Beth Israel and Lahey talk merger; Nevada pushes for sentinel event reporting;

> As Massachusetts hospitals are consolidating, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and Lahey Clinic in Burlington are considering a merger, according to the Boston Globe. Article

> Nevada bills, including SB 254, SB 338, SB 339 and SB 340, are pushing for increasing transparency for consumers to make better choices in hospitals. SB 209, already signed into law, requires state hospitals to publish all sentinel events, reports the Las Vegas Sun. Article

> CEO Dave Tower, FACHE, of Huggins Hospital in New Hampshire  announced last week he is resigning from his position, effective Aug. 31, citing exploring new opportunities as the reason, according to Foster's Daily Democrat. An interim CEO will serve until a replacement is found. Article

> Research firm Thomas Reuters announced yesterday it will sell its healthcare business division, estimated at $450 million, reports Forbes. Thomas Reuters said it would divest its resources into other franchises. Article

> Former National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal will be the new chair of the Commonwealth Fund's health commission. Blumenthal was a primary care physician, director of the Institute of Health Policy, and professor of medicine and health policy at Massachusetts General Hospital/Partners Healthcare System. Statement

And Finally... If you think your commute is bad, try taking a horse to work instead. Article