HCA eNews

There's a app for monitoring mothers in labor

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:00:00 -0000

Renee Simpson’s labor wasn’t progressing. She had been induced about 5 a.m., and little had happened.

Yet her obstetrician was still able to see 30 patients in the office that morning and keep tabs on Simpson, ultimately making the call to deliver by Caesarian section that afternoon. A device called AirStrip OB that in March went live at Community Hospital allows doctors to see laboring women’s and their babies’ vitals directly on a smart phone or computer.

The program delivers vital patient waveform data to remotely access fetal heart rate — including maternal contraction patterns — in real-time directly from the hospital labor and delivery unit to a doctor’s smart phone. Additional patient data is also accessible, including nursing notes, vital signs and order results…read more at the St. Petersburg Times.

Miami Children’s aligns with Palms West Hospital

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:00:00 -0000

For the second time in a month, Miami Children’s Hospital is extending its reach. It signed an agreement to provide pediatric emergency care at Palms West Hospital in Loxahatchee.

The 175-bed hospital owned by for-profit HCA mostly serves patients in Wellington, Royal Palm Beach and Loxahatchee. Thanks to a boost in staff from nonprofit Miami Children’s, it will have a medical staff of 49 pediatricians and 38 pediatric sub-specialists.

“We have long admired Miami Children’s excellent reputation for pediatric care and look forward to working together in Palm Beach County,” HCA East Florida Division President Michael G. Joseph stated in a press release…read more at the South Florida Business Journal.

Portsmouth doctor to study possible overuse of antibiotics

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:00:00 -0000

Local physician Timothy Pike is out to prove that, sometimes, medicine isn’t the best medicine.

In September, Pike will begin to work with nearly 50 other local health care providers in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study that looks at bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.

The study is aligned with a CDC initiative launched in 2003 called Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work and includes family practitioners and internal medicine doctors.

As a primary care physician affiliated with Portsmouth Regional Hospital
, Pike said the work he and other doctors at PRH will conduct over the next few months…read more at Seacoast Online.

Battle looms over Westside Jacksonville hospital proposal

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:00:00 -0000

Two of the nation’s largest hospital operators are heading to a Tallahassee courtroom once again in a pitched dispute over patients on the First Coast.

St. Vincent’s HealthCare, a subsidiary of Catholic health-care giant Ascension Health, is fighting HCA’s bid to build an 85-bed hospital on what it considers its home turf. The matter is scheduled to go before an administrative law judge Aug. 16, but the hearing may be postponed until October to give attorneys for both sides more time to gather information.

Officials with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration cleared HCA’s plans in December, citing high bed occupancy rates at nearby hospitals and projected population growth for the area. HCA, represented by its affiliate Memorial Health, wants to build somewhere west of Interstate 295 and south of Interstate 10 in the 32221 ZIP code…read more at the Florida Times-Union
.

HCA Midwest hires Bloom as chief information officer

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:00:00 -0000

HCA Midwest has hired Sarah Bloom as its new chief information officer.

Since 2007, Bloom had been director of field operations in HCA’s corporate office.

As chief information officer at HCA Midwest, Bloom will watch over the development and implementation of the health system’s electronic health record network, hCare, and make sure that the health system’s hospitals and physician offices have access to up-to-date technology.

“All of our hospitals are committed to providing every patient with the highest level of care in an environment where people, compassion, community and integrity are valued,” HCA Midwest President Steve Corbeil said…read more at the Kansas City Business Journal.

Lewis-Gale seeks to add 8-bed NICU

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:00:00 -0000

In seeking state permission to open a neonatal intensive care unit, Lewis-Gale Medical Center
contends there is a public expectation that speciality care for babies be available at the Salem hospital.

After announcing plans in June to seek approval for an eight-bed NICU, Lewis-Gale filed an application earlier this month detailing the $3.4 million project.

The application points to past circumstances where the state health commissioner has said that there is a reasonable expectation for neonatal care at hospitals where obstetrical services are provided. Lewis-Gale said some mothers won’t even consider delivering their children at Lewis-Gale because there isn’t a NICU.

NICUs treat babies born with complications, such as those who are born prematurely…read more at The Roanoke Times
.

HCA Midwest: New cancer center will boost patient volume

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:00:00 -0000

HCA Midwest Health System
held an open house for its new cancer diagnostic and treatment facility Wednesday afternoon.

Midwest Cancer Care at Menorah Medical Center
is on the second floor of a new 60,000 square-foot building. The $500,000 cancer center opened in March.

“This is the first step of us bringing together all of our components of the cancer care program under one roof,” HCA Midwest spokeswoman Amy Leiker said. “Really, everything that a cancer patient would need…Read more at the Kansas City Business Journal

The doctor will see you in 18 minutes

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:00:00 -0000

Richmond’s hospitals might remember this summer as the Billboard War of 2010.

Near the Staples Mill exit on Interstate 64, three billboards from competing hospitals are within yards of one another. One announces the recent merger of VCU Medical Center and Children’s Hospital. Another directs drivers to search for a doctor on Bon Secours’ website. (We hope it’s not so convincing that drivers browse the Internet while driving.)

And perhaps the most noticeable at 60 mph: A digital counter that shows how long you’ll wait if you have to go to the emergency room at Henrico Doctor’s Hospital.

“We know that right now the research shows that health care is one of the key areas consumers are interested in,” said Karen Nelson, executive director of marketing…read more at Richmond Biz Sense.

West Valley Medical Center Earns Spot on 2010 Best Places to Work List

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:00:00 -0000

“At West Valley Medical Center
, we take seriously our commitment to caring – not just for our patients, but for each other,” CEO Kathy Moore said. “We’ve found that cultivating an ideal workplace environment isn’t about the size of the campus. It’s about staff members connecting with each other and, in turn, using a community-conscious approach to provide patient-centered health care.”

The honored companies were evaluated using employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys (totally unrelated to the HCA
Employee Engagement Survey) developed and conducted by the survey sponsors, the Idaho Business Review, POPULUS and Price Associates. Winners were selected solely upon the basis of their employees’ survey answers. A company score was developed for each of the five dimensions of the workplace measured by the survey. Those companies achieving superior scores were chosen as the winners. Ten honorees were selected and ranked in two categories: small to medium-sized companies (20 -99 employees) and large companies (100 or more employees).

“These companies are among the state’s best employers who take pride in creating an environment that allows workers to feel respected and be productive; they also recognize how this helps the company be successful and reach its goals,” said Ron Price, president of Price Associates.

Alleghany hospital seeks to add 15 geriatric psychiatric beds

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:00:00 -0000

The nearly $1.4 million plan would provide the first treatment unit of its kind in the area.

Businesses, mental health advocates, health care providers and the academic community are all backing plans to open a 15-bed geriatric psychiatric unit at Alleghany Regional Hospital.

The Alleghany Highlands community has joined with the hospital to persuade the state to approve the plan, touting the move as a benefit to the community’s well-being and economy.

The hospital is leading the effort to establish the psychiatric unit dedicated to senior citizens as it seeks state permission. Because beds are licensed by… read more at Roanoke.com.