Former owner wants United Medical Center back

Recent health Articles, Events, Jobs, and Resources.

CONTENTS

1. DCPCA/CHC News: Community of Hope makes the move to EHRs!
2. CHC News: Health update on Ruth Lubic
3. Article: Former owner of United Medical Center wants hospital back
4. Article: Gray campaign weighs in on UMC case
5. Article: More 'empowered' patients question doctors' orders
6. Article: Many physicians opt for expensive, defensive medicine
7. Article: Doctors use cellphone photos to deliver mobile health
8. Article: Be skeptical of health care credit cards
9. Article: Drug errors are dangerous, but preventable
10. Article: Exercise can override fat genes
11. Article: CareFirst rolling out HealthyBlue plan in October
12. Article: Kaiser Permanente launches new $53M Thrive ad campaign

ARTICLE SUMMARIES

1. DCPCA/CHC News: Community of Hope Makes the Move to EHRs!
DC Primary Care Association/Community of Hope, July 26, 2010

Summary:  Community of Hope recently went live with their fully operational eClinicalWorks electronic health records. COH is now registering their clients electronically, making their appointments, verifying past medical and surgical history, verifying current medications, documenting progress notes, electronically ordering labs and reviewing previous lab results, making referrals to specialists, electronically prescribing medications, and having reminders of preventive and chronic care guidelines for their patients. The fully integrated EHR system has also streamlined the collection and processing of third-party reimbursements for the community health centers, thereby enhancing their administrative infrastructure and their ability to generate revenue.  With this move to an EHR system, Community of Hope will be able to connect with other health centers and area hospitals to build and expand the DC RHIO.   For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , director of Health Center IT Support, at (202) 638-0252, extension 222.  |   Read more on COH's EHRs

2. CHC News: Health Update on Ruth Lubic
DC Developing Families Center, September 1, 2010

Last week, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it -- the founder and president emerita of the DC Developing Families Center -- was admitted at the Washington Hospital Center. After a series of involved tests, the diagnosis of viral meningitis was made (as distinct from bacterial meningitis, a very serious condition). It normally has a course of relatively short duration. Ruth is progressing well after a few difficult days, but visitors are not yet appropriate at this time. Ruth and Bill Lubic are grateful for all the good wishes. Ruth loves flowers, but, as her great aunt was wont to say, she has with gratitude received a plentiful sufficiency. Cards may be sent to Ruth in care of Linda A. Randolph, DC Developing Families Center, 801 - 17th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002.

3. Article: Former owner of United Medical Center wants hospital back
By Ben Fischer, Washington Business Journal, August 31, 2010

Summary: The former owner of United Medical Center is asking a judge to give the hospital back, arguing that the DC government never had the legal authority to foreclose on the property and that Mayor Adrian Fenty and others made several missteps in the days leading up to the July takeover. In a motion seeking summary judgment in the complex legal battle between the District and CMC Realty LLC, the ownership entity created by a subsidiary of Specialty Hospitals of America LLC, the company wants a DC Superior Court judge to declare the foreclosure invalid, returning all property to the control of Specialty. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17. If successful, the motion could throw the hospital into turmoil. For nearly two months, District officials have been intimately involved in shoring up the troubled hospital's finances, and a DC Council-created board of directors hosted its second meeting today at the hospital. In court, Specialty argued numerous points: When Fenty issued a mayoral order on May 20, revoking the Council's deferral of outstanding loan payments from UMC, he cited authority granted to him under emergency legislation, which expired one day earlier. As such, the complaint argues, there's no outstanding debt to trigger the foreclosure. And even if that order was legitimate, it would only apply to future loan payment schedules, meaning the hospital isn't in default until it misses a future payment. Specialty argues, the U.S. Constitution prohibits the Council from giving Fenty such wide discretion over whether to rescind the deferrals. Also, the complaint says, Specialty never gave permission to dissolve the 2007 partnership with DC, and under the original terms, the District, as a limited partner, was prohibited from taking steps to control the partnership. Finally, the complaint argues, a legitimate means existed for DC to take the hospital -- eminent domain -- but it didn't try.  |  Read article

4. Article: Gray campaign weighs in on UMC case
By Ben Fischer, Washington Business Journal, WBJ BizBeat, August 31, 2010

Summary: After reading WBJ's coverage of a legal bid from Specialty Hospitals of America LLC to wrest United Medical Center back from DC government, Traci Hughes, spokeswoman for DC Council Chairman Vincent Gray's bid to become mayor, offered this statement: Hopefully the court will have benefit of full cooperation from Attorney General Nickles as it reviews the legality of the foreclosure of the UMC. Gray certainly hopes this isn't another example of this administration rushing to take action at the expense of District taxpayers. That's more or less what Specialty alleges happened. According to the motion filed in DC Superior Court, Mayor Adrian Fenty, Attorney General Peter Nickles, and the DC Council made numerous missteps in setting the legal groundwork for the July 9 foreclosure auction. Specialty argues the foreclosure was invalid. Fenty rescinded a deferral of owed debts from Specialty, then Nickles declared them to be in default, foreclosed on the hospital and then the District bought it from itself, in an effort to keep UMC open -- an effort that was a top priority of numerous District officials, because it's the only acute care hospital in Wards 7 or 8. Nickles said courts already heard Specialty's arguments against the foreclosure, and rejected an attempt to stop it beforehand. Nickles called the motion pretty weird.  |  Read article

5. Article: More 'empowered' patients question doctors' orders
By Mary Brophy Marcus, USA TODAY, September 1, 2010

Summary: An increasing number of patients are getting involved in decisions about their medical care -- including medication choices, whether they need a specialist, and especially whether they need expensive diagnostic tests, which some health economists say are driving up the cost of health care. Physicians talk more with patients now about the shared decision model -- looking at costs, benefits, and risks. Some doctors find the newer empowered patients taxing, while others welcome involvement and questions -- especially since they recognize more patients are ponying up for larger co-pays or are uninsured and covering entire medical fees themselves. And when it comes to medical testing, some of the newer, more invasive tests can have risks a patient should be aware of and discuss, too. Some patients don't know what they're getting tested for, and don't ask questions. Patients need to empower themselves by asking for copies of test results, making sure they get test results back from their doctor, and calling if they don't. Every patient should be his/her own advocate. And it helps to have a spouse or family member be one, too, whether you're in your doctor's office, the emergency room, or the hospital.  |  Read article

6. Article: Even with malpractice insurance, doctors opt for expensive, defensive medicine
By Manoj Jain, The Washington Post, August 31, 2010

Summary: Most malpractice suits turn out to be against doctors who weren't at fault. Of every 100 malpractice claims filed, only 17 appeared to involve a negligent injury, such as a medication overdose resulting in death. This means that patients and lawyers appear to be suing the doctors and hospitals for non-negligent injury 83% of the time. Studies of hospital records show that of every 100 injuries that occur due to medical negligence, only two result in malpractice claims. This means that 98 of 100 negligent injuries go unchallenged. A lawsuit threatens a doctor's livelihood. It alters a physician's judgment; it's like the difference between the right thing to do and the politically right thing to do. Surveys of physicians found that 80% practice defensive medicine, ordering extra tests that add billions annually to our health care expenditure. But our malpractice system serves a necessary purpose. The malpractice system is a stick that reminds wayward doctors and hospitals that health care is about patients. It helps keep the arrogance, negligence, mismanagement, and greed of some doctors and hospitals in check. It holds health providers to a basic standard of care. It gives the ultimate hand, in how care should be delivered, to patients.  |  Read article

7. Article: Physicians use photos from patients' cellphones to deliver 'mobile health'
By Leslie Tamura, The Washington Post, August 31, 2010

Summary: In May, Neal Sikka began a six-month study examining how accurately emergency doctors and physician assistants at the George Washington University Hospital could diagnose wounds from patient-generated cellphone images. It's the largest mobile health study looking at acute wound care. Mobile health is an emerging field within telemedicine that comprises all aspects of care generated from or available on a portable mobile device such as a cellphone. Doctors already use traditional forms of telemedicine -- teleconferencing and videoconferencing -- but mHealth eliminates the need for scheduling conference rooms and reserving equipment. MHealth could especially benefit patients living in isolated areas and those who don't want to spend the time, money, and energy waiting for evaluation of a superficial injury. For emergency medicine, mHealth allows doctors to reach out into the community and provide a service that crosses that whole issue of time and space. In the new study, researchers recruit people who arrived at the hospital with cuts, skin infections, rashes, and other flesh wounds. Patients use their own camera phones to document their injuries. After filling out a questionnaire about their medical history and symptoms, they send the images to a secure e-mail account. All images are downloaded and stored on a secure hard drive. A doctor will look at the picture along with the questionnaire and make a diagnosis. Researchers use a PC to zoom in and focus on specific parts of the photo. Then the doctor will see the patient to see if the cellphone diagnosis was accurate. So far, ~90% of diagnoses are accurate. Camera phones with at least three megapixels, autoflash, and autofocus work well.  |  Read article

8. Article: Be skeptical of health-care credit cards
By Michelle Andrews, Kaiser Health News, The Washington Post, August 31, 2010

Summary: Thousands of dentists are offering patients health care credit cards to cover the work that needs to be done, with seemingly hard-to-resist repayment terms. If you need care and don't have insurance to cover it or cash in hand, it's tempting to sign up. But beware: Many of the card companies and some of the practitioners who offer them are under scrutiny for deceptive and sometimes fraudulent practices. Think hard and read the fine print before you sign on the dotted line. According to investigators and patient advocates who worked with consumers to resolve problems, patients frequently aren't even aware they're applying for a credit card; many think they're providing financial information to work out an extended payment agreement with their doctor or dentist. Once they get the card, more unpleasant surprises can be ahead. Many cards promise interest-free borrowing as long as consumers pay off the amount owed within a specified time. But consumers who don't pay off their debt within that time frame often get hit with interest charges exceeding 25% on the entire amount, back to the original date they purchased the services. Other consumers discovered they've been charged thousands of dollars for work that hadn't yet been done.  |  Read article

9. Article: Drug errors are dangerous but preventable
Consumers Union of United States, Inc., The Washington Post, August 31, 2010

Summary: At least 1.5 million serious, preventable drug errors occur in the U.S. each year. Safe drug use starts in your doctor's office with a brown bag review. Bring all your medicine, including over-the-counter drugs, to your primary doctor once or twice a year to check for those you no longer need, those that can be taken at a lower dose, those that duplicate other medications you take, or those that interact with one another in potentially dangerous ways. Free samples may not give you the best drug for your condition, just the one a company representative left at your doctor's office. Moreover, they're the more expensive brand-name versions. Make sure you can read any new prescription. If you can't, a pharmacist might not be able to, either. Voice concerns. If you think you're having unpleasant side effects, don't stop taking the drug, but ask your doctor if you can switch to a different medicine or adjust the dose. Going to just one pharmacy lowers the risk of errors. The pharmacist there can track all the prescription and OTC drugs you take and record your drug allergies and chronic health problems. That allows the pharmacist to look for potentially dangerous interactions or inappropriate medications. Prepare and regularly update a list of all your medications. Carry the list in your purse or wallet in case you need to refer to it at a doctor's office, pharmacy, or hospital.  |  Read article

10. Article: Exercise can override 'fat genes,' study finds
By Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY, September 1, 2010

Summary: If you've been blaming your weight on your genes, get out and take a brisk walk. It will help fight your tendency toward overweight, a new study shows. Researchers in Great Britain studied 12 genetic variants known to increase the risk of obesity and tracked the physical activity levels of 20,430 people. They created a genetic summary score to quantify a person's risk of obesity and then examined whether an active life could reduce the genetic influence. Findings: Physical activity can reduce the genetic tendency toward obesity by 40%. Research findings challenge the popular myth that obesity is unavoidable if it runs in the family. You can get the benefits without running marathons. You can walk the dog, bike to work, or take the stairs. Being active ~30 minutes a day is a good start in reducing the effects of the genes. U.S. experts say the study adds to the data on the importance of exercise for weight control. This is more evidence that behavior can modify genetic predisposition. Just because someone has the genes doesn't mean that they'll become overweight or obese. Lifestyle such as physical activity can modify the effect.  |  Read article

11. Article: CareFirst rolling out HealthyBlue plan in October
By Ryan Sharrow, Baltimore Business Journal, August 31, 2010

Summary: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield began marketing its new HealthyBlue plan Sept. 1. HealthyBlue is a new health care plan aimed at rewarding healthy lifestyles and promoting stronger ties between patients and their primary care physicians. Coverage effective dates will begin Oct. 1. The Baltimore insurer says HealthyBlue is designed to make it easier for patients to seek necessary care and make them aware of their health risks. The plan will help provide the enrolled patients information and incentives to get and stay healthy. CareFirst CEO Chet Burrell said the plan will offer significant financial incentives to members who take control of their health care decisions and who work to improve their health status. Members who meet certain health criteria can earn rewards of up to $300 for an individual and $700 for a family. Rewards will be paid as a Healthy Rewards gift card or as a contribution to a health savings account.  |  Read article

12. Article: Kaiser Permanente launches new $53M "Thrive" ad campaign
By Chris Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, September 1, 2010

Summary: Kaiser Permanente is launching its 7th annual Thrive advertising campaign, to the tune of $53 million this time around. This year's campaign, including TV, radio, print, and online ads, will emphasize the importance of integrated health care and Kaiser Permanente's commitment to healthy families. The latest TV commercials -- dubbed "Plus One," "Where Do Babies Come From?" and "Integrated Care" -- emphasize services available to help Kaiser enrollees thrive at different stages of life. Lat year, Kaiser, which has 8.6 million enrollees in nine states and the District of Columbia, spent $50 million on the high-profile marketing campaign, which raised its national profile considerably since its inception in September 2006. Industry insiders have long speculated that Oakland-based Kaiser retained a foothold in the DC market in part so it can grab the attention of congressional and other leaders in their own backyard. The TV spots will run in California, where about 75% of Kaiser's enrollees reside; Hawaii; Portland, Ore.; Denver; Atlanta, Washington, DC, and parts of Maryland and Virginia. They debut Sept. 6. The ads, along with Kaiser Permanente content including health tips, nutrition information, recipes, Thrive music selections, and an exercise widget can be accessed on its own Thrive site, as well as on YouTube. For more info, read: Kaiser Permanente Highlights the Importance of Integrated Health Care with New Ads Debuting in September.  |  Read article

EVENTS

DCPCA 13th Annual Meeting
"Eyes on the Prize: The Road to Health Equity"
Save the Date: Thursday, October 7th, 9 am - 5 pm
Kellogg Conference Center
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue NE
In our thirteenth year hosting distinctive, change-making conferences that are free and open to all, DCPCA invites you to join us for our 2010 Annual Meeting. Let DCPCA take you on a journey; travel with us on the road to health equity. This year's historic health reform legislation brings expansions in coverage, investments in health information technology, and a new emphasis on quality care for all people. The District is miles ahead on this journey and DCPCA is leading the way. On October 7th, join us to see where we are and how far we have come on the road to health equity. Our event theme -- "Eyes on the Prize: The Road to Health Equity" -- symbolizes our long-term commitment to realizing a health care system with guaranteed access to primary care and no disparities in health outcomes for anyone in our city. This year, we will showcase our groundbreaking work in health care quality, technology, capital development, and workforce initiatives that make us a leader in the movement to achieve health equity for all in the District. Our keynote speaker and panelists will be experts and thought leaders in the area of health care reform and health equity. We are also delighted to have legendary blues and gospel singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples perform for us this year. For more info, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it at (202) 638-0252, extension 217.

Dinner and EHR Presentation
Wednesday, October 6th
Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center
The event is a free dinner buffet and open bar with presentations from three electronic health record vendors, a physician that has already implemented an EHR system, a non-biased implementation specialist, and an expert in the federal and state legislature regarding EHR adoption and meaningful use. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it at (413) 587-2666, extension 111. EMRconference.com is a non-biased educational resource for small to medium-sized independent practices, and provides a comprehensive understanding of the selection process and communication components needed for successful EHR implementation.

More Events...

JOBS

Physician/Medical Director (Full-Time)
So Others Might Eat, 60 O Street NW
Responsible for provision of outpatient clinical services for the SOME Medical Clinic and for clients in Residential Treatment at Maya Angelou and Exodus Houses, and for oversight of clinical standards in both programs. The medical director is supported by registered nurses. The Physician/Medical Director reports directly to the Assistant Executive Director. The physician will make independent clinical decisions with limited assistance from colleagues, provide care efficiently, cooperate with clinical and company policies, participate in continuous quality improvement requirements, complete follow-up on labs, and reviews results with patients in a timely manner, refills prescriptions requests in a timely manner, communicates with other outside medical providers on issues of patient care, responsible for compliance with federal regulations, HIPPA, OSHA, etc.

Public Health Advisor (CS-685-13)
DC Department of Health
The Public Health Advisor position is located in the DC Department of Health (DOH), Community Health Administration's (CHA) Primary Care Bureau. The mission of CHA is to improve health outcomes for all residents of the District of Columbia with an emphasis on women, infants, children (including children with special health care needs), and other vulnerable groups such as those with a disproportionate burden of chronic disease and disability. Salary Range: $77,884 - $100,357. Applicants must apply online and reference job ID #16635. Closes September 18, 2010.

Health Quality Improvement Manager, DCPCA

More Job Postings...

RESOURCES

WANTED: Health Care Workforce Development Consultant
The Greater Washington Regional Alliance for Careers in Health is looking for a knowledgeable project consultant. The project offers an exciting opportunity to play a leadership role in helping to address the workforce needs of our region's rapidly growing health care industry. The ideal candidate for this work will be a highly-skilled professional with: Familiarity with skill gaps and shortages in the health care industry; Knowledge of health care industry hiring, training, and advancement practices; and Demonstrated skill in building inter-organization partnerships. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Director, Workforce Initiatives, The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, at (202) 955-5890 x 160.

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