> Michigan's St. John Providence Park Hospital uses a cultural patient navigator to direct its growing Japanese population through the healthcare system, reports The Detroit News. The volunteer coordinators help Japanese patients find doctors, explain procedures or medication instructions and even accompany patients to their appointments for translation purposes--efforts which have helped the hospital add roughly 1,000 new patients in just more than a year. Article
> The U.S. Senate on Saturday agreed to freeze Medicare payments to doctors at the current rate through February, reports DOTMed. The bill is headed to the House floor tonight, where it likely faces an uphill battle. Article
> Scott and White Hospital in Texas is creating mock hospital rooms before launching its expansion, reports the Bryan College Station Eagle. Having doctors and nurses walk through exact replicas allows the hospital to incorporate their feedback before construction begins. Article
> Because the potential buyer of bankrupt Hawaii Medical Center couldn't reach a deal with the hospital's largest creditor, the hospital's West and East facilities will close in less than a month, reports Hawaii News Now. Prime Healthcare Services had offered to buy Hawaii Medical Center for $25 million, but St. Francis Healthcare wanted $40 million. Article
> Temple University Health System is merging with Fox Chase Cancer Center, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer. The "blockbuster" deal is a "sign of the times," said Alan Zuckerman, president of Health Strategies & Solutions in Philadelphia, who expects a wave of unusual healthcare mergers. Article
And Finally... Facebook considers suing fake Mark Zuckerberg. Article