Half of hospital rooms infected with bacteria; Provena-Resurrection merger deal finally closed;

> Kaiser Permanente has opened a green medical center in Ontario,Calif., the nonprofit healthcare system announced yesterday. The new Ontario Medical Center boasts all private patient rooms, cutting-edge technology, natural lighting, and other patient-centered amenities. Press release

> The trial for New York legislator William F. Boyland, Jr., accused of receiving bribes from hospital executives, began yesterday, reports The New York Times. MediSys Health Network CEO David P. Rosen already was found guilty on multiple counts of bribery of hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for favors from Boyland and two other New York officials, making him one of 10 notorious healthcare execs in 2011. Article

> Unless Congress intervenes for an 11th time, physicians will incur a 27.4 percent cut in Medicare payment rates Jan. 1 with the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services final rule released yesterday. FiercePracticeManagement

 > The merger between Provena Health and Resurrection Health Care has finally closed, the latter announced yesterday. The two financially struggling hospitals operators now have formed the largest Catholic-owned healthcare system in Illinois. Announcement

> Want to improve patient satisfaction? Research from Rhode Island Hospital suggests changing the way emergency department workers view their roles. Press release

> Almost half of hospital rooms are infected with bacteria, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Infection Control. After testing door knobs, bedrails, bedside tables, and supply cart drawer handles of 50 rooms, researchers found that 48 percent had multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Press release (.pdf)

And Finally... Feeling lonely? It can affect your sleep. Press release