ALSO NOTED: Kaiser buys Buenaventura Medical Group; Houston Healthcare fires CEO Frank Aaron; and much more...

> Kaiser Permanente has bought Buenaventura Medical Group, the largest medical group in Ventura County, California. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. Report

> What does it take to retain young nurses?  For two San Francisco hospitals, it's a 22-week, $5000/nurse training program.  In just over a year, the program has already reduced turnover from 15 percent to 7 percent among nurses with less than two years of experience. Article

> Oregon's Human Services Department has approved Vibra Healthcare's letter of intent to buy the former Physicians' Hospital, which closed on May 26. Vibra will not have to go through the certificate-of-need process.  Vibra has until May 2007 to reopen Physicians' Hospital. Report

> Chutes & Ladders: Public health system Houston Healthcare fired CEO Frank Aaron abruptly and Houston County Hospital Authority gave no details as to why he was let go. Aaron was immediately replaced by Dr. Anthony Alford, executive director of medical affairs since 2001. Report

And Finally... Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana accidentally sent healthcare termination notices to 11,000 people. The insurer blames a computer system error for the mix-up. Article