> More than half of internal medicine residents are emotionally and physically exhausted, according to a study from the Mayo Clinic. In fact, 51.5 percent of residents reported burnout symptoms, 45.8 percent had emotional exhaustion, and 28.9 percent reported feelings of depersonalization. With patient safety and quality of care at stake, hospitals should focus on ways to avoid such professional burnout, such as group therapy or nurse support. Press Release
> Despite investing almost $15 million into Georgia-based Polk Medical Center, HCA/Redmond Regional Medical Center will not be taking over the hospital next year, reports the Rome News-Tribune. Instead, Polk Medical Center chose Floyd County and Floyd Healthcare Management. Article
> Simulation-based training, such as virtual reality computers, mannequins, and training models, is an effective way to teach healthcare professionals, according to a study published in today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Press Release
> Tennessee hospital chains RegionalCare and Essent Healthcare are merging to create a new, larger hospital system, reports The Tennessean. Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission has cleared the purchase of another Tennessee hospital system, Catholic Health Partners, by Health Management Associates, according to an FTC notice.
> Joining the ranks of other hospitals plagued by fewer hospitalizations and lower reimbursement under health reform, St. Francis Medical Center in New Jersey says it must lay off 37 works, reports The Times of Trenton. Article
And Finally... Volunteers live longer, but only if they volunteer for the right reasons. Article