Former hospital CEO gets 2 years in prison for fraud; Penn. hospital opens 'prehab' geriatric unit;

> HCA-owned Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Thousand Oaks (Calif.) Surgical Hospital are looking into a partnership, The Ventura Country Star reported Thursday. Execs from both facilities predict the collaboration will help resource sharing and ensure quality care in light of financial gaps from health reform. Article

> Former president and CEO of Georgia's Archbold Medical Center was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of Medicare and Medicaid fraud in 2010, The Albany Herald reported Thursday.  Ken Beverly also will face a $50,000 fine in addition to his sentence. Despite his conviction, Beverly received $6 million in pay and benefits before leaving his Archbold position. Article

> Abington (Penn.) Memorial Hospital last month opened a geriatric unit, which offers "prehab" to people 70 and older who are able to walk and are in relatively good mental shape, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Monday. The goal of the geriatric unit is to extend independence for the elderly by keeping them physically active, encouraging social interaction in a safe environment and preventing delirium. Article

> To attract primary care physicians, they should be paid more, according to the Henry Ford Health System CEO in an interview with Bridge Michigan. Nancy Schlichting suggests that the current salary of primary care docs is not enough to offset the cost of student loans, and therefore, graduates are choosing specialties other than primary care to earn higher pay. Interview

And Finally… Flying squirrel poo, just what the doctor ordered. Article