ALSO NOTED: Midland Surgical Associates leaves United Healthcare; MD criticizes understaffed ER; and much more...

> Newly elected AMA president William Plested shares his thoughts the future of hospital technology, his views on nationalized healthcare and predicts the role healthcare will play in the next presidential election. Not surprisingly, he argues that doctors and patients should have more say in the functioning of the healthcare system: "[I]t's the physicians and the patients that must design a system. We can't have politicians or insurance companies doing it." Article

> Texas-based Midland Surgical Associates announced that it will cut ties with United Healthcare. The group is displeased that even though United Healthcare customers are paying higher healthcare premiums, Midland Surgical Associates is receiving lower reimbursement rates. Article

> Maplewood, MN's St. John's Hospital has cut down on emergency room wait times by instituting a shorter registration process, installing better communication systems within the hospital and tracking how long patients have been waiting. Article

> A doctor who recently resigned from Lakeland, FL's Winter Haven Hospital is criticizing the hospital for having a seriously understaffed emergency department. Winter Haven isn't alone on this problem: Just last month the Institute of Medicine released a report warning that U.S. emergency rooms are dangerously overworked. Article

> Community Health System of Waukegan, IL has acquired Vista Health. The deal includes the 336-bed Victory Memorial Hospital and 71-bed St. Therese Medical Center. Article

And Finally... Hanover Hospital in Pennsylvania has found an interesting use for its Web site. The hospital has launched a greeting card service for patients. Article

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