NQF endorses 19 pulmonary, critical care measures; CMS launches Medicare compliance map;

> Despite the need for nurses, nursing schools are turning away applicants because there aren't enough professors, Kaiser Health News reported. Such findings echo a March survey from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing that found a record 75,587 qualified nursing applicants were turned away last year. Article

> A bill that would exclude hospital trustees and employees from the "municipal advisors" definition was approved yesterday by a subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee. The AHA praised the decision, as most of its member hospitals are tax-exempt and often turn to the municipal bond market to raise needed capital. Letter (.pdf)

> The National Quality Forum (NQF) yesterday endorsed 19 measures focused on pulmonary conditions and the critical care setting, the nonprofit organization announced Tuesday. NQF reviewed 35 measures and endorsed 19 of them for at least three years. Announcement

> To save $2.5 million a year, the University of Louisville (Ky.) Hospital will stop performing open-heart surgery and reduce nonemergent outpatient services for the uninsured, The Courier-Journal reported. The struggling safety net doesn't expect to realize full savings from the cuts until next year. Article

> Healthcare providers now can easily find Medicare Parts A and B contacts that operate in their state, thanks to an interactive compliance map released Wednesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Map

And Finally… Is the movie "Signs" coming true? Article