'Bad hire' costs healthcare organizations up to $50K a year; Rural providers question ACO benefits;

> For 12 years running, nurses have been voted the most ethical workers, according to Gallup's annual poll. Nurses' honesty and ethical standards were rated as "very high" or "high" by 84 percent of Americans. Press release (.pdf)

> Healthcare employers beware: 77 percent of healthcare organizations made a "bad hire" this past year, according to a MiracleWorkers.com study. Such hiring mistakes come with significant financial repercussions, costing more than $25,000 for 34 percent of companies and more than $50,000 for 18 percent. Press release

> Despite current guidelines saying otherwise, performing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) at centers without onsite surgery capabilities is not associated with higher mortality, according to a new study in the Dec. 14 issue of JAMA. Study abstract

> Access to patient data is crucial to performance measurement, according to a RAND Corporation report commissioned by National Quality Forum (NQF) released last week. What's more, the report found that an NQF-endorsement enhances provider buy-in of performance measures. Press release

> Although Medicare's final rule for accountable care organizations (ACO) now enables community health centers and rural health clinics to lead ACOs, rural providers are questioning the benefits of such arrangements, reports AIS Health. Some rural healthcare execs said participation in ACOs "may not be worth the return on investment." Article (reg. req.)

And Finally... No. 1 tip for attending work holiday parties: Keep your clothes on. Article