H., lead author of the study and a research fellow at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. “Participants showed a trend towards less frequent hospitalization. The group that refused to participate did less well.” Patients in the remote monitoring group experienced lower average hospital readmission rates (31 readmissions per 100 people) compared to patients in usual care (38 readmissions per 100 people) and non-participants (45 readmissions per 100 people). Patients in the remote monitoring group also had fewer heart-failure related readmissions and emergency room visits than usual care and non-participating patients. Researchers said the results show a positive trend but are based on only three months of follow-up and did not reach statistical significance. “Participating physicians are pleased with the program and consider it a success,” Kulshreshtha said. “The Connected Cardiac Care program combines patient self-monitoring of their vital signs and symptoms, with nurse intervention to educate patients, help them understand the link between their daily life and their disease and, importantly, coordinate care with their physician. Based on these initial data, Connected Cardiac Care is a win-win for our patients and healthcare providers.” Patients received telemonitoring equipment to monitor vital signs such as heart rate, pulse and blood pressure. They also weighed themselves daily and answered a set of questions about symptoms every day. That information was transmitted through the telemonitoring device to a nurse, who would call weekly or more often if a patient’s vital signs were outside normal parameters. Researchers also monitored patients’ re-hospitalization rates and emergency care use. “Patients could see the fluctuation in their vitals and realize they hadn’t taken their medications or weren’t eating right or exercising,” Kulshreshtha said. “A weekly call from the nurse reinforces lifestyle management of the patient’s heart failure.” Post-study surveys of
participating patients revealed a high level of satisfaction: Ninety-five
percent of participating patients in the intervention group said the program
improved their heart failure control and helped them stay out of the
hospital. All participating patients said the
equipment was easy to use. Ninety-five percent believed they were able to
manage their heart failure better and an equal number had overall program
satisfaction. All participants said their health improved and they received
adequate interactions with a homecare nurse. A previous study by the
Massachusetts-based group showed a similar program reduced all-cause
hospital admissions by 25 percent in participating homebound patients. The
researchers said they plan to expand the program to target 350 ambulatory
patients by summer of 2008 and are developing a method to stratify high-risk
patients.
AACN Announcements: Clinicians prefer Kimvent 24-hour oral care kit according survey results Masimo Showcases Best-in-Class Patient Safety Solutions at the AACN Conference FDA gives green light to GE Healthcare surgery; shipping resumes on C-arms Cardinal Health recalling mouthwash distributed to hospitals The Council of Supply Chain Executives announces new supply chain member Much of the increased risk of death from smoking reduced within several years after quitting AACN Announcements: Clinicians prefer Kimvent 24-hour oral care kit according survey results A recent survey by Kimberly-Clark Health Care reveals that clinicians prefer the new Kimberly-Clark KimVent 24-Hour Oral Care Kit when providing oral care for ventilator-assisted patients. The survey of 354 clinicians from 27 hospitals across the country indicated that nine out of 10 who used the KimVent 24-Hour Oral Care Kit would recommend it over previously used methods for oral care. With easy-to-use components, the KimVent 24-Hour Oral Care Kit was designed to help critical care nurses reach protocol compliance and specifically address the risk factors associated with ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). Oral aspiration of pathogenic bacteria and contaminated secretions has been identified as a major cause of VAP. Traditional Yankauer suction tools are often stored in a plastic cover or bag, where they can remain wet and covered in secretions. Nine out of 10 nurses said that the KimVent Yankauer suction tool performed better than previously used suction tools because of its innovative, self-cleaning mechanism that uses Kimberly-Clark’s patent-pending “peep-seal” technology to “squeegee” secretions and debris from the shaft after suctioning, leaving the Yankauer suction tool drier and cleaner between uses. Designed with the challenges associated with oral care in mind, the KimVent 24-Hour Oral Care Kit has a convenient and portable design, as well as ergonomic and user-friendly tools. The kit can be kept at the patient’s bedside and has the following features: Easy-access carton with individual packs, No-leak, easy-peel procedure packs that serve as a workstation and include everything needed to clean, debride, suction and moisturize the oral cavity; Unique, patent-pending, self-cleaning, covered Yankauer suction tool that has a high-flow tip with multiple holes to quickly and effectively remove secretions and a rigid, clear, curved shaft that makes it easy to visualize the oral cavity and is easy to maneuver; Flexible suction toothbrush that has soft, gentle bristles to remove dental plaque, debris and secretions; Suction swabs that have an angled tip design, providing easy access to surfaces, and a soft sponge tip that stimulates, cleans and freshens the mouth; Pliable suction catheter that helps remove oral secretions, and a clear mouth moisturizer that contains aloe vera gel. In addition, Kimberly-Clark Health Care has recently made individual components of the KimVent* 24-Hour Oral Care Kit available to give clinicians more flexibility. Critical care facilities can purchase an entire kit or individual components based on their patients’ oral care needs and rate of usage, which can help reduce waste.
The KimVent 24-Hour Oral Care Kit will be featured at the American
Association of Critical Care Nurses National Teaching Institute and Critical
Care Expo, May 3–8 in Chicago. To learn more about the Kimberly-Clark*
KimVent* 24-Hour Oral Care Kit or for more information about any of the
solutions in the VAP bundle, please visit
http://www.kchealthcare.com/kimvent
Philips unveils patient monitoring technologies; on-site clinician education agreement; new disposable EKG leads Philips new IntelliVue mobile viewer application transmits key patient information to PDAs and the application gives physicians increased mobility with access to patient information from anywhere within the hospital by providing patient data and alerts through a personal digital assistant (PDA) device. The mobile viewer application can be downloaded onto an existing PDA and receives patient data wirelessly via a customer supplied 802.11 infrastructure for secure convenience. Introduced at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) National Teaching Institute (NTI) & Critical Care Exposition in Chicago, the IntelliVue mobile viewer delivers patient information that is displayed in an easier-to-read format including large numeric view, six waveforms and up to 10 seconds of data can be displayed. In addition, clinicians can capture and store screen shots for future use.The application is supported via Windows Mobile 5.0 or Window Mobile 6.0 Classic and Professional. Philips is the only vendor to offer U.S. customers a two year clinical performance agreement that offers on-site clinical education services customized to their learning needs. The program is a flexible credit-based system allowing the customer to decide how and when to spend their credits. Credits can be chosen from a course catalogue that includes essential and advanced education, configuration services, live support, and continuing education seminars that are available live and instructor-led or online via the Philips Learning Center. Benefits include a plan for educating existing staff and new hires, updating monitor configurations and improving understanding and utilization of advanced applications and clinical decision support tools that help facilitate enhanced patient care and workflow. Drug-resistant pathogens thrive in hospitals, persisting on surfaces like reusable ECG leads for weeks. Using disposable ECG leadwire electrodes can be part of a hospital’s comprehensive strategy to prevent HAIs. New disposable adult ECG leadwire electrodes from Philips are designed to be easy to use, convenient, comfortable for the patient, and versatile. Available in 3- or 5-lead configurations, with metallic or radiolucent wires, Philips disposable ECG leadwire electrodes are available with AAMI and IEC color coded wires for faster lead placement. The solid-gel electrode technology has an estimated 72 hour wear time and can be repositioned one time. Philips disposable ECG leadwire electrodes do not need an adapter, they plug directly into the Philips trunk cable, saving a step and reducing reusable parts in contact with the patient.
Philips disposable ECG leadwire electrodes will be broadly
available starting in June 2008. For more information visit the Philips NTI
booth (#2601) or
www.philips.com/healthcare.
Masimo Showcases Best-in-Class Patient Safety Solutions at the AACN Conference Masimo will showcase the latest technology for patient safety solutions at the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), National Teaching Institute (NTI) & Critical Care Exposition in Chicago on May 6-8, 2008. Live demonstrations of the new Masimo Rad-87 Pulse CO-Oximeter, Masimo Patient SafetyNet and continuous, noninvasive hemoglobin (SpHb) (pending FDA clearance) will show how Masimo technologies can help critical care clinicians advance patient safety, improve patient outcomes, and increase clinical efficiencies. A key foundational component to improving patient safety on the general floor is the sensitivity and specificity of Masimo SET pulse oximetry. Before Masimo SET, pulse oximeters were reported to falsely alarm more than 90% of the time. In fact, one major hospital attempted to monitor patients on the general floor before the advent of Masimo SET and reported thousands of false alarms per month. Another key component to improving clinician response to changing patient conditions on the general care floor is Masimo Patient SafetyNet—a new easy-to-use remote monitoring and clinician notification system that reliably and cost-effectively delivers patient alarms to assigned clinicians. Combining the “gold standard” performance of Masimo SET pulse oximetry with wireless clinician notification via pager, Patient SafetyNet provides a new level of safety to patients on general care floors. A complement to Masimo SET and Patient SafetyNet is the new Masimo Rad-87 bedside monitor. The Rad-87 is an easy-to-use, yet fully-featured Pulse CO-Oximeter with a built-in 802-11a/b/g radio for bidirectional wireless communication with the Patient SafetyNet system. Recently cleared by the FDA, it features a simple, intuitive user-interface design with an easy-to-read, high-contrast display that allows clinicians to clearly see the Masimo Rainbow SET measurements—even from across the room. Alarms and alerts can be enabled at the bedside or remotely, via the Patient SafetyNet system. Rad-87 allows activation of many features with only a single touch and its unique visual display allows users to quickly confirm if the alarm settings are appropriate for the patient environment.
Rad-87 also features Masimo Rainbow SET, the first-and-only noninvasive
blood constituent monitoring platform measuring carboxyhemoglobin (SpCO),
methemoglobin (SpMet), and PVI, in addition to oxyhemoglobin (SpO2),
perfusion index (PI), and pulse rate. A cost-effective solution for critical
care customers who value ease-of-use and versatility, Rad-87 will also be
capable of displaying Masimo’s newest Rainbow measurement—noninvasive total
hemoglobin (SpHb) (pending FDA clearance).
FDA gives green light to GE Healthcare surgery; shipping resumes on C-arms The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified GE Healthcare’s Surgery business, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, that the company has satisfied the criteria in the January 2007 consent decree required to resume operations. The OEC 9900 Elite C-arm, a fluoroscopy device that uses x-rays to reveal real-time imagery of a patient’s internal structure, is the first product to receive manufacturing and shipping authorization. More than 300 of these units will be shipped to customers in the first 10 days of operations.
Every day, seven out of ten surgeons rely on an OEC C-arm in their operating
rooms. In fact, during GE Healthcare Surgery’s stop-ship, many customers
held their equipment orders, some waiting more than eighteen months. In a
survey taken during the stop ship, more than 50% of prospective customers
said they would buy an OEC C-arm if it were available. Responding to this
overwhelming demand, GE Healthcare Surgery has added additional shifts and
resources to work through its backlog as quickly as possible. For more
information visit
THIS LINK.
Competitive bidding for medical equipment and supplies could reduce program payments, but adequate oversight is critical For more than a decade, GAO has reported that Medicare has paid higher than market rates for medical equipment and supplies provided to beneficiaries under Medicare Part B. Since 1989, Medicare has used fee schedules primarily based on historical charges to set payment amounts. But this approach lacks flexibility to keep pace with market changes and increases costs to the federal government and Medicare’s 44 million elderly and disabled beneficiaries. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 required the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)—the agency that administers Medicare—to test competitive bidding as a new way to set payments. CMS did this through a demonstration in two locations in which suppliers could compete on the basis of price and other factors for the right to provide their products. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) required CMS to conduct competitive bidding on a large scale and suppliers to obtain accreditation. GAO was asked to describe the effects that competitive bidding could have on Medicare program payments and suppliers and the need for adequate oversight to ensure quality and access for beneficiaries in a competitive bidding environment. This testimony is based primarily on GAO work conducted from May 1994 to January 2007, which GAO updated by interviewing CMS officials and reviewing agency documents. Competitive bidding could reduce Medicare program payments by providing an incentive for suppliers to accept lower payments for items and services to retain their ability to serve beneficiaries and potentially increase their market share. Fundamentally different from fee schedules based on historical charges to Medicare, competitive bidding allows the market to help CMS determine payment amounts. In the demonstration, the new fee schedule amounts were based on the winning suppliers’ bids for items included and 50 percent to 55 percent of the bids from suppliers were selected. Evidence from CMS’s competitive bidding demonstration suggests that competition saved Medicare $7.5 million and saved beneficiaries $1.9 million—without significantly affecting beneficiary access. For the competitive bidding program, CMS required suppliers to obtain accreditation based on quality standards and provide financial documents to participate. This added scrutiny gives CMS the chance to screen out suppliers that may not be stable, legitimate businesses, which could contribute to lower rates of improper payment. CMS also evaluated the bids based on demand, capacity, and price and chose suppliers whose bids were at or under a certain amount. CMS estimates that the first round of its competitive bidding program will result in payment amounts that average 26 percent less than the current fee schedule amounts. Competitive bidding also changes Medicare’s relationship with suppliers and departs from Medicare’s practice of doing business with any qualified provider, because it is designed to limit the number of suppliers to those whose bids are at or under a certain amount.
Because of concerns that competitive bidding may prompt suppliers to cut
their costs by providing lower-quality items and curtailing services,
ensuring quality and access through adequate oversight is critical for the
success of the competitive bidding program. In September 2004, GAO indicated
that quality assurance steps could include monitoring beneficiary
satisfaction, setting standards for suppliers, giving beneficiaries a choice
of suppliers, and selecting winning bidders based on quality and the dollar
amount of the bids. As competitive bidding expands, problems that
beneficiaries might experience could be magnified. Therefore, continued
monitoring of beneficiary satisfaction will be critical to identify problems
with suppliers or with items provided to beneficiaries. As required in the
MMA, GAO will review and report on the competitive bidding program’s impact
on suppliers and manufacturers and its effect on quality and access for
beneficiaries.
Cardinal Health recalling mouthwash distributed to hospitals Cardinal Health Inc., the parent company of St. Louis-based pharmacy franchisor Medicine Shoppe International Inc., is recalling an alcohol-free mouthwash it marketed to hospitals and medical centers after the product tested positive for an infection-causing bacteria. The Dublin, Ohio-based company said the recall applies to 60,000 bottles of mouthwash made by Hydrox Inc. and labeled with Cardinal's brand name. While not sold in retail stores, it was distributed in individual bottles and in Cardinal's Presource kits for hospitals, medical centers and long-term care facilities. Cardinal said the mouthwash was tested and found positive for Burkholderia cepacia, a bacteria that poses little risk to healthy people but can lead to respiratory infections, particularly for those with weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the mouthwash has been associated with hospital illnesses in a state Cardinal didn't disclose.
Cardinal said the
mouthwash with a reorder number of AG-210 and lot code of 26228 stamped on
the bottom left side of the label is affected. Facilities with individual
bottles can call 800-964-5227 while those with the product in Presource kits
can call 800-766-0706. (St. Louis Business Journal - from Business First of
Columbus)
The Council of Supply Chain Executives announces new supply chain member The Council of Supply Chain Executive (The Council), announces the addition of Mr. Ed Robinson to its roster of nationally acclaimed supply chain executives. Mr. Robinson is the System VP, Supply Chain Services for OhioHealth, Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Robinson is responsible for all aspects of supply chain management activities at OhioHealth, including Accounts Payable, Clinical Engineering and Imaging Engineering. The system is comprised of eight owned, one managed and six affiliated hospitals.
The Council is an organization that allows supply chain executives from
across the country to assemble together to offer their best practices and
experiences to their peers and to healthcare suppliers in small focus group
panels. The Council offers various healthcare suppliers a collaborative
forum to ask for feedback and advice from the country’s leading supply chain
executives in a neutral and constructive environment.
The Council of Supply Chain Executives will convene next on November 6-7,
2008 in Franklin, TN. Due to the unique nature and format of The Council of
Supply Chain Executives, only a limited number of healthcare suppliers can
attend.
Much of the increased risk of death from smoking reduced within several years after quitting Women who quit smoking significantly reduce their risk of death from coronary heart disease within 5 years and have about a 20 percent lower risk of death from smoking-related cancers within that time period, according to a study in the May 7 issue of JAMA. “Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Globally, approximately 5 million premature deaths were attributable to smoking in 2000. The World Health Organization projects by 2030 that tobacco-attributable deaths will annually account for 3 million deaths in industrialized countries and 7 million in developing countries,” the authors write. They add that the rate of mortality risk reduction after quitting compared with continuing to smoke is uncertain. Stacey A. Kenfield, Sc.D., of the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, and colleagues assessed the relationship between cigarette smoking and smoking cessation on total and cause-specific mortality in women by analyzing data from the Nurses’ Health Study, an observational study of |
