More hospital workers get flu shots; North Carolina hospitals outsource to private businesses;

News From Around the Web

> Approximately 83 percent of hospital workers report getting a flu vaccine for the 2012-13 flu season, compared to 77 percent in 2011-12 and 71 percent in 2010-2011, according to a survey from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Survey

> Western North Carolina hospitals are turning more and more home care programs over to private businesses because of financial woes, the Carolina Public Press reports. Article

> Two accountable care organizations are the first to receive the National Committee for Quality Assurance's (NCQA) level three ACO accreditation, the NCQA announced. Statement

Health Finance News

> The cost to the Medicare program for treating heart attack patients has risen by nearly 20 percent between 1998 and 2008, with post-discharge care driving the increase, Newsday reported. Article

> Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City has saved $1.6 million over a six-month period by providing additional monitoring of patients at high risk for multiple admissions, Bloomberg News reported. Article

And Finally... San Diego says 'mallow out. Article