Press Releases

MEDICARE QUALITY REPORTING INITIATIVE PAYS OVER $36 MILLION TO PARTICIPATING PHYSICIANS FROM THE 2007 PQRI REPORTING PERIOD

Sterling Meyers — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:21:00 -0400

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) today announced payment of more than $36 million in bonus payments to many of the more than 56,700 health professionals who satisfactorily reported quality information to Medicare under the 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).

"Creating a value-based purchasing system is a critical way to improve our health care systems. By collecting quality data, health care providers can use the information to improve the quality care of beneficiaries," said Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt.

Physicians, physician group practices, and other PQRI eligible professionals should receive their payments by August 2008. The average incentive amount for individual professionals is over $600 and average incentive payment for a physician group practice is over $4,700, with the largest payment to a physician group practice totaling over $205,700.

"These payments to physicians for participating in the PQRI are a first step toward improving how Medicare pays for health care services," said CMS Acting Administrator Kerry Weems. "We all can agree that the current payment system needs to be reformed to pay for high quality care rather than continuing to pay for the volume of services. The PQRI has proven to be a successful step towards establishing a value-based purchasing program for physicians."

The PQRI is a voluntary program and, in accordance with a law passed by Congress late in 2006, physicians and other eligible professionals are able to receive bonus payments of 1.5 percent of their total allowed Medicare charges, subject to a cap, by satisfactorily submitting quality information for services they furnish between July and December of 2007. More than 109,000 professionals participated in the 2007. Of those, over 56,700 physicians and other eligible professionals met statutory requirements for satisfactory reporting for the 2007 reporting period and are receiving incentive payments. The 2007 reporting period received participation in all 50 states, including D.C., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Guam. Of all the participating states and territories, health professionals in Florida and Illinois are receiving the highest incentive payments for the 2007 reporting period. In Florida, they will receive a total of over $3 million and Illinois a total of over $2 million.

While the 2007 PQRI was a positive step towards reporting quality information, the 2008 PQRI program included significant enhancements in terms of the scope of measures that could be reported, the opportunity to receive incentive payments for the entire year, ability to report measures within a group for a specified number of patients, and the use of registries to report quality measures.

All eligible professionals that participated in the 2007 PQRI can begin accessing confidential feedback reports that aggregates the data they submitted and shows them how they compare with other participants. Providers must register with the Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services - Provider Community (IACS-PC) to access the feedback reports.

The 2008 PQRI program has grown to include 119 quality measures which were published in the Physician Fee Schedule for 2008. Leading physician organizations participated in the development of the PQRI program measures. Nearly all of the measures are clinical performance measures, such as the percentage of patients who received necessary mammograms and cancer screenings. There are also two structural measures that focus on the use of electronic health records and electronic prescribing technology.

As an alternative to submitting 2008 PQRI quality data as part of their Medicare claims submissions, eligible professionals may choose to report data on quality measures through a medical registry, and these registries will then report that data to CMS. Registry-based reporting will provide another way for eligible professionals to qualify for an incentive payment. Participating eligible professionals who don't report through a registry may choose to report data on either individual measures or on groups of measures that capture a number of data elements about common care processes for diabetes, kidney disease and preventive medicine. Registry-based reporting and reporting on groups of measures will provide more ways for eligible professionals to quality for an incentive payment.

The PQRI is the first step toward bringing about changes in the way Medicare pays physicians and restoring stability and predictability to Medicare's physician payment program. The current payment system has been acknowledged by many health care policy experts for its several failings, including rewarding volume and episodic care over quality; exposing Medicare to rapid growth in spending without evidence of more spending leading to better care; and failing to focus on prevention and coordination of care.

The PQRI is part of the President's Value-driven Health Care Agenda that seeks to address current problems in the health care sector regarding preventable errors, uneven quality of care and rising health care costs.

More information about the PQRI program, including how eligible professionals can participate and the criteria to qualify for an incentive payment is available at www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI.

HealthMarkets Agrees To Pay $20M To Settle Multistate Investigation

Sterling Meyers — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:44:55 -0400

Health Care Marketplace | HealthMarkets Agrees To Pay $20M To Settle Multistate Investigation [Jul 22, 2008]

HealthMarkets, a health insurer that primarily sells coverage to the self-employed, on Monday agreed to pay $20 million to settle violations found by regulators in 36 states, USA Today reports. In January, state regulators, led by investigators in Alaska and Washington state, released the details of an investigation into the company's practices from 2000 to 2005. Investigators found that HealthMarkets did not properly train its sales agents and that the agents did not always fully disclose the policies' limits to consumers. According to USA Today, the insurer sells many plans that "pay only limited amounts toward medical care." The investigators also determined that HealthMarkets did not always promptly pay for medical services.

The settlement does not require the insurer to review complaints or issue refunds, but in addition to the fine, HealthMarkets must establish a toll-free hotline that members who purchased coverage before August 2005 can call to receive additional information about their coverage. The fine is one of the largest of its kind. Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said, "The severity of their actions certainly warranted that level of penalty. They hurt a lot of people." Since 2002, the company has been fined by at least seven states and has faced lawsuits from dozens of policyholders.

According to USA Today, if HealthMarkets does not correct its flawed practices, the company could face additional fines of up to $10 million. HealthMarkets says the company has made numerous changes since 2005, including contacting all new members to confirm that they understand their plan and improving training for sales agents. HealthMarkets CEO Phillip Hildebrand in a statement said that during the investigation the insurer worked closely with regulators, adding that the company is "committed to serving the health insurance needs of individuals, families, the self-employed and small businesses in a fully compliant manner" (Appleby, USA Today, 7/22).

Specialty physician compensation barely keeps up with inflation

Sterling Meyers — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:53:34 -0400

Specialty physician compensation barely keeps up with inflation

Primary care physicians report nominal pay increases despite large increase in production

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., July 14, 2008 – Specialty physicians’ overall compensation remained flat in 2007, (increasing just 0.31 percent, adjusted for inflation, or 3.16 percent without inflation) according to the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) Physician Compensation and Production Survey: 2008 Report Based on 2007 Data. Specialists’ compensation rose to a median of $332,450. Inflation amounts to a 2.85 percent increase in the consumer price index.

For primary care physicians, median compensation rose 3.35 percent over inflation (6.3 percent without inflation) to $182,322 in 2007. This nominal increase comes after several years of flat or declining compensation. Additionally, primary care physicians reported a 7.59 percent increase in production (gross charges). Specialists reported flat overall production rates (.60 percent).

Among specialists, invasive cardiologists’ compensation declined (0.18 percent loss) even before inflation. Conversely, noninvasive cardiologists’compensation increased 11.72 percent. Compensation for emergency medicine physicians and hematology/oncology also failed to keep up with inflation. Specialists who fared better included anesthesiologists (6.43 percent increase above inflation) and urologists, posting a gain of 5.5 percent above inflation – compounding a similar gain in 2006.

“Although primary care physicians posted modest gains in compensation as a result of increased productivity and reweighting of evaluation and management codes, overall practice costs continue to rise at staggering rates,” said William F. Jessee, MD, FACMPE, president and CEO, MGMA. “The continued uncertainty of the reimbursement environment creates an untenable situation for physician groups.”

MGMA observed that trends have shifted for primary care physician compensation in specific regions. Historically, physicians in the Southern section of the United States have reported slightly higher compensation than the national median of their peers in other regions. For the first time, primary care physicians in the Western section were more highly compensated in 2007.

MGMA’s Physician Compensation and Production Survey Report is one of the most respected benchmarking reports in the industry based on the detailed information it offers, its nearly 25-year history and rigorous in-house data validation and analysis. This year’s report represents data submitted by practices that provided information on nearly 52,000 providers – the largest provider population of any physician compensation survey report in the United States. This year’s report includes data for physicians and nonphysician providers in 105 specialties including new data for family practice physicians and internists in ambulatory-only care; hospitalist compensation for family practice, internal medicine (IM), pediatrics, IM-pediatrics; and compensation for care provided in hospice/palliative care settings.

Note: MGMA surveys depend on voluntary participation and may not be representative of the industry. Readers are urged to review the entire survey report when making conclusions regarding trends or other observations To request an editorial copy of the full report, please contact MGMA Public Relations at press@mgma.com.

About MGMA: MGMA, founded in 1926, is the nation's principal voice for medical group practice. MGMA's more than 21,500 members manage and lead 13,500 organizations, in which more than 270,000 physicians practice. MGMA's core purpose is to improve the effectiveness of medical group practices and the knowledge and skills of the individuals who manage and lead them. MGMA headquarters are in Englewood, Colo.

American Hospital Management Company Appoints Gregory Ciottone, MD as Chief Medical Officer

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:25:43 -0400

LONGMONT, Colo., July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- American Hospital Management Company (AHMC) effective July 1st, 2008 has appointed Gregory Ciottone, MD to the position of Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Ciottone will be responsible for Continuing Medical Education, Quality Programs and Medical Staff related issues for American Hospital Management Company's network of international managed facilities.

Dr. Ciottone brings over 15 years experience in academic, clinical and international medicine to American Hospital Management Company. Dr. Ciottone is a Board-Certified Emergency Physician and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, where he currently is the Chair of the Disaster Medicine Section. He has served as Director of the Division of International Disaster and Emergency Medicine and Medical Director for Emergency Management at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he works clinically in the Department of Emergency Medicine. In addition, Dr. Ciottone holds a Visiting Professorship in Disaster Medicine at Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium and the Universita del Piemonte Orientale in Italy, and has served as the Medical Director for the Office of Security and Investigations, United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington D.C. Recently, Dr. Ciottone established the Operational Medicine Institute at Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians, of which he has assumed the position of Director. Dr. Ciottone will continue with these appointments while on staff with AHMC.

"I am extremely pleased to welcome Dr. Ciottone to American Hospital Management Company as Dr. Ciottone brings significant academic and practical experience to our medical facilities and physicians. We look forward to working with Dr. Ciottone and to continually strengthen and support the physicians, nurses and other professionals in the communities we serve while accomplishing our mission in meeting healthcare needs locally," stated Randall D. Arlett, President and Managing Director of American Hospital Management Co.

"I am very excited to begin work as the Chief Medical Officer for American Hospital Management Company. AHMC has firmly positioned itself as the world leader in hospital management and administration by creating world class medical centers that maintain quality as their number one goal. Under AHMC management, these institutions have flourished by linking the hospital with the community through local partnerships. It is an honor for me to now join this winning team and I look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence AHMC has become known for," stated Gregory Ciottone, MD, Chief Medical Officer of American Hospital Management Co.

About Greg Ciottone:

Dr. Ciottone is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, where he currently is the Chair of the Disaster Medicine Section. He also serves as Director of the Division of Disaster Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he works clinically in the Department of Emergency Medicine. In addition, Dr. Ciottone holds a Visiting Professorship in Disaster Medicine at Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium and the Universita del Piemonte Orientale in Italy, and has served as the Medical Director for the Office of Security and Investigations, USCIS, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington D.C. Recently, Dr. Ciottone established the Operational Medicine Institute at Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians, of which he has assumed the position of Director.

Dr. Ciottone is a graduate of Colby College, where he was Phi Beta Kappa and awarded numerous awards in Biology and Chemistry. He then graduated the University of Massachusetts Medical School, receiving the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine "Excellence in Emergency Medicine" award. He completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and was selected by the faculty and his peers as Chief Resident. Upon completion of residency, Dr. Ciottone was named to the University of Massachusetts faculty where he rose to the level of Assistant Professor before being asked to join the faculty at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Ciottone has served as Commander of the federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) Massachusetts-2, a Level-1 response team of the National Disaster Medical System, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the textbook "Disaster Medicine", published by Elsevier/Mosby in 2006. He is a nationally and internationally known expert in Emergency Management, and has extensive field experience, including 10 years as a Flight Physician for a LifeFlight rescue helicopter system. In 2007 he was named "EMS Physician of the Year" by Central Massachusetts EMS.

Since 1993 Dr. Ciottone has taught throughout Europe and the former Soviet Union where he played a key role in the development of 22 Emergency Medicine training centers, sponsored by the American International Health Alliance (AIHA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). His division has developed curricula in various areas of Emergency Medicine that have been used to instruct over 40,000 medical and non-medical personnel around the world. In 2004, Dr. Ciottone was one of only two Americans appointed to the faculty of the prestigious European Master in Disaster Medicine.

Through his role as Commander of the DMAT Massachusetts-2, Dr. Ciottone led this level-1 federal disaster response team on numerous deployments, the most notable of which was the World Trade Center response on September 11, 2001, where his was one of the first federal disaster teams into Ground Zero. Remaining on site for 2 weeks, his team treated 400 casualties per day in five field stations. Dr. Ciottone won an Official Citation from the Massachusetts Senate for his work at Ground Zero. Today, he remains an integral part of the American counter-terrorism disaster preparedness program.

In 2001, Dr. Ciottone became an Implementing Partner of the United Nations Disaster Management Training Program. This prestigious title is given to select international experts, allowing them to work as consultants to the family of United Nations organizations. Through this role Dr. Ciottone became an Editor for the UN training module "Disaster Management for Terrorist Events." Currently in production, this manual will be used by the United Nations to train personnel worldwide on the preparedness for and response to terrorist attacks. In 2004 Dr. Ciottone was named to the faculty of the European Master of Disaster Medicine (EMDM). Arguably the premier educational program in Disaster Medicine in the world, Dr. Ciottone was one of only two Americans appointed to the faculty at that time. He continues teaching at the EMDM today.

Dr. Ciottone continues to lecture nationally and internationally on disaster management and counter-terrorism related issues. He is consistently requested as a Key Note Speaker or Chairman at Disaster Preparedness and Response congress' around the world, and is a Founding Member of the United States Department of Homeland Security. He has served as a Disaster Management Fellowship Director for the International Atomic Energy Agency and as the Medical Director for the Tactical EMS Training Program for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA Academy) in Quantico Virginia. He is a consultant to the federal project "ER-One" in Washington D.C. creating the disaster-ready hospital of the future.

About The American Hospital Management Company

American Hospital Management Company (AHMC), a member of the Family Hospital Group of Companies, is a Longmont, Colorado USA based diversified international healthcare system whose focus is on the administration, management, and development of international hospitals and healthcare systems. Founded in 1998, AHMC has grown into the leading international hospital management and administration outsourcing company. The American Hospital Management Company provides turn-key, outsourced administrative and management services to hospitals and health systems. AHMC currently operates medical facilities in Antigua & Barbuda, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Trinidad & Tobago.

SOURCE American Hospital Management Company

Fragmented Los Angeles Hospital Market Provides Health Systems with Little Leverage to Negotiate Higher Reimbursement

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:25:30 -0400

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthLeaders-InterStudy, a leading provider of healthcare market intelligence, reports that more than 40 percent of the hospitals in the Los Angeles market are losing money and there's a widening gulf between systems doing relatively well financially and those that are barely staying afloat. According to the newly released Los Angeles Market Overview report, these financial problems are compounded because the hospital market is highly fragmented, meaning systems have little leverage with health plans to negotiate higher reimbursement rates.

"There's an unhealthy imbalance of power between hospitals and health plans in the region," said Dave Raiford, HealthLeaders-InterStudy market analyst and author of the report. "As operating costs continue to climb, margins will narrow and the answer won't be found in higher reimbursements from insurers."

Excluding Kaiser Permanente's hospitals (individual hospital financials are unavailable), 44 percent of the 91 hospitals reporting individual facility financials were operating in the red. The market comprises a host of stand-alone hospitals (57 of the hospitals in the market) and a handful of health systems. The sum of that equation is a fragmented hospital market, which lies at the root of the problems the sprawling Los Angeles market faces in terms of failing hospitals and declining access to care.

With no health system covering more than 10 percent of the market in terms of acute-care beds, providers are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to negotiating more favorable reimbursement rates from insurers. Excluding Kaiser hospitals and health plan, there are few health systems with any real leverage contending with Anthem Blue Cross of California (owned by WellPoint Inc.), UnitedHealth Group and Health Net. Hospitals may be forced to move toward integrated health systems by expanding their outpatient surgery capacity, medical office space and increase efforts to partner with physician groups.

About Market Overviews

Market Overviews provide a detailed analysis of local healthcare markets, allowing healthcare businesses to plan their local strategies. In addition to the 75 metropolitan statistical areas covered in our individual market reports, HealthLeaders-InterStudy will be producing the following NEW Market Overview reports in 2008:

About HealthLeaders-InterStudy

HealthLeaders-InterStudy is the authoritative source for managed care data, analysis, and news. For more information, please visit http://www.HealthLeaders-InterStudy.com.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

SOURCE HealthLeaders-InterStudy

Longs Drug Stores Announces Strategic Relationship With Microsoft HealthVault

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:24:24 -0400

WALNUT CREEK, Calif., July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Longs Drug Stores Corporation (NYSE: LDG) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to connect with Microsoft HealthVault, a consumer health platform for sharing information with patients and providers. Working with Microsoft towards a planned launch this fall, Longs will be one of the first pharmacies to offer consumers this feature which allows them to access their medication information and, if they choose, share it with others in a security-enhanced environment. HealthVault is an innovative platform that creates connectivity between patients and physicians, to promote better health, wellness and fitness while allowing the consumer to better manage their health information.

"We are excited to collaborate with Longs to bring people new tools for managing their health and wellness," said Dr. Jim Mault, director, Microsoft Health Solutions Group. "Connecting the Longs.com website with HealthVault will offer consumers a simple way to track their medications and share that vital information with providers as needed."

"Longs has long been a supporter of innovative technologies to better serve our patients. Providing access to electronic records and teaming with organizations such as Microsoft serves to empower our patients and we hope, improve their overall health," said Mike Laddon, Longs Drugs SVP, CIO.

Microsoft HealthVault is located on the web at http://www.healthvault.com.

About Longs Drug Stores Corporation

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Longs Drug Stores Corporation (NYSE: LDG) is one of the most recognized retail drug store chains on the West Coast and in Hawaii. The Company operates more than 500 retail pharmacies and offers a wide assortment of merchandise focusing on health, wellness, beauty and convenience. Longs also provides pharmacy benefit management services and Medicare beneficiary prescription drug plans through its wholly-owned subsidiary, RxAmerica, LLC. Additional information about Longs and its services is available at http://www.longs.com and more information about RxAmerica is available at http://www.rxamerica.com.

Contact: Mark L. Holz

SOURCE Longs Drug Stores Corporation

Logicalis Identifies High-Priority Technology Tasks Facing Healthcare Organizations

Sterling Meyers — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:47:37 -0400

Logicalis Identifies High-Priority Technology Tasks Facing Healthcare Organizations

Data storage management is central concern discussed in new logicalis report for healthcare IT professionals.

Bloomfield Hills, MI (PRWEB) July 7, 2008 -- Despite a weak U.S. economy and market uncertainties, a sizeable amount of activity in the healthcare industry is focused on planning and prioritizing information management. Recent research by Televerde Insight found that healthcare IT organizations were focused on ensuring better data management, facilitating easier data access, and securing patient information in electronic medical record (EMR) systems. The study, commissioned by Logicalis, a global provider of high-performance technology, highlights the complex storage requirements facing healthcare IT professionals.

Prescription for Healthcare IT: Data Storage Solutions Needed STAT

To help IT professionals in the healthcare industry better understand the solutions available for their complex storage needs, Logicalis has developed "Prescription for Healthcare IT: Data Storage Solutions Needed STAT" a report that details the unique storage challenges facing healthcare and solutions to combat these challenges. The complimentary guide is available for download from http://www.us.logicalis.com/datahealthcare.

A recognized leader in strategic storage solutions, as well as business information management and managed services, Logicalis developed the report to provide guidance and perspective for healthcare IT professionals facing daily challenges with their storage requirements.

Logicalis has also developed a Top Ten HIT (Healthcare Information Technology) List for healthcare organizations, with storage as the No. 1 driver for many of these IT initiatives. The following technology initiatives are on the radar screen, in the planning process or early implementation phases for many healthcare IT organizations across the country, according to Logicalis.

Logicalis Top Ten HIT List
1. Electronic Health/Medical Records (EHR or EMR)
2. Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity
3. Medical Archiving Systems (MAS)
4. Storage Consolidation and Virtualization
5. Backup (disk-based and online storage)
6. Business Intelligence
7. Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS)
8. Infrastructure for Health Information Systems
9. Compliance
10. Securing Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI)

"These are complex, and often competing, issues facing healthcare IT professionals," said Karen Burton, Healthcare Solutions Business Development Manager. "The challenge facing our healthcare customers is to provide accurate, timely information critical to patient safety - the entire medical record from digital imaging procedures to lab results and billing - AND maintain patient privacy and hospital security. It can be overwhelming for organizations that are focused simply on day-to-day patient care."

About Logicalis
Logicalis is a global provider of high-performance technology solutions. With over 1,500 people worldwide, Logicalis delivers smart solutions based on specific needs, not the latest IT trend. Logicalis provides options, direction and support to more than 6,500 corporate and public sector customers. The company attributes its success to the everyday positive experiences with its customers and strategic partners such as IBM, HP, and Cisco.

Logicalis has annualized revenues in excess of $1 billion, from operations in the UK, US, Germany and Latin America. Logicalis is a division of Datatec Limited (LSE/JSE:DTC), a $4 billion multi-national organization listed on the AIM market of the LSE and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. With over 30 offices in the United States, the company's U.S. headquarters are in Bloomfield Hills, MI. For more information about the Logicalis experience, visit www.us.logicalis.com.

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Body Image is a Concern for Students of All Ages

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:25:31 -0400

NEW YORK, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- MS -- For the millions of junior high, high school and college students heading back to school shortly, the idea of returning to the classroom may be met with mixed emotions.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080714/NYFNSP04 )

While the school experience is built upon educational advancement, attending school is also largely a social experience. Many students find themselves working as hard to "fit in" as they do to improve their grades. These pressures can take a toll on someone already susceptible to emotional and behavioral conditions, or trigger feelings in someone who never struggled before. Centers like Timberline Knolls, a treatment center for women and adolescent girls, want to educate students and parents about potential problems, and let them know assistance is available when necessary.

Many students admit to feeling the pressure to have a good body, whether to fit into a certain clique or meet the weight requirements of a scholastic sports team. Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia are growing concerns in schools around the country.

As many as 10 million females and one million males are fighting a life and death battle with anorexia or bulimia and another 25 million are fighting a binge eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorders Association. Eating disorders are usually shrouded in secrecy, but those who are suffering should realize that reaching out for assistance is the first step to getting back on track.

"We want to share the message of hope and acceptance with students everywhere," says Kimberly Dennis, M.D., Timberline Knolls' medical director. "We show individuals how to take a positive step toward recovery, and educate families on how they can support their loved ones."

Timberline Knolls offers psychiatric and psychological therapeutic approaches coupled with constant attention to an individual's strengths and disorders. Their goals are to work with women and their families to develop a program that celebrates successes. There are programs tailored for eating disorders, substance abuse, risk-taking behavior, and depression. Learn more by visiting www.timberlineknolls.com.

Treatment for eating disorders is best when started at the onset of any indicators of a problem.

-- Exhibits concern about her weight and attempts to control weight by diet, refusal of food, vomiting or laxative and diuretic abuse.

-- Does prolonged exercising despite fatigue and weakness.

-- Has peculiar patterns regarding handling food. May eat in secrecy.

-- Exhibits abnormally fast weight loss, without any other known medical condition. Bulimics might be slightly underweight or overweight.

-- Experiences depressive moods and self-deprecating behavior.

Physical symptoms other than weight loss that could be indicators of an eating disorder include:

For more information on identifying the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, visit www.timberlineknolls.com or call (877) 257-9611 to speak with a Timberline Knolls staff member.

SOURCE Timberline Knolls

Statement by CMO, CHRISTUS Spohn Health System, Update on Heparin Matter

Sterling Meyers — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:09:04 -0400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7/8/2008 12:00:00 AM PACIFIC Updated: 7/10/2008 9:43:18 AM PACIFIC

Statement by Dr. Richard Davis, Chief Medical Officer, CHRISTUS Spohn Health System Update on Heparin Matter, July 9, 2008, 11:15 a.m.

Corpus Christi, Texas (July 9, 2008) – The attending neonatologist states that at this point, there are no identifiable adverse affects directly caused by Heparin. Thirteen of the infants remain in our NICU for reasons unrelated to Heparin. Twelve of the infants are in stable condition and one remains in critical and unstable condition. We are closely monitoring their progress.

Our highly experienced and dedicated neonatal staff and physicians have taken extraordinary measures to deliver the best care possible and remain in close contact with the families.

All babies who come to our NICU are seriously ill. Our NICU is a Level 3 facility for critically ill infants who are born prematurely, typically between 24 and 36 weeks. Many of these infants have low birth weights with multiple medical problems.

We continue to keep the babies and their families in our thoughts and prayers.

CHRISTUS Spohn Health System is the region’s largest charity care provider and not-for-profit health care system consisting of six hospital campuses - CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi (Shoreline, Memorial and South), CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Alice, CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Beeville and CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Kleberg (Kingsville). The health system is consistently ranked as a leading health system in the area and has received national recognition for several pioneering programs, including cardiac care, clinical excellence and oncology. For more than 100 years, CHRISTUS Spohn has been distinguished by its high caliber staff and affiliated physicians, its comprehensive and innovative services, and its long history of responding to the needs of the community it serves. For additional information, visit our website at www.christusspohn.org.

Joint Commission Alert: Stop Bad Behavior among Health Care Professionals Rude language, hostile behavior threaten safety, quali

Sterling Meyers — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:01:37 -0400

(OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. – July 9, 2008) Health care is a high-stakes, pressure-packed environment that can test the limits of civility in the workplace. A new alert issued today by The Joint Commission warns that rude language and hostile behavior among health care professionals goes beyond being unpleasant and poses a serious threat to patient safety and the overall quality of care.

Intimidating and disruptive behaviors are such a serious issue that, in addition to addressing it in the new Sentinel Event Alert, The Joint Commission is introducing new standards requiring more than 15,000 accredited health care organizations to create a code of conduct that defines acceptable and unacceptable behaviors and to establish a formal process for managing unacceptable behavior. The new standards take effect January 1, 2009 for hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, laboratories, ambulatory care facilities, and behavioral health care facilities across the United States.

Health care leaders and caregivers have known for years that intimidating and disruptive behaviors are a serious problem. Verbal outbursts, condescending attitudes, refusing to take part in assigned duties and physical threats all create breakdowns in the teamwork, communication and collaboration necessary to deliver patient care. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices found that 40 percent of clinicians have kept quiet or remained passive during patient care events rather than question a known intimidator. To help put an end to once-accepted behaviors that put patients at risk, The Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert urges health care organizations to take action.

“Most health care workers do their jobs with care, compassion and professionalism,” says Mark R. Chassin, M.D., M.P.P, M.P.H., president, The Joint Commission. “But sometimes professionalism breaks down and caregivers engage in behaviors that threaten patient safety. It is important for organizations to take a stand by clearly identifying such behaviors and refusing to tolerate them.”

To help put an end to intimidating and disruptive behaviors among physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, support staff and administrators, the Sentinel Event Alert recommends that health care organizations take 11 specific steps, including the following:

Educate all health care team members about professional behavior, including training in basics such as being courteous during telephone interactions, business etiquette and general people skills;
Hold all team members accountable for modeling desirable behaviors, and enforce the code of conduct consistently and equitably;
Establish a comprehensive approach to addressing intimidating and disruptive behaviors that includes a zero tolerance policy; strong involvement and support from physician leadership; reducing fears of retribution against those who report intimidating and disruptive behaviors; empathizing with and apologizing to patients and families who are involved in or witness intimidating or disruptive behaviors;
Determine how and when disciplinary actions should begin; and
Develop a system to detect and receive reports of unprofessional behavior, and use non-confrontational interaction strategies to address intimidating and disruptive behaviors within the context of an organizational commitment to the health and well-being of all staff and patients.

Addressing unprofessional behavior among health care professionals is part of a series of Alerts issued by the Joint Commission. Previous Alerts have addressed pediatric medication errors, wrong-site surgery, medication mix-ups, health care-associated infections and patient suicides, among others. The complete list and text of past issues of Sentinel Event Alert can be found on The Joint Commission’s website.

UPMC ADOPTS INNOVATIVE ONLINE ORDERING SYSTEM TO HELP PHYSICIANS PROVIDE FREE MEDICATION SAMPLES TO PATIENTS

Sterling Meyers — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:34:14 -0400

UPMC ADOPTS INNOVATIVE ONLINE ORDERING SYSTEM TO HELP PHYSICIANS PROVIDE FREE MEDICATION SAMPLES TO PATIENTS

Pittsburgh - June 30, 2008 -- To ensure that patients' needs are met under its new industry relations policy, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) announced today that it is adopting an innovative system for distributing drug samples to its physician offices, hospital-based clinics and outpatient pharmacies.

The new approach, known as the UPMC eSample Center, will allow physicians to order available samples, vouchers and coupons via a Web-based system accessible through UPMC's intranet. This "virtual sample closet" will be developed by MedManage Systems Inc., a Bothell (Wash.)-based company that is the leading provider of online prescription drug sampling technology.

"When UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences adopted a far-reaching industry relations policy in February, we committed ourselves to ensuring that our interactions with the drug and medical-device industries produce benefits for patient care, research and medical education," said Barbara Barnes, M.D., vice president of sponsored programs, research support and continuing medical education at UPMC and associate vice chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh. "With the eSample Center, we will be able to offer medication samples to our physicians and their patients through an electronic platform. This approach will provide both consistent access to medication samples and focus face-to-face interaction between our physicians and drug company representatives on matters of education. We believe this new approach reduces the potential for those interactions to improperly influence care."

The UPMC eSample Center is expected to begin operating in early August, providing a wide range of medication samples to physicians. Following the initial deployment phase, which will include refinement of this new system, the eSample Center will become the exclusive mechanism for distributing samples at UPMC. Pharmaceutical representatives still will continue to access UPMC's physician offices and clinics by appointment for providing drug information and education.

MedManage's system, which complies with drug-sample distribution related regulations, will serve as a personalized, one-stop online ordering utility through which UPMC physicians will request a variety of brands from multiple manufacturers. Samples will be delivered directly to clinical practice sites from the pharmaceutical companies' sample fulfillment centers.

"We are excited about the development of the UPMC eSample Center and its ability to serve our patients, while minimizing potential conflicts of interest in our interactions with the pharmaceutical industry," said Kelley Wasicek, R.Ph., project manager of the UPMC drug sample initiative. "We expect a growing number of pharmaceutical companies to participate in this innovative model so that together we can provide patients with the most appropriate care."

A drug sample steering committee at UPMC chose the MedManage system after considering numerous alternatives and drawing upon the expertise of physicians, pharmacists, clinical staff and pharmaceutical industry representatives. The steering committee concluded that MedManage offered the optimal suite of technology and services to best serve the needs of UPMC's patients, physicians and the pharmaceutical industry.

"We are delighted that UPMC has selected MedManage to enable its eSample Center," said Thomas P. Quinn, R.Ph., Senior Vice President at MedManage Systems Inc. "We look forward to working closely with UPMC to create and refine a solution that will set new standards of excellence for the health care industry."

UPMC and the affiliated University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences recently were ranked among the top institutions nationally for best conflict-of-interest policies by the American Medical Student Association. UPMC/Pitt was one of only eight institutions out of 150 surveyed to receive an "A" grade, according to the association's scorecard, which included an evaluation of drug sample policies. (For more information about the policy, please visit www.coi.pitt.edu/Industry Relationships.

About UPMC
UPMC is an integrated global health enterprise headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and one of the leading nonprofit health systems in the United States. As western Pennsylvania's largest employer, with 48,000 employees and nearly $7 billion in revenue, UPMC is transforming the economy of the region into one based on medicine, research, and technology. By integrating 20 hospitals, 400 doctors' offices and outpatient sites, long-term care facilities, and a major insurance plan, UPMC has advanced the quality and efficiency of health care and developed internationally renowned programs in transplantation, cancer, neurosurgery, psychiatry, orthopaedics and sports medicine, among others. UPMC is commercializing its medical and technological expertise by nurturing new companies, developing strategic business relationships with some of the world's leading multinational corporations, and expanding into international markets, including Italy, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Qatar. For more information about UPMC, visit our website at www.upmc.com.

Superior Patient Clinical Outcomes Confirms DaVita's Leadership Position on Quality Dialysis Care

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:23:42 -0400

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and disease (CKD), significantly exceeds national averages with regard to patient quality, as validated by both the Clinical Performance Measures Report published in 2006 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the December 2007 Fistula First Vascular Access Improvement Initiative. This achievement is notable among the nation's kidney care community because DaVita(R) serves more than 1-in-4 dialysis patients in America.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020729/DAVITALOGO)

"At DaVita, our highest priority is the health and well-being of the more than 100,000 patients cared for by our professional partners and teammates," said Kent Thiry, CEO of DaVita. "We're pleased that this commitment has once again been validated by the findings from CMS."

Research studies show that patients who meet all four of the CMS Clinical Performance Measures (CPM) and the National Kidney Foundation's (NKF) Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) achieve the lowest mortality.(a,b) Outcomes data confirms that the risk of mortality faced by patients dialyzed at DaVita facilities may be as much as 8% lower than the national average.

DaVita consistently surpasses national averages for CMS CPM and KDOQI outcomes. Most recently, DaVita outperformed the national averages by as much as 44% on four key clinical performance outcomes. A recent study that compared the mortality trends for the major dialysis providers found that DaVita had a significant improvement in survival compared to non-chain facilities.(c)

"An important part of measuring and tracking our clinical performance is through the DaVita Quality Index, or DQI," explained Dr. Allen Nissenson, DaVita Chief Medical Officer. "The DQI focuses on the performance of seven key clinical parameters, giving physicians a snapshot of how the patients in their clinics are performing. We have seen a clear correlation over the past five years of using the DQI that as overall DQI scores improve, overall mortality decreases."

"By focusing on clinical training and continuous quality improvement, we are able to partner with nephrologists," said Robertson. "As a doctor still in practice myself, I want my patients to feel their best and enjoy their lives. DaVita's tools and teammate training help me reach these goals."

DaVita is a registered trademark of DaVita Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About DaVita Inc.

DaVita Inc., a FORTUNE 500(R) company, is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, providing dialysis services and education for patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita manages more than 1,300 outpatient facilities and acute units in more than 700 hospitals located in 43 states and the District of Columbia, serving approximately 107,000 patients. As part of DaVita's commitment to building a healthy, caring community, DaVita develops, participates in and donates to numerous programs dedicated to transforming communities and creating positive, sustainable change for children, families and our environment.

For more information about DaVita, its kidney education and its community programs, please visit http://www.davita.com.

SOURCE DaVita Inc.

HEALTHCARE TECH AND THE WORLD: A MACRO PERSPECTIVE ON HOW TECHNOLOGY WILL IMPACT HEALTHCARE IN THE FUTURE

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:23:42 -0400

PLANO, TX, July 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Edition 20

Host: Dr. Kevin Fickenscher - Perot Systems' Executive Vice President, International Healthcare

Guest: Dr. William Stead, Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategy/Transformation & Chief Information Officer Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Perot Systems continues its series of podcasts with a forward-looking discussion about the increasing role Information Technology will play in the transformation of healthcare. In this episode, Dr. Kevin Fickenscher discusses with Dr. William Stead the level of investment in technology by healthcare providers, as well as what changes he sees in the future for the healthcare industry.

The following quotes from Dr. Stead are highlights of the podcast:

Regarding the challenges facing healthcare today: "I think the... challenge is the rapid pace of change that's needed to deal with the quality and the cost pressures of this industry. And if you take that challenge and set it beside the length of time that it takes to do anything significant with information technology in this business, you've got a disconnect," commented Dr. Stead.

On how technology should be used to improve quality and lower costs: "I think that we need to use approaches to using the technology that work at a macro system level. It's using data mining statistical approaches if you will to identify information about patients that we need to use in decision support," stated Dr. Stead.

Regarding what the future holds for the healthcare industry: "First, we're actually going shift from expert-based care to system supported practice... Second, we're going to shift (away) from medicine that is appropriate for mass delivery...we're going to really shift to individualize medicine. The third component is... that we... will embed support for health into a person's living environment," stated Dr. Stead.

Information about Dr. Bill Steed: Dr. Bill Stead is Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategy/Transformation and Director of the Informatics Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He also serves as Chief Information Officer of the Medical Center and Chief Information Architect for Vanderbilt University. Dr. Stead received his B.A. and M.D. from Duke University where he also completed specialty and subspecialty training in Internal Medicine and Nephrology.

Information about Dr. Kevin Fickenscher: Dr. Fickenscher is a recognized senior physician executive and Healthcare thought leader. He has extensive experience in healthcare management, and holds an international reputation as a dynamic, visionary, and strategic leader in the healthcare industry. Dr. Fickenscher's bio can be found at:

http://www.perotsystems.com/speakers/Kevin_Fickenscher_MD.htm

What: Healthcare Tech and the World: A Macro Perspective on How Technology Will Impact Healthcare in the Future - one of a series of podcasts presented by Dr. Kevin Fickenscher of Perot Systems.

When: This podcast will be available for download on July 3, 2008

Where: http://www.perotsystems.com/MediaRoom/NewsReleases

About Perot Systems

Perot Systems is a worldwide provider of information technology services and business solutions. Through its flexible and collaborative approach, Perot Systems integrates expertise from across the company to deliver custom solutions that enable clients to accelerate growth, streamline operations and create new levels of customer value. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Perot Systems reported 2007 revenue of $2.6 billion. The company has more than 23,000 associates located in North America, Europe, MENA and Asia. Additional information on Perot Systems is available at http://www.perotsystems.com/.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. For factors that could affect our business and cause actual results to differ materially, please refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at http://www.sec.gov/, as updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed after such Form 10-K, for additional information regarding risk factors. We disclaim any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.

SOURCE Perot Systems Corporation

Kings County Death: NAMI Calls for Criminal Probe; Survey Shows Psychiatric Emergency Room Delays Are National Problem

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:22:59 -0400

WASHINGTON, July 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Michael J. Fitzpatrick, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation's largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illnesses, has issued this statement:

"NAMI continues to monitor the callous treatment and tragic death of Ms. Esmin Elizabeth Green while waiting for admission to the psychiatric ward at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.

It is a sad commentary that it took a tragedy of this nature to move New York City's Health and Hospital's Corporation to immediately settle a lawsuit that was filed a year ago to improve conditions at the hospital.

Legal action should not stop there.

Criminal responsibility should be investigated.

Both state and federal authorities should take a close look not only at the circumstances of Ms. Green's death, but also systemic issues involving the hospital and potentially other parts of the city's mental healthcare system. That includes staffing levels, training, and availability of hospital beds.

The Kings County tragedy is not an isolated incident. Other tragedies are waiting to happen in emergency rooms across the United States.

In 2008, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) released a survey that indicates emergency psychiatric care is 'extremely limited' and 'getting worse.'

Over 60 percent of psychiatric patients needing admission to a hospital have to stay in the emergency department over 4 hours after a decision to admit them has been made.

33 percent wait over 8 hours; 6 percent over 24 hours.

62 percent of emergency department medical directors indicated there are no psychiatric services for patient care while patients are boarded prior to admission or transfer.

89 percent transfer psychiatric patients every week to other facilities due to unavailable psychiatric beds at their hospitals.

In 2003, New York was forced to confront a scandal involving adult homes for people living with mental illness. In other states, the U.S. Department of Justice has been forced to launch investigations.

Nationwide, we face a mental healthcare system in crisis - which on average gets no better than a 'D' grade. It is time for investment and transformation of the mental healthcare system at all levels."

ACEP Survey

www.acep.org

NAMI Grades report

www.nami.org/grades

SOURCE NAMI

Medtral New Zealand announces partnership with MA-based Pinnacle Health: A ground-breaking industry alliance

Sterling Meyers — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:34:03 -0400

www.medtral.com - Medtral New Zealand (www.medtral.com), providing, world-class, affordable healthcare, with all-inclusive travel and medical treatment packages, today announced a ground-breaking partnership with Pinnacle Health (www.pinnaclehealth.com), a preferred provider organization providing network and administrative services to self-funded employers, with over 3,000 providers throughout America's Northeast.

According to Paul Brough, president and CEO of Pinnacle Health, "This relationship holds significant potential for both organizations. An attractive destination for medical care and surgery, New Zealand pushes all the right buttons for me. It's a first world, English-speaking country with very high quality medicine and a clean, green environment that is ideal for recuperation. Additionally, the quality and affordability of the travel and treatment packages is unparalleled. Our customers are now requesting options for medical travel, and New Zealand fits the bill."

Medtral New Zealand services include travel, accommodation, hospital procedures, and post-operative care at New Zealand's premier private medical facilities and contingency insurance. Adhering to Quality Health New Zealand (QHNZ) and International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) accreditation standards, Medtral New Zealand's network of hospitals provide a world-class experience and service for North American patients.

"We are excited about the prospects of working with a forward-thinking organization like Pinnacle Health," says Steve Nichols, managing director of Medtral New Zealand. "This partnership offers an affordable and attractive option to Pinnacle clients and members, and makes sense for the self-funded employers that are considering medical travel options for their employees."

Nichols emphasizes that the option of medical travel to New Zealand will undoubtedly save Pinnacle member employers significant costs while ensuring the quality of the medical services.

"Patients get the chance to experience New Zealand and enjoy dedicated recovery time at potentially less personal cost than having the operation performed in the U.S.," adds Nichols.

About Medtral New Zealand:

Medtral New Zealand is the leading provider of medical travel in New Zealand for North American patients, providing world-class, non-acute care and treatment in some of the country's finest private hospitals. Headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, Medtral New Zealand can be reached at +64 9 623 6588, or visit www.medtral.com.

About Pinnacle Health:

Pinnacle Health is an organization that specifically targets the self-funded employer marketplace. Its providers - the physicians, hospitals, and other medically related entities - are in the best position to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare for the nation's employees. Pinnacle Health's philosophy reflects an emphasis on local delivery and local decision-making by the providers who live and practice in the communities of their patients. Additionally, they form partnerships between physicians, hospitals, and self-funded employers who encourage long-term control of the processes centered around local healthcare providers and capabilities developed to enhance the provider-patient relationship. Visit www.pinnaclehealth.com.