ford health system

Case study: Henry Ford offers high-touch amenities

Thu, 08 May 2008 06:59:54 -0400

Henry Ford Health System has become the latest provider to ramp up hospital amenities to hotel-like levels. The idea, at Henry Ford and elsewhere, is that if you make patients and families more comfortable, not only will they be more likely to return, they'll also get better more quickly.

The system's new 300-bed community hospital and wellness complex, which cost $350 million, will include not only standard clinical services, but also comfort options like private rooms with couches, flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, laptop computer tables and security safes for valuables. What's more, the rooms have been designed to meet "feng shui" design standards. The complex also offers wellness options like health coaches, holistic therapies and personal trainers, along with a mall-like retail corridor offering health products for sale.

Perhaps the most unusual element is Henry Ford's plan to dramatically improve food service at the hospital. It's partnering with a Detroit restaurateur, a college culinary department and an Ohio organic farm that sells largely to exclusive restaurants to boost its nutritional offerings. The new food program will allow patients to order nutritious, restaurant-quality meals 24 hours a day. Even more unusual, the food will be cooked fresh, using natural and/or organic ingredients where possible. The notion is that such food not only soothes patients, it aids in their recovery.

To get an in-depth look at Henry Ford's program:
- read this Detroit Free Press piece

Related Articles:
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Case study: NY hospitals go for hotel atmosphere
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The emergence of the hospital concierge

U of Pitt Med Center plans drug, device gift ban

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 20:01:38 -0400

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is poised to implement a new policy banning physicians and other employees from accepting virtually any type of pharma or device-maker freebies. If it moves ahead, UPMC would join a growing list of academic medical centers and other facilities that have instituted tight controls on such gifts. Employees and physicians who break the rules could face written reprimands and even loss of hospital privileges.

To address concerns raised by the plan's biggest critics--who say barring the acceptance of samples would harm poor patients--the school would look into setting up a voucher program giving patients access to meds at no cost to them. Only if the voucher approach failed would providers be allowed to make a special request for samples. The problem, critics say, is that such an approach could dramatically delay drug access by the poor and uninsured. Some institutions instituting similar controls, such as the Henry Ford Health System, have continued to permit physicians to accept samples under some circumstances.

To find out more about this trend:
- read this Pittsburgh Post-Gazette piece

Related Articles:
Stanford bans sales rep gifts to doctors. Article
UC Davis mulls pharma freebies ban. Article
"Let he who is without conflict-of-interest cast the first stone." Editor's Corner
Doctors reading FierceHealthcare weigh in on the pros and cons of accepting drug/device freebies is unethical. Things get pretty heated ... Letters
Group: Few med schools free of pharma influence. Report

Thinking through pharma bans

Thu, 10 May 2007 20:01:39 -0400

In theory, no thoughtful person would object to the idea of keeping physician decision-making independent, particularly where costly drugs are concerned. No one, including the doctors themselves, benefits if physicians are making decisions that drive up the cost of care unnecessarily.

That being said, many doctors have written to us here at FierceHealthcare to say that they don't support pharmaceutical industry gift or sample bans. Are they just naïve as to how such gifts affect their judgment? Not necessarily. I'd argue that their position deserves more of a hearing. As some readers may notice, I haven't been gentle to the pharmas in this newsletter, but at this point, I'd argue it's time to take a deep breath.

From my editor's chair, I learn a lot about the ongoing efforts to push drugmaker influence out of the care process. My sense is that some are carefully targeted and others are more a matter of bowing to popular opinion. I'm not visiting all of these campuses, so I couldn't go as far as to say gift, sample and drug rep restrictions weren't thought through, but my instinct is that there are a lot of politics involved.

At minimum, it seems to me that we in the industry ought to take care to look at the varied relationships pharmaceutical companies have with doctors on a case-by-case basis. Continuing Medical Education grants deserve a different level of scrutiny than vendor clocks and Kleenex dispensers, and free samples can't be lumped in with prescriber data-driven marketing efforts. Of course, practices and facilities should consider all of these channels, but it's important to distinguish between them. And my gut feeling is that disreputable pharma practices are being lumped in with lesser issues.

I'll readily admit that I'm probably missing some of the nuances here. I'm not suggesting that, say, Henry Ford Health System went to the trouble of banning unscheduled rep visits and pharma perks completely--even setting up a system to monitor them--without having in-depth discussions on the subject. But I am suggesting that the industry, as a whole, may be on the wrong side of one of those pendulum swings where the real facts regarding pharma influence (some of which are appalling) may be obscured by rhetoric.

By all means, let's be zealous in helping doctors avoid undue outside influences. But let's also treat them like adults. - Anne

After big losses, Henry Ford prospers

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 20:01:34 -0400

It's a good time for the Henry Ford Health System, which is coming back strong after suffering major losses a few years ago. The nonprofit system has done well again this year, reporting a 2006 net income of $134.9 million on revenues of $3.25 billion. Revenues are up 6.6 percent from 2005, and net income a whopping 20 percent. Revenue sources included $1.5 billion from the system's Health Alliance Plan and $1 billion from its 920-bed Detroit hospital, physician practices and behavioral health program. These numbers are a huge turnaround for the Ford system, which had lost $87.7 million in 2001. Now it's on a winning streak; in fact, this is the fourth year in which the health system has improved earnings. Buoyed by its new success, the system is building a $310 million hospital and has acquired another health system. In addition, it plans to spend $1 billion on projects between 2006 and 2010. What's more, the system is hiring, having added 947 staffers last year alone. It also paid $22.4 million in bonuses last year, which ranged from $400 to $1,200 depending on employee status.

To find out more about the system's turnaround:
- read this Detroit Free Press piece

Related Article:
Henry Ford bans pharma perks, vendor drop-ins. Report

Detroit nurses file $340M lawsuit

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:01:37 -0500

In Detroit, thousands of nurses have filed a $340 million lawsuit against six area hospitals alleging that, by discussing what they paid nurses, the hospitals conspired to suppress registered nurses' wages. This, in turn, contributed to nursing shortages in the area. An attorney representing the nurses said that on average, they were underpaid by $5,000 per year. The suit has been filed against the Henry Ford Health System, Detroit Medical Center (DMC), McLaren Health Care, Oakwood Healthcare, Bon Secours/Cottage Health Services and St. John Health Partners. Mike Duggan, CEO of the DMC, expressed surprise that the nurses were displeased with their wages, since they received a 6 percent pay increase this year.

For details on the allegations:
- check out this Detroit Free Press article

Related Article:
RN unions vow to battle NLRB ruling. Report

Editor's Corner

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:01:39 -0500

Let's put aside, for a moment, the no-pharma-freebies policy Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) has put into place, as interesting as it is as part of a larger movement in the industry. Yes, I do think that banning all promotional items and literature, down to the least of branded paper clips, is taking things too far. But like it or not, pharma swag bans are just what's happening today, so this move isn't a surprise.

No, what I find more interesting is the extraordinarily organized and resource-intensive effort HFHS has put into place to regulate its relationship with vendors. Now this is truly worthy of discussion. Creating vendor certification rules, establishing consensus on these rules, setting up a call center for appointment scheduling and verification and communicating the rules across the entire HFHS system must have been no small undertaking, nor a cheap one. So a few questions come up for me:

Did HFHS do a formal analysis to see exactly what impact (say, in terms of hours lost or drug-prescribing decisions influenced) informal vendor drop-ins had on their operations?
From what part of the HFHS system did the pressure come to take these steps? (In other medical systems, doctors have driven the anti-freebie campaigns, but who at HFHS was concerned enough about vendor relationships to drive this campaign?)
Other than clogging the halls and handing out free "candy," are there specific vendor practices HFHS is trying to squeeze out of the system by establishing stringent vendor controls?

Basically, what I'm wondering is whether this was a carefully-structured management analysis of the system's operations, a politically-driven reaction to some irritant, or some combination of the two. And I'm wondering, either way, how they'll tell if what they're doing works. In my opinion, HFHS may lose a bit more than they gain in establishing such controls, as (sometimes annoyingly) informal vendor relationships do provide some benefits. But maybe I'm missing a key point here. Readers, what do you think? - Anne

Henry Ford bans pharma perks, vendor drop-ins

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:01:38 -0500

Yet another large health system has imposed a crackdown on drug company payola this week, and it's a doozy. This time the player is Detroit's Henry Ford Health System, which as of January 1 will forbid physicians from accepting free lunches, gifts and other perks. Not only is Henry Ford banning more obvious forms of bribery--such as free trips or elaborate luncheons--it won't even let vendors distribute promotional products (think the ubiquitous drugmaker pens) or product literature.

At the same time, Henry Ford is setting up an elaborate, aggressive system designed to control vendor relationships with its employees. The system has taken the unusual step of requiring drug and medical equipment company reps to be certified if they want to do business there. To get certified, vendors will have to take a certification class sponsored by Henry Ford and get a special ID. Then, vendors who want to visit with Henry Ford staff members will need to call in to a vendor appointment call center, which will verify and confirm the appointment prior to its taking place. Upon arrival, vendors will need to stop in at a confirmation checkpoint and check in with their e-mailed confirmation letter before being seen.

To learn more about Henry Ford's move:
- see the details in the Henry Ford press release
- read this Detroit Free Press article

Related Articles:
Stanford bans sales rep gifts to doctors. Article
UC Davis mulls pharma freebies ban. Article
Doctors reading FierceHealthcare weigh in on the pros and cons of accepting drug/device freebies is unethical. Things get pretty heated... Letters

Press Release: Henry Ford Health System to Implement Strict Vendor Policies

Maureen Martino — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:37:57 -0500

Henry Ford Health System to Implement Strict Vendor Policies

Dec. 14, 2006
CONTACT: Zoila Brown (Print)
Synthia Bryant (Radio/TV)
David Olejarz (Print)
(313) 876-2882

Henry Ford Health System: New and Strict Vendor Policies Begin Jan. 1
DETROIT – Beginning Jan. 1, Henry Ford Health System will implement a series of strict and unique policies – including the nation’s first certification of vendors for medical facilities – aimed at eliminating potential conflict of interest between relationships with vendors and employees.

This move is in keeping with the ‘just-say-no’ approach espoused by the American Medical Association and other health care leaders, ranging from Stanford University School of Medicine to the University School of Medicine to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, all of whom have adopted similar policies to create a clearer divide between medicine and
product marketing.

Among its unique features is a policy that requires medical, surgical and pharmaceutical vendors visiting a Henry Ford location to be certified through a Henry Ford-sponsored certification class, obtain identification and make appointments in advance. The cost for the certification class and the Henry Ford badge is $100 and is due at the time of the training.

The certification program insures that vendors visiting a Henry Ford location are knowledgeable regarding all policies, procedures, and requirements including those addressing privacy and confidentiality.
“The new vendor policy eliminates uninvited vendor access to Henry Ford physicians and patients without prior written consent, in addition to prohibiting free lunches, small gifts and other perks,” says Mark Kelley, M.D., CEO of the Henry Ford Medical Group.

The policies were developed with patient safety in mind and will restrict the number of unknown products entering Henry Ford, set up protocols for product reviews, establish an evaluation, education, and communication process to track new products, and allow a more professional relationship with vendors.

These include:
• Requirements for vendors doing business at Henry Ford locations and restricts the induction of products without purchase orders. Invoices will no longer be paid if there is not a corresponding purchase order. The policy also provides guidelines for staff when selecting vendors or ordering goods and services.
• A New Product Introduction Policy, to establish a formal product request, evaluation, and introduction process. The policy provides a process by which all new products, proposed product changes, and product replacements are reviewed and known prior to use.
• A Consignment/Loan Policy that helps identify and manage consigned or loaned equipment, instruments and other products. It also establishes a guideline for products consigned and/or loaned to Henry Ford.
• An Emergency Procurement Policy that outlines the procedure for processing a procurement occurring on an emergency basis outside normal business hours.
• A Vendor Policy that requires visiting vendors to obtain certification through Henry Ford’s Vendor Compliance and Management Department. The vendor/organization is required to be an approved vendor prior to registering for credentialing. Vendors must be certified and call to request an appointment with Henry Ford staff or physicians by calling a designated vendor appointment call center. The call center will e-mail the Henry Ford staff for confirmation of appointment prior to acceptance.
In addition, any vendor participating or observing in a clinical procedure area will have additional requirements related to health and safety and are required to wear black scrubs to be easily identified.

Vendors will receive a status of their appointment request via e-mail with a confirmation of their appointment. They must stop at the location designated by the confirmation to check in on appointment day with a copy of the appointment confirmation.

Promotional products of any kind, food supplied by vendors or literature distributed by vendors, will no longer permitted at any Henry Ford site.

Hospitals find niche in bioresearch

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 20:01:33 -0400

Community hospitals around the country have jumped on a new trend: Launching their own research projects, competing for grant money and publishing their results in peer-reviewed publications in order to supplement their budget. It offers a chance for hospitals to burnish their reputation while gaining a new source of revenue as their Medicare reimbursements fall. For example, Henry Ford Health System in Detroit has a $56 million budget to research such topics as the use of gene therapy for prostate cancer. Baylor Health Care System in Houston has increased its research budget to $50 million over just the last six years. Altogether, 120 healthcare systems are doing research work independently.

For more insight into hospital bioresearch:
- here's a Baltimore Sun article

ALSO NOTED: Part D legislation introduced; Petrie appointed CFO at WellPoint; and much more...

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 20:00:50 -0400

> Last week's Annals of Internal Medicine report comparing drug-eluting and bare-metal stents has renewed the stent debate, writes Maggie Mahar in my blog, THCB. Blog

> Congressional Democrats introduced legislation that would make major changes to Medicare Part D. One provision empowers the government to negotiate prices directly with pharmaceutical companies. Another allows consumers to select CMS as their plan provider. Article

> The patient portal at the Henry Ford Health System may serve as a model for granting access to patient electronic medical records. Article

> Speculation continues that Misys will spin off its healthcare IT unit. John McConnell and David Bond are rumored to be the execs involved in the project. Article. Article

> Docs in the U.K. are protesting Minute Clinic style services at supermarkets and other retail outlets, arguing that health care services should not be provided in places where unhealthy products are on sale. Article

> Chutes & Ladders: WellPoint has appointed Bruce Petrie CFO. Petrie moves to healthcare from the energy industry. Release

> Cincinnati Children's Hospital is working with Abbott Diagnostics to develop a new test that can identify a biomarker that reveals signs of kidney failure and progressing disease. Article

> Magellan said it will buy specialty pharmaceutical management firm Icore in a deal worth $210 million in cash and stock. Article

> Epic signs West Virginia University Hospitals to an electronic medical records implementation worth $40 million. Article

And Finally... According to a report in the U.K., less than fifty percent of death certificates are accurate. Article