Former hospital CEO collecting millions; Good Shepherd Medical Center makes cost-effective ED improvements;

> Although Stephen Laverty hasn't worked for Massachusetts's Northeast Health System for almost four years, the former CEO is still receiving severance payments totaling more than $1 million, according to The Daily News of Newburyport‎. Article

> Two Tennessee-based health organizations join the accountable care movement, as Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Tennessee team up to launch an accountable care organization, the latter announced yesterday. The integrated, nonprofit provider-payer ACO will begin Jan. 1, 2013. Announcement

> A new poll from Research America found that a majority of American voters would pay higher taxes in exchange for more state-funded medical research, reported The Hill's Healthwatch. Blog post

> Good Shepherd Medical Center in Texas looked inward to revamp its emergency department, according to Hospitals and Health Networks Daily. An example for cash-strapped hospitals, Good Shepherd improved ED efficiency without having to shell out big bucks to build a bigger facility. Article

And Finally… Time really does fly when you're having fun. Announcement