NHA Foundation awards scholarships for health careers
Lincoln, NE – The Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) Research and Educational Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2007 Graduate Studies Tuition Aid Program and the Undergraduate Health Career Scholarships. The NHA Research and Educational Foundation is helping to address the ongoing workforce shortage by assisting the future leaders of health care in their efforts to pursue a degree in health care or further their education through the two scholarship programs established in 1987. “For twenty years this program has helped several talented people reach their career aspirations while concurrently helping to build Nebraska’s pool of health care professionals and leaders. It is a wonderful opportunity for anyone interested in pursuing a health related profession,” said NHA President, Laura J. Redoutey, FACHE.
The Graduate Studies Tuition Aid Program offers students $3,000 per academic year and the Undergraduate Health Career Scholarships offer students $1,000 per academic year. Hospital leaders evaluated scholarship applications, judging them on academic record, a written statement, letters of reference, extracurricular activities, and health care-related activities.
Scholarships were awarded to students from all parts of the state. Jon Borton, NHA’s senior director of education, said “We are delighted to have had so many outstanding applicants for the scholarship program. Each of the recipients has a great deal of skills and knowledge that will contribute so much to the future of health care delivery in Nebraska.”
Click here to view the list of the 2007 scholarship recipients.
Two
sides to safe haven debate
When a Lincoln woman gave birth at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, then left the baby at the hospital, she was doing exactly what most safe haven laws in other states allow — leaving her infant daughter in a safe place. In every state except Nebraska and Alaska, a mother can leave a newborn at a designated safe haven, generally a hospital, police station or fire station.
Safe haven laws are intended to protect children by providing places at which an unwanted child can be dropped off, said Sen. Rich Pahls of Omaha, one of two senators who introduced safe haven bills in the Nebraska Legislature in January. “It’s that simple,” Sen. Pahls said. Most children dropped off at safe haven sites survive and are adopted, he said, while many who are dropped off in unsafe places die.
So why hasn’t Nebraska passed a safe haven law? Some people think they’re ineffective.
“There is kind of a gut level reaction to safe haven bills,” said Adam Pertman, executive director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, an independent, nonpartisan research-based agency. “How can you vote against helping abandoned babies?” But he doesn’t believe the laws have slowed the rate of unsafe abandonment.
Read the full Lincoln Journal-Star article.
— Nancy Hicks, Lincoln Journal Star, July 22, 2007.
Recognize
our veterans in NHA’s “Salute to Veterans in Health Care”
The Nebraska Hospital Association’s “Salute to Veterans in Health Care” will feature the names of Nebraska’s brave veterans and current servicemen and women who work in our hospitals/health systems. Names will be published in the fall edition of the NHA’s quarterly magazine,
Healthier Nebraska. Help the NHA recognize an important part of the health care team by submitting the names of those individuals that have served or are currently serving our country and who are current or former employees, volunteers, trustees, or board members of your organization.
Please note: recognition is not limited to one person per facility. Deadline for submissions is August 30, 2007. For more information or to download the submission form
click here or contact Christy Rasmussen, director of communications, at 402/742-8151 or
crasmussen@nhanet.org.
Nebraskans using new tax-exempt long-term care plans
(AP) – Some Nebraskans have already signed up for the newly created tax-exempt savings plan for long-term health care costs. Under the terms of the savings plan, a person can save $1,000 a year without paying state income tax on it. The State Treasurer's Office said five Nebraska banks are offering the plan: Cornhusker Bank, First National Bank and Trust in Columbus, First National Bank and Trust in Syracuse, Thayer County Bank in Hebron and Oak Creek Valley Bank in Valparaiso. Nineteen people have opened accounts so far. Some states allow tax deductions on money used to pay for long-term care insurance, but Nebraska is the only state that allows tax-free savings plans.
— Nebraska Chamber Daily Update, July 23, 2007.
AHA
unveils framework for reform
AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock unveiled Health for Life: Better Health, Better Health
Care, the association’s framework for improving health and health care in America, Wednesday at the AHA-Health Forum Leadership Summit in San Diego. The framework, approved for dissemination by the AHA Board, focuses on five goals: a focus on wellness; most efficient, affordable care; highest quality care; best information; and health coverage for all, paid for by all. Umbdenstock noted that, because “the issues facing health care concern everyone, not just hospitals,” he does not want
Health for Life to be thought of as the hospitals’ plan for change, but rather “a framework that hospitals, physicians, patients, businesses, civic and community leaders can rally around.” AHA hopes to use the framework to engage the public and elected officials in a debate about health reform as the 2008 elections near. A video of Umbdenstock’s remarks, along with a copy of the framework, is available at
www.aha.org by clicking on the “Health for
Life” icon.
— AHA News Now, July 23, 2007.
Nelson
praises house vote to protect patient access to health care
Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson today praised yesterday’s lopsided 412 to 12 vote in the House of Representatives against a proposal by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to cut $24 billion from Medicare payments to hospitals.
“Hospitals in rural and underserved areas form the cornerstone of the fragile health care delivery system. The reduction could result in unmet needs of thousands, potentially millions, of patients living in both rural and urban areas,” said Sen. Nelson. “The large cut is unwarranted and would hurt hospitals’ abilities to care for their patients.”
Sen. Nelson said he is hopeful that the Senate will follow the House vote and reject the reduction. Last month Nelson and other senators sent a letter to the CMS opposing the reduction.
— News from Nelson, July 26, 2007.
To
fund children’s health plan, House would pay insurers less
House Democrats would rely less on tobacco taxes than the Senate would and more on cuts to Medicare insurers to pay for a proposed $50-billion expansion of a children's health insurance program. The proposal also would eliminate a 10 percent cut due next year in the reimbursement rate for doctors who treat Medicare patients.
Read the full article.
— AP/Los Angeles Times, July 25, 2007.
Saunders Medical Center to hold dedication this Sunday
Saunders Medical Center (SMC) in Wahoo is holding a dedication and open house from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 29, 2007. The hospital’s new 90,000 square foot health care and long-term care campus is designed to meet the current and future needs of Saunders County residents. Governor Dave Heineman will be the keynote speaker.
Funding for the SMC’s new campus was provided through a bond issue approved by a majority of Saunders County voters. This new campus replaces a hospital that was constructed in 1951, a long-term care residence that was built in 1975, and a clinic that was completed in 1992. Saunders Medical Center added that they are pleased to provide a state-of-the-art medical center and long-term care residence for area families. For more information contact Cheryl Points at Saunders Medical Center at 402/443-1422.
Transplant Reunion celebrates second chances, gift of life
Omaha, NE – They come to celebrate, to see old friends and to make new ones. Several hundred transplant recipients will gather in Omaha on Saturday, July 28, 2007 for The Nebraska Medical Center’s Transplant Reunion. This year’s celebration marks 37 years of organ transplantation and more than 3,600 transplants in Omaha. The reunion runs from 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Convention Center, 3321 South 72nd Street in Omaha.
Read the full news release from the Nebraska Medical Center.
Click here to read a recent Shreveport Times article about a second chance given to a Louisiana toddler because of a rare small bowel transplant she received at The Nebraska Medical Center last week.
FAMC
cancer program receives accreditation and commendation
Fremont, NE – Fremont Area Medical Center (FAMC) recently received accreditation with commendation from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer (CoC). FAMC’s cancer program received the highest level of recognition the Commission awards and has been accredited since 1996.
The Commission on Cancer awards approval to only those facilities that have voluntarily committed to provide the best in diagnosis and treatment of cancers and undergo a rigorous evaluation process and performance review. The three-year approval with commendation means that FAMC was in compliance with all 36 standards established by the CoC and also received one or more commendation ratings. In FAMC’s case, four commendations were awarded.
Mike Leibert, FAMC president and chief executive officer, said “Our patients deserve the best cancer care available, and since the inception of our cancer program, we’ve been dedicated to providing state-of-the-art technology. That technology, teamed with a staff that is as caring and dedicated as ours, provides for the highest quality cancer care.”
View the full news release from Fremont Area Medical Center.
Faith Regional Health Services receives leadership award
Norfolk, NE – VHA Inc., a national health care alliance, has recognized Faith Regional Health Services for providing excellent care to surgical patients. The 2007 VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence honors organizations that have distinguished themselves by meeting or exceeding national performance standards in specific clinical activities, including surgical care. The hospital was honored at VHA's Leadership Conference in Denver in May.
Faith Regional Health Services received the award for preventing surgical complications and infections. Nearly 300 hospitals nationwide received Leadership Awards this year from VHA for achievements in operational and clinical excellence, as well as supply chain management improvement and community benefit efforts.
"We are one of only 87 hospitals to receive a VHA Leadership Award for surgical care, and the award validates the dedicated focus of our clinical staff and physicians to pursuing excellence in the care provided to our surgical patients," said Lisa Walters, chief nursing officer at Faith Regional. Faith Regional's work team is represented by anesthesia, surgeons, operating room staff, nursing, diabetic educator, pharmacy and quality improvement.
View the full news release from Faith Regional Health Services.
The Nebraska Medical Center recognized nationally for stroke care
Omaha, NE – The Nebraska Medical Center has been recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA) for leading the nation in following evidence-based guidelines for treating patients with stroke. The Nebraska Medical Center is the first hospital in the state to receive the Annual Performance Achievement award for stroke care, a distinction given by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With the Guidelines (GWTG) program.
The GWTG program is a quality improvement program that helps hospitals ensure that patients consistently receive stroke care in accordance with the latest guidelines and recommendations. Hospitals are recognized for performance achievement if at least 85 percent of stroke patients are treated and discharged according to the AHA/ASA’s guidelines and recommendations for 12 consecutive months.
“This accomplishment signifies that The Nebraska Medical Center has exceeded the nationally accepted standards, or guidelines, to improve quality patient care by turning guidelines into lifelines,” said Pierre Fayad, M.D., director of the Stroke Center at The Nebraska Medical Center. “Rapid assessment, treatment and intensive acute care is vital for stroke patients to help them gain back as much of their lives as possible and prevent complications.”
View the full news release from The Nebraska Medical
Center.
CMS revises payment structure for ASCs, proposes policy changes for outpatient and ASC services
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule July 16 revising the payment system for services furnished to people with Medicare in ambulatory surgical centers (ASC). It also issued a proposed rule that would update Medicare payment for services in hospital outpatient departments under the outpatient prospective payment system and would set new payment rates for ASCs under the revised system effective for services in CY08.
Read more.
— HFMA’S Weekly News, July 20, 2007.
CMS forum on post-acute care payment reform demonstration
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a special open-door forum on July 26 on plans for implementing data collection for the post-acute care payment reform demonstration. The demonstration will collect data in acute care hospitals and four types of post-acute care providers: long term care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies.
Read
more.
— HFMA’S Weekly News, July 20, 2007.
Panel
holds hearing on tax-exempt organizations
The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight held the first in a series of
hearings
Tuesday on tax-exempt charitable organizations, looking broadly at how to strengthen the sector while ensuring public accountability. Witnesses included representatives from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Government Accountability Office (GAO), Independent Sector and Council on Foundations. Steven Miller, commissioner of the IRS’ tax exempt and government entities division, said the agency has increased compliance examinations and communications with the sector, examining more than 7,000 returns and communicating with more than 5,200 organizations last year. “On the whole, the charitable sector is very compliant with the tax code,” he said. A report released by the IRS last week summarized responses from almost 500 tax-exempt hospitals to a May 2006 questionnaire about how they provide and report benefits to the community.
— AHA News Now, July 24, 2007.
Vending machines now used to fill some prescriptions
Slide your debit card into an ATM, and you can get some cash. Slide your debit card into a new machine in Mercy Hospital's emergency room and you can get some heavy-duty painkillers or antibiotics. Mercy, in Council Bluffs, is the first hospital in the Omaha area and one of a handful of health care centers in Iowa to get a pharmacy vending machine aimed at outpatients.
State pharmacy officials aren't aware of any machines in Nebraska, but the machines are drawing attention here and nationally. The machines, stocked and fully automated, are touted for their convenience. They are aimed at a growing consumer demand for accessible health care. Pharmacy organizations are concerned about the safety and security of machines dispensing drugs directly to consumers.
Read the full article.
— Michael O’Connor, Omaha World Herald, July 19, 2007.
Communication
now part of the cure
Miscommunication puts patients at greater risk of becoming victims of preventable medical errors, according to the Joint Commission. And the Institute of Medicine reports that medical errors cause up to 98,000 deaths a year. The problem is so widespread that the federal government, non-profit agencies and individual advocates are working to improve communication practices at hospitals.
Read the full article.
— USA Today, July 25, 2007.
Tool to
promote diversity in hospital leadership
The Institute for Diversity in Health Management (Institute) plans to develop and distribute a survey to help hospitals assess and improve their internal diversity management programs. The results will be compiled into a database that lets health care organizations benchmark and compare their diversity efforts, and allows the Institute to recognize hospitals and health systems that embrace diversity in leadership. The survey tool will focus on strengthening a diverse workforce; expanding the diversity of the leadership team; delivering culturally proficient patient care; and strengthening the diverse communities that hospitals serve. It is based on an Institute tool for assessing diversity and cultural competency, standards identified by the Magnet nursing program and Joint Commission tools by Florida Hospital. The AHA is a founder of the Institute. The Nebraska Hospital Association is a member and supporter of the Institute for Diversity in Health Management.
— AHA News Now, July 24, 2007.
American Public Health Association announces the Get Ready campaign
The American Public Health Association (APHA) recently announced the launch of its new Get Ready campaign. Get Ready will help Americans prepare for a potential influenza pandemic and other emerging infectious disease outbreaks. The campaign features a blog, fact sheets and podcasts available to health care providers and the public. To find out more about the campaign, visit
www.getreadyforflu.org.
Saunders
Medical Center Dedication and Open House
July 29, 2007 –
Saunders
Medical
Center, Wahoo, NE
Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care
Parntership- Hospice 101 Conference
August 9-10, 2007 – North Platte and Lincoln, NE
Jefferson
Community Health Center Charity Golf Tournament
August 10, 2007 – Fairbury, NE
Nebraska
Society of Healthcare Engineers 2nd Annual Golf Outing & Recognition Lunch
August 23-24, 2007 – North Platte, NE
Nebraska Rural Health Conference
September 6-7, 2007 – Holiday Inn Convention Center, Kearney
Kimball Hospital Foundation Golf Classic
September 8, 2007 – Kimball, NE
NHA 2007 Annual Convention and Trade Show
October 31-November 2, 2007 – Cornhusker Marriott Hotel,
Lincoln
,
NE
Visit the Events page on the NHA Web site for more information on any of the events.
If you have an event you would like listed on the NHA Web site, submit it to
Heather Bullock, marketing and events coordinator, at hbullock@nhanet.org.
NHA Newslink is published by the Nebraska Hospital Association, 3255 Salt Creek Circle, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68504-4761. Phone 402/742-8140, Fax 402/742-8191. Christy Rasmussen,
director of communications, at 402/742-8151, or email, crasmussen@nhanet.org.
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