The Exec: What It Takes to Be an Effective Physician Leader
Jeffrey Ciaramita, MD, is senior vice president and chief physician executive at Mercy. A practicing cardiologist, he previously served in leadership roles at Mercy Clinic, a large medical group affiliated with Mercy. Ciaramita recently talked with HealthLeaders about a range of issues, including physician leadership, workforce shortages, and patient safety. The following transcript of that conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Most Telehealth Visits Do Not Require In-Person Follow-Up Visits Within 90 Days
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, telehealth visits have increased dramatically. The millions of telehealth visits that have been conducted since the beginning of the pandemic are an opportunity for researchers to assess the utilization of telemedicine.
CIHQ Earns CMS Approval as an AO For Next 5 Years
As part of the approval process, CIHQ has made several changes and will likely make more as required by CMS. The changes largely involve standards and procedures related to fire safety and facilities management standards and surveys.
PSQH: The Podcast Episode 68 – Using Genetic Data to Prevent Adverse Drug Reactions
On episode 68 of PSQH: The Podcast, Dr. Houda Hachad, Vice President of Clinical Operations at AccessDx Laboratory, talks about using genetic data to prevent adverse drug reactions.
Holiday Decorations, Part 2: They’re Nice But Not if They Spread Infection
Is this the year when hospitals can finally embrace decorating again? Maybe not. Hospitals beds this winter are being filled across the country due to a rise in COVID-19 cases as well as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus cases that are hitting children particularly hard.
Want a Nursing Strategy? Build a Vision First!
It’s not exactly a news flash to say that staffing will be a top issue for nurse leaders in 2023. Kathleen Sanford, CNO at CommonSpirit Health, tells HealthLeaders that the massive challenge of recruiting and retaining nurses can be made more efficient when health systems know their mission and have a strategy for achieving it.
IHI Forum: Berwick Says ‘One of the Problems in Healthcare is Greed’
The focus on profits in U.S. healthcare is “damaging,” Institute for Healthcare Improvement President Emeritus and Senior Fellow Donald Berwick, MD, said during this week’s IHI Forum in Orlando, Florida. U.S. health systems, hospitals, and physician practices are committed to addressing the health needs of their patients. But making sure bottom lines are in the black and securing return on investment are also top goals at these healthcare organizations.
Holiday Decorations Can Cost a Lot If They Come With a Citation
A hospital in Kansas was cited by CMS in 2020 was cited under K-0753, the CMS K-tag for such festive adornments, for failing “to provide corridors safe from excessive combustible decorations” after a lab supply closet was spotted “completely covered with combustible decorations.”
Joint Commission Eliminates Use of ‘Licensed Independent Practitioner’
The Joint Commission (TJC) will no longer use the term “licensed independent practitioner” in its hospital and critical access hospital standards. Starting February 19, 2023, the term “licensed practitioner” will be used.
CMS Hones In On Underperforming Nursing Homes With Tougher Oversight
Eighty-eight nursing homes participate in the SFF Program, which is 0.5% of all nursing homes in the country. The Program was created to help nursing homes improve compliance and quality, however, some facilities have not been able to achieve the necessary standards to graduate from the Program, or they fail to sustain compliance.