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OMAHA — Construction of a new cancer center that is part of the Nebraska
Medical Center's westward expansion is on schedule, and doctors are expected to
start seeing patients in November.
Increased demand for cancer treatment is driving construction of the center,
southeast of 180th Street and West Dodge Road. The hospital is running out of
room for cancer services at its midtown campus, said Chad Kruse, a facility
analyst with the medical center. The outpatient cancer center, announced three
years ago, will double the hospital's space for cancer treatment. The center is
a joint project with UNMC Physicians.
Click here
to read the full article.
— by Michael O'Connor, Omaha World-Herald, May 27, 2008
OMAHA — Low-intensity case management can reduce emergency room visits by
more than half and hospital stays by one-third for patients at high risk of
hospitalization due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according
to a landmark study.
The findings were reported May 21 at the American Thoracic Society’s 2008
International Conference in Toronto. “Even we were surprised by the magnitude of
our results. In the past, most studies have shown very little benefit from
limited intervention. However, those studies were not as rigorous and did not
include as many patients,” said Naresh A. Dewan, M.D., study co-principal
investigator. Dewan, a Creighton University professor of medicine, is chief of
the pulmonary section at Omaha Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical
Center.
“Due to the low cost and relative ease of our model, we believe it could and
should be used in a variety of patient settings to improve patient outcomes and
help control health care costs,” Dewan noted.
Click here to read the
full news release.
— VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System, news release, May 21,
2008
OMAHA — The nursing staff throughout The Nebraska Medical Center takes pride
in delivering extraordinary patient care each day. May 27, one of those nurses
will receive a special honor; the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
The
not-for-profit DAISY Foundation (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the
Immune System) was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick
Barnes. Barnes died at the age of 33 in 1999 from complications of Idiopathic
Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon autoimmune
disease. The care Barnes and his family received inspired this unique means of
thanking nurses across the country for making a profound difference in the lives
of their patients and patients’ families.
Click here
to read the full news release.
— The Nebraska Medical Center, news release, May 27, 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should develop a
methodology for conducting on-site surveys for Medicare re-approval of organ
transplant programs, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes in a
new report. The
report also recommends that CMS and the Health Resources and Services
Administration, which oversees the Organ Procurement and Transplantation
Network, finalize an agreement to share oversight information. In the report,
the Department of Health and Human Services agrees with the recommendations. HHS
said CMS has developed an initial framework for conducting on-site surveys, but
that its implementation will depend on resources. The report, requested by
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Charles Grassley, examines federal
oversight of the organ transplantation system.
— AHA News Now, May 21, 2008
Overall hospital prices rose 0.1 percent in April, and were 3.5 percent higher than a year
ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Prices at general medical and
surgical hospitals rose 0.1 percent, and were 3.6 percent higher than in April 2007, according
to the BLS' Producer Price Indices, which measure average changes in selling
prices received by domestic producers for their output. For hospitals, this
translates into actual or expected reimbursement for a sample of treatments or
services. The PPI for hospitals measure changes in actual or expected
reimbursement received for services across the full range of payer types. This
includes the negotiated contract rate from the payer plus any portion expected
to be paid by the patient.
— AHA News Now, May 20, 2008
YORK — York General Dialysis Services has enhanced its commitment to the
community by adding two additional treatment chairs to its original six. These
two chairs represent so much more -- more treatments, more families served, more
needs met, all closer to the patient’s home.
Click here
to read the full news release.
—
York General Health Care Services, news release, May 28, 2008
OMAHA – Alegent Health is joining forces with Life Line Screening, the
nation’s largest provider of preventive screenings to reduce the risk of stroke
and fractures. Preventive health screenings can identify risk factors that lead
to stroke or fractures before they happen.
Combining Life Line Screenings with Alegent Health’s state-of-the-art
diagnostics and nine hospitals creates a continuum of care that is unsurpassed
in Nebraska and Iowa. “We understand the value of preventive health care and
have made a commitment to help prevent catastrophic events like stroke,” said
John May, vice president of cardiovascular services at Alegent Health. This
partnership is an important illustration of that commitment.”
Click here to read
the full news release.
— Alegent Health, news release, May 21, 2008
LINCOLN – Ever have the feeling you were being watched? Imagine having your
every move tracked by 12 infrared cameras taking images from multiple
perspectives at up to 10,000 frames per second. This is the type of futuristic
analysis that has just been acquired by the Madonna Research Institute, Movement
Sciences Center of Excellence in Lincoln, Neb.
Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital is the first hospital and gait lab in the
country to have the Oqus 3000 camera system by Qualisys. The system will be used
to identify, analyze, and develop new treatment programs for gait and movement
problems.
Click here to read the full news release.
— Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, news release, May 28, 2008
The 2008 NHA Annual Mid-Year Meeting and Golf Tournament will be held June
11-13, 2008 in Kearney, Nebraska. The theme for the 2008 NHA Mid-Year Meeting is
“Going Green: Healthy Hospital Environments & Sustainability." Patients and
staff are more aware than ever of the benefits of going green because it is good
for the environment. Many will make green choices, but the big question remains
– what will it cost? Hospitals have the great potential to effect positive
change by seeing opportunities to influence their own operations. Making these
green choices is necessary for sustaining growth and profitability in the
future. Sessions during this year’s Mid-Year Meeting will provide an overview of
“hot” environmental topics including construction and operations, green
cleaning, pollution prevention and waste reduction. Join your hospital
colleagues in committing to preserve the environment and promote responsible use
of resources.
Topics Include:
• Green Guide for Health Care: Construction and Operations
• MetroHealth Project Certification –
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating
• The Soft Side of Going Green
• Partners in Pollution Prevention
• Sustainability 101 for Health Care
Professionals
• Nebraska Materials Exchange Program
• Special ACHE Category I “In-a-Box” Session on
Friday (non-ACHE members may attend)
• Managing for Morale: Effective Management
Techniques to Retain Your Staff
Sponsors Reception/Entertainment with Tim Gabrielson, Comedian/Magician
Join us for the Mid-Year Sponsors’ Reception and Dinner with
comedian/magician, Tim Gabrielson. Mr. Gabrielson has one goal when he steps on
stage: Keep It Funny. A native of Minnesota, Tim began performing at a local
theme park at age 16. His comedic wit and natural timing combined with magical
prowess quickly made him a park favorite and landed him a contract with a local
agency. He soon became one of the Midwest's youngest and fastest rising
entertainers.
NHA/HFMA Mid-Year Golf Tournament
The Mid-Year Golf Tournament is always one of the favorite events of the
year. On Wednesday, June 11, enjoy the beautiful Kearney Country Club Golf
Course and the camaraderie of other health care professionals, affiliate
members, and members of the HFMA Nebraska Chapter. After the tournament, relax
during the post-tournament awards party at the clubhouse. (Registration begins
at 8:00 a.m. and tee off at 9:00 a.m.)
The Kearney Country Club has been prospering for over 85 years. Its rich
heritage and picturesque 18-hole course set it apart. The now infamous island
green, Hole #17, was completed in 2004 and is the only one in the state. In
fact, more than half of the course is currently surrounded by Kearney Lake and
the Kearney canal. In addition to the course’s scenic views, the Club offers two
practice greens, a full driving range, ample cart storage, frequent golf and
social events, tennis courts, excellent dining, and a multitude of special
occasion facilities and services.
Click
here to download a program brochure and registration information.
FREMONT — Fremont Area Medical Center (FAMC) officially opened its new 20,000
square foot Imaging Center on Thursday, May 15, marking the completion of Phase
1 construction. All patients receiving imaging (radiology) services can now
enter through the new west entrance. Registration for imaging procedures will
now be performed in that area.
According to Patrick Booth, FAMC President and Chief Executive Officer, the
new Imaging Center is a $15 million investment in the community. "This project
has not only provided us with a beautiful facility, but one that houses the very
latest in imaging technology. So the biggest benefit to the community is quality
- better technology provides better images. At the same time, patient access,
comfort, privacy, and service have been greatly improved."
Click
here for details about the open house.
— Fremont Area Medical Center, news release, May 28, 2008
LINCOLN — On behalf of our 85 member hospitals and the 41,000 persons they
employ, the Nebraska Hospital Association (NHA) appreciates the opportunity to
submit comments to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) on
the proposed rule to revise and consolidate the criteria and process for
designating health professional shortage areas (HPSA) and medically underserved
areas and populations (MUA/P). While we are appreciative of the work and
analysis that have been conducted up to this point, we have serious concerns
about the potential impact that this proposed rule could have on the providers
and programs that depend on these designations for federal funding and believe
that additional analysis is warranted before finalizing any changes to the
existing regulations.
Click
here to read the letter.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Hospitals won a reprieve Friday from a change in Medicaid
regulations that would trim hospital payments by an estimated $5 billion over
the next five years.
Hospitals filed a federal lawsuit in March to void the regulations. On
Friday, U.S. District Court Judge James Robertson voiced exception to procedures
that federal health officials used to put the regulations into effect. His
ruling set aside the regulations. Robertson said Congress passed a law May 24,
2007, prohibiting "any action" to implement the regulation limiting hospital
reimbursements.
Nevertheless, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt "rushed a
typo-ridden final rule" to the Office of the Federal Register, which allowed the
rule to be issued just before Congress's prohibition could be signed into law.
Click here
to read the full article.
— The Associated Press/Omaha World-Herald, May 23, 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is reminding hospitals that they
are now required to use only their designated 10-digit National Provider
Identifier (NPI) for all HIPAA standard administrative and financial
transactions. Under CMS’ NPI rule, providers cannot use legacy identifiers on
claims submitted after Friday, May 23. “We are strongly urging all health care
providers to ensure they have and use their NPI,” said CMS Acting Administrator
Kerry Weems. He added that any Medicare transaction that does not use NPI will
be rejected.
— AHA News Now, May 27, 2008
SCOTTSBLUFF — In acknowledgment of continued commitment to quality
cancer care, Regional West Medical Center's cancer program has received the
Outstanding Achievement Award and full three-year approval status by the
American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. This is the second
consecutive Outstanding Achievement Award Regional West has received, with the
first coming in 2004.
Click here to read the full news release.
— Regional West Medical Center, news release, May 23, 2008
NORFOLK – VHA Inc., a national health care alliance, has recognized Faith
Regional Health Services for excellence in treating hospitalized patients with
pneumonia. The 2008 VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence honors
organizations that have distinguished themselves from other VHA members by
achieving national performance standards in specific clinical categories. The
hospital was honored at VHA’s Leadership Conference in Philadelphia on May 4.
Click
here to read the full news release.
— Faith Regional Health Services, news release, May 19, 2008
LINCOLN — The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the percentage of the national
population aged 65 years and older will rise from 12.4 percent in 2000 to almost
20 percent in 2030. By the year 2040, almost one in four Americans will be age
65 or older, according to those projections.
Click here to read the full article.
— Lincoln Journal Star, May 22, 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services launched a national advertising
campaign in 58 major daily newspapers to promote the Hospital Compare
www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov Web site. The campaign was undertaken
independently of the other members of the Hospital Quality Alliance. The ads
contain two Hospital Compare scores for a sample of hospitals in each
newspaper’s market: an HCAHPS score for the percentage of patients who said they
always received help when they requested it, and a score for the percentage of
patients given antibiotics one hour prior to surgery. CMS Acting Administrator
Kerry Weems
said the measures were chosen because “they would be interesting to
consumers and will drive them to the Web site for more information.” AHA
President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock, who chairs the HQA, said, “Hospitals have
led the effort to make useful information about hospital quality available to
the public through Hospital Compare. We hope that people who see the ads will be
motivated to look at the full range of information available on the Web site.”
— AHA News Now, May 21, 2008
May is National Stroke Awareness Month
“Use it or Lose It” 55PLUS Community Education
Lunch and Learn
May 30, 2008
Older Adult Falls Prevention Symposium
June 5, 2008 - BryanLGH West. Telehealth sites also available.
FAMC
Diabetes Self-Management Training program
June 10-12, 2008 - Fremont, NE
NHA-HFMA 2008
Golf Tournament
June 11, 2008- Kearney
NHA 2008
Mid-Year Meeting
June 12-13, 2008 - Kearney
Deadline for registration is May 30, 2008
Nebraska Hospice and Palliative
Care Partnership training workshops
June 10, 2008 - Lincoln
June 13, 2008 - Omaha
June 20, 2008 - Ogallala
Alegent Health Girls' Day Out
June 14, 2008 - Village Point, Omaha
Click here
for a list
of upcoming NHA audioconferences and Webinars.
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 in Newslink or 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. Contact Kim Larson, editor, at 402/742-8143 or email,
klarson@nhanet.org.
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