> Alarm fatigue, the failure of medical staff to respond to warnings from patient monitors, is a top priority for the Joint Commission this year, reports the Boston Globe. According to the national organization that accredits hospitals, it chose to focus on and develop a strategic approach to alarm fatigue after witnessing a growing nationwide problem with critical alarms being ignored or turned off, endangering the lives of patients. Article
> The latest episode in the ongoing battle between Community Health Systems and Tenet Healthcare, involves the former increasing its offer for the latter to an all-cash $3 billion bid, reports the Memphis Business Journal. Community Health's new offer is $6 per share in cash, as opposed to $5 per share in cash, as well as $1 per share in stock, and would be worth $3.3 billion, total. Article
> After enduring long hours and limits on fees, more doctors are heading to boutique practices, notes the Boston Globe. A congressional agency identified 756 concierge medical doctors in the United States last year, up from just 146 in 2005. Article
> Vanguard Health Systems has filed for a $600 million initial public offering. The IPO for the Blackstone-owned health system would mark the 10th in the healthcare industry in the past three months, reports Bloomberg Businessweek. Article
> In an ongoing attempt to cut costs, Salinas (Calif.) Valley Memorial Hospital will lay off 200 full- and part-time employees by June 15, leaving the hospital with nearly 600 less employees since the start of last year, reports the Monterey Herald . The layoffs are expected to save Salinas Valley between $7 million and $8 million per year. Article
And Finally... Beware of butt implants. Article