Signups for healthcare coverage remain high; HEN saves $90 million;

News From Around The Web

> The Obama administration announced that signups for healthcare coverage continue apace, with more than 100,000 signed up in the last week and more than 6.6 million enrolled in the 37 states that use insuance exchanges operated by the federal government, the Associated Press reported. Article

> The North Carolina Virginia Hospital Engagement Network (HEN), improved care and saved more than $90 million by avoiding hospital-acquired conditions for more than 10,000 patients between 2010 and 2013, AHA News Now reported. Article

> Blue Shield of California and not-for-profit hospital operator Sutter Health are in a contract dispute, with the former accusing the latter of covering up some of its business practices, according to the Los Angeles Times. Article

Provider News

> The growth of nurse practitioner (NP) positions and their contribution to the healthcare industry hasn't escaped the notice of physicians, nor NPs themselves, recent research indicates. The survey, "Primary Care Workforce Shortages and Career Recommendations from Practicing Clinicians," published in advance of the most recent addition of the Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, found that both primary care NPs and primary care physicians were both more likely to recommend careers as NPs than they were to recommend careers as doctors. Article

It's the beginning of 2015 and time for people to take a closer look at their lives and make resolutions for the coming year. It's also a good time for hospitals to take another look at their social media and digital initiatives and determine what's working and what's not. Article

And finally...There is no stopping her. Article