Clinical Management Series
The Profit Potential of Hospital Labs, Chris Serb, January, 46
Outreach programs expand services to physicians, employers and insurers with relatively modest added investment
Building a Community Network for Behavioral Health Care, Elizabeth Thompson Beckley, April, 44
Hospitals lead the way in changing how mental health care is perceived and delivered
Who Sets the Standards for Bariatric Care? Joan Szabo, July, 60
Critics say there are too many certification programs and too much emphasis on the volume of surgeries
Hospitals Put Some Muscle into Sports Medicine, Geri Aston, October, 43
Americans are getting serious about play, and sports medicine is booming
Columns: Business Matters
New Perspectives, Alden Solovy, January, 30
The refrain may have changed—“no mission, no margin”—but the goals remain the same
Heading for an Iceberg? Molly Joel Coye, M.D., February, 30
Don’t let a focus on the EMR blind you to bigger trends in health care IT
Challenges, Not Excuses, Pam Bilbrey, March, 26
Great leaders thwart organizational complacency through role-modeling, positive language
Sutton Law Revised, Molly Joel Coye, M.D., April, 28
It takes strong leaders to get the most value from their biggest technology investments
Why We’re Here, Alden Solovy, May, 26
A terrible accident, dozens of casualties, and one small hospital does what hospitals do
Health Care in a Lousy Economy, Jeff Lutz, June, 24
With a national recession looming, Detroit may provide lessons for the rest of us
Getting IT Right, Molly Joel Coye, M.D., July, 26
By embracing wireless technology, hospitals can make the patient room the epicenter of care
Get a [Second] Life, Alden Solovy, August, 20
Powerful virtual world is transforming health care in ways that astound and inspire
Turf Wars, Molly Joel Coye, M.D., September, 26
New technologies are bound to heighten tensions among your physicians
Heroes, Pam Bilbrey, October, 24
Storytelling keeps them with us
CMS’ Stealth Health Reform, November, 24
A plan to reduce readmissions and boost the continuum of care
The Credit Crisis, Kenneth Kaufman and Mark Grube, December, 22
Eight priorities for hospital leaders
Columns: Editor’s Notes
Change Happens, Mary Grayson, January, 6
We keep waiting for physicians to change, but they may have already made up their minds
Future Forecasting, Mary Grayson, February, 4
Where have all the annual trend prognosticators gone?
You Don’t Know…, Mary Grayson, March, 4
…what you don’t know, goes the old saying. And some of us will never find out.
Backstories, Mary Grayson, April, 4
Facts and statistics don’t always tell you the whole story. Take nursing, for example
Say What? Mary Grayson, May, 6
Did you ever have the feeling that you’re just not getting the whole message?
Stuff with Legs, Mary Grayson, June, 4
Sometimes ideas have a life of their own and move around in unexpected ways
Awards, and Then Some, Mary Grayson, July, 4
Not to take all the fun out of everything by being too serious—never!—but what’s the fascination?
And the Business Case is…, Mary Grayson, August, 4
Millions of dollars may ride on the answer but there’s one more question to ask ourselves
Learning the Hard Way, Mary Grayson, September, 4
Harry and Louise have had a big change of heart, but just what made them see the light?
Great Men and Us Too, Mary Grayson, October, 4
Change, change, everyone shouts, but how does great political and social change really happen
Let’s Take a Breath…, Mary Grayson, November, 4
We all sometimes feel overwhelmed by events, but true leadership will find a way through
Twin Update + One, Mary Grayson, December, 4
Enough of the doom and gloom about the economy, let’s talk babies!
Columns: Out Box
On the Record, Rick Pollack, January, 72
“A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground.”—H.L. Mencken
Trustees Take on Quality, John R. Combes, M.D., February, 80
Curriculum helps boards better guide hospitals’ quality and safety efforts
HIV Testing in the ED, Gretchen Williams Torres, March, 80
Emergency departments are fertile ground for testing high volumes of diverse patients
Finding the Value, Thomas M. Priselac, April, 72
Pay for performance is a policy idea that is still largely untested and unproven
An Excellent Investment, Michael Bilton, May, 92
A community health assessment yields valuable market information and builds relationships
Memo To the Field, Ian Morrison, June, 76
The 2008 Health Forum-American Hospital Association Leadership Summit
Can Seniors Afford Care? William Petasnick, July, 148
AHA committee assesses the impact of rising out-of-pocket costs on current, future retirees
The Quest for Quality, Jeffrey D. Selberg, August, 66
We must go beyond individual projects and processes to transform the total culture
Seven Ideas to Improve Quality, Robert H. Brook, September, 94
The 2008 AHA Trust Award recipient has a few ideas about a comprehensive health reform plan
An Informed Vote, Rick Pollack, October, 86
Campaign promises must become the basis for the health care reform American needs
Supporting Change, John R. Combs, M.D., November, 66
Dramatically reducing health care-associated infections through evidence-based tools
Making Sense of the Chaos, Richard Umbdenstock, December, 58
The specific aim is to get concrete agreement on the priority areas for quality improvement
Complementary and Alternative Medicine/Wellness
An Ounce of Prevention, Haydn Bush, April, 40
The wellness movement gains momentum as a way to contain medical costs and improve Americans’ health—though not everyone’s a fan
Community Health/Outreach
The 2007 Foster G. McGaw Prize, Terese Hudson Thrall, March, 53
Harborview Medical Center’s community services address an astounding variety of needs
The 2008 AHA NOVA Awards, Gina Rollins, July, 64
The five winners partner with other community organizations to tackle pressing health and social problems
Customer Service/Satisfaction
Gatefold: Becoming a Provider of Choice, Lee Ann Runy, October, after 34
How four health care systems exceed patient expectations
Diagnostic Imaging
Mammography Rebounds, Charlotte Huff, November, 38
Digital scans, speedier results, fired-up docs and hospitals’ commitment to improve workflow help head off crisis in access
E-Health/Information Technology
A National Health IT Policy Proves Elusive, Haydn Bush, February, 32
The power of an integrated system is clear; the path there is long and winding
IT at a Crossroads, Alan Joch, February, 45
Leading-edge clinical systems carry new risks and responsibilities
OR of the Future: It’s Here and Now, Chris Serb, March, 36
Even smaller hospitals can adapt this project’s down-to-earth ideas
Will PHRs Rule the Waves or Roll Out with the Tide? Ken Terry, August, 36
Google, Microsoft and Medicare are venturing into personal health records, raising their visibility—but security and patient use uncertain
Second Life: Test-Driving Real-World Innovations, Laura Bruck, October, 50
Virtual world springs to life for health care professionals, patients and kids to explore and contemplate
Environmentally Friendly/Green Movement
Think Green, Chris Serb, August, 22
Hospitals used to worry that environmentally friendly practices were complicated and cost-prohibitive. Not any more.
Gatefold: The Path to Going Green, Haydn Bush, August, after 26
Hospitals find themselves at the center of a national movement to embrace “green”
Facilities
Hospital Construction Roars Right Along, Dave Carpenter (data and research by Suzanna Hoppszallern), March, 40
Building and renovation cost keep climbing, but nobody expects the book to end soon
A new Model for Hospital Design Rises in an Ohio Cornfield, Randy Edwards, July, 52
Dublin Methodist merges beauty and brains to create a high-quality, patient-friendly facility
Finances/Census
Gatefold: New MS-DRGs, Haydn Bush, March, after 44
How hospitals can prepare for the new CMS payment changes
Special Report: Financing Technology, Dave Carpenter et al., May, 53
Carpenter and seven top industry experts examine the promise and pitfalls of medical technology
Gatefold: Presenting Your Story to the Capital Markets, Lee Ann Runy, June, after 32
With capital harder to come by, hospitals must impress their markets
Where Main & Wall St. Cross, Matthew Weinstock, June, 41
At annual investors’ conference, elite hospitals have conflicting expectations
The Cost Conundrum, Haydn Bush, June, 42
Strategies abound for holding down exploding health care expenditures
Debt Load: Building a Better Payment Plan, Elizabeth S. Roop, June, 46
Up-front billing techniques eliminate painful surprises
Experiments in Payment, Mark Taylor, September, 28
Is this the start of a “quiet revolution” in how health care is paid for?
Insurance/Reimbursement
Reining in RAC, Haydn Bush, July, 46
The Medicare recovery audit program goes nationwide this fall, and hospitals hope its worst excesses will be gone
Are You Ready for RAC? Haydn Bush, November, 34
Medicare’s recover audit program two months away from national rollout. Here’s how hospitals can prepare.
Leadership
Gatefold: High-Performing Executive Teams, Lee Ann Runy, April, after 48
Overcome five dysfunctions of an executive team to revitalize your C-suite
A Moment in Time, Mary Grayson, October, 26
Interview with AHA chair-elect Richard de Filippi
Legal/Regulations
Working Through the Frustrations of Clinical Integration, Mark Taylor, January, 34
Laws, cost and physician-hospital relations are obstacles to coordinated patient care
Legislation/Lobbying
Put Your Board on High Alert for Sarbanes-Oxley “Creep,” Eileen Drage O’Reilly, April, 57
The regulation to make for-profit boards more accountable is having a growing impact on not-for-profit hospitals
Materials Management/Supply Chain
Bringing Discipline to Your Supply Chain, Dave Carpenter, May, 49
Quality management techniques in purchasing may be just a fad to some, but they can save hospitals big bucks
Care to Compare? Geri Aston, December, 38
National program to identify which medical devices, drugs and treatments are most effective would be massive and costly. But can we afford not to do it?
Nocosomial Infections/Infection Control
As a Superbug Spreads, So Does Misinformation, Bill Santamour, May, 36
Experts agree we’re in the midst of a MRSA epidemic. But how deadly is it and what can we do about it?
Hospital-acquired Infections, H&HN Staff, October, 55
Executive Dialogue Series
Palliative/End-of-Life Care
2008 AHA Circle of Life Awards, Jan Greene, August, 42
Palliative care takes a team to respond to patient, family needs
Patient Care
The Billion Dollar U-Turn, Mark Taylor, May, 30
Readmissions pose enormous financial and quality of care problems
Patient Safety/Medical Errors
Gatefold: Patient Handoffs, Lee Ann Runy, May, after 40
The pitfalls and solutions of transferring patients safely from one caregiver to another
Gatefold: The Nurse and Patient Safety, Lee Ann Runy, November, after 42
Optimizing your nursing staff’s time at the bedside key to patient safety
Predictions/Trends
Are Patients Happier at Most Wired Hospitals? Alden Solovy, Suzanna Hoppszallern and Sarah B. Brown, July, 30
Our 10th annual IT survey: Data, insights and the top 100 hospitals and health systems
Gatefold: 2009 Environmental Scan, Gene O’Dell, September, after 34
Annual tool identifies broad spectrum of health care trends
Privacy/HIPAA
Lock It or Lose It, Harris Meyer, September, 50
A surprise visit by the feds shows why hospitals must do more to protect medical records
Quality & Performance Improvement
Engage Employees to Improve Staff and Patient Satisfaction, Laura Lindberg and Jennifer Kimberlain, January, 28
AHA Quality Center “Quality Update”
Can We Really Save 5 Million Lives? Karen Sandrick, February, 60
Hospitals nationwide take the Institute for Healthcare Improvement challenge
Health Care: Getting What You Pay For, Susan D. Devore, March, 72
AHA Quality Center “Quality Update”
Baldrige: Myths and Realities, Kathleen Jennison Goonan, M.D., and Joseph Muzikowski, May, 84
AHA Quality Center “Quality Update”
Good is Never Enough for P4P, Charlotte Huff, June, 26
As CMS-Premier quality standards get tougher and tougher, hospitals must push beyond their own limits
Revving Up the Quality Campaign, Haydn Bush, September, 44
Can strategies quicken the pace of health care improvement?
Quest for Quality Prize, Lee Ann Runy, September, 53
2008 winners of AHA-McKesson award
Developing a Safety Culture with Front-Line Staff, Laura Lindberg, Kim Judd, R.N., and Jennifer Snyder, September, 84
AHA Quality Center “Quality Update”
Linking Public Accountability to Quality Improvement, Kristine Marten Anderson and Kathryn Schulke, November, 60
AHA Quality Center “Quality Update”
Reform/Election 2008
Is America Finally Ready for Reform? Philip Dunn, February, 54
Almost 15 years ago, the nation’s leader said they wanted to fix health care. Maybe this time they will.
Converging for Coverage, Haydn Bush, October, 32
Surprising coalitions formed to solve uninsured crisis—but will they find common ground?
Rural Health Care
A Litmus Test for Critical Access, Elizabeth S. Roop, January, 42
CAH proponents say the program isn’t just about upgrading aging facilities—it’s mostly about improving clinical care
IT and Nurse Workflow in the Rural and Community Hospital, August, after 44
Siemens-sponsored roundtable discussion
Section: Data Page
Health Care Proves Costly for Medicare Beneficiaries, Matthew Weinstock, January, 60
Data from AARP, Employee Benefit Research Institute, MetLife, and the Public Policy & Aging Report
Number of hospital beds rise, community hospitals drop, Matthew Weinstock, February, 68
Data from AHA Hospital Statistics, 2008
Survey: Trustees Can Expect More Scrutiny, Lee Ann Runy, March, 62
Data from FutureScan 2008, SHSMD and ACHE
SCHIP: More Kids Covered, But Expansion May Slow, Lee Ann Runy, April, 63
Data from CMS and Kaiser Family Foundation
The Consequences of Violence, Bill Santamour, May, 72
Data from AHRQ
Perception is Almost Everything for Consumers and Hospitals, Lee Ann Runy, June, 66
Data from PRC and Press Ganey
Health Care’s Biggest Challenge, Bill Santamour, July, 132
Data from CDC and AHRQ
Combating Cardiovascular Disease, Lee Ann Runy, September, 80
Data from AHRQ and MarketScan
Never Events in Surgery Prove Costly, Sarah B. Brown, October, 72
Data from AHRQ
A Dangerous Bind for American Workers, Sarah B. Brown, November, 54
Data from Hewitt Associates LLC, Kaiser, HRET
Medical Tourism: Nations vie for health dollars, Sarah B. Brown, December, 49
Data from Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, and Patients Beyond Borders by Josef Woodman
Section: Other Voices
AARP Aims to Unify “Champions” of Nursing, Matthew Weinstock, January, 18
Interview with Susan Reinhard, director of AARP’s Public Policy Institute
Quality, Safety Top New Joint Commission Chief’s Agenda, Matthew Weinstock, February, 16
Interview with Mark Chassin, M.D., president, Joint Commission
New Leapfrog Leader Says Health Care Lacks Common Sense, Matthew Weinstock March, 16
Interview with Leah Binder, CEO, Leapfrog Group
After 20 Years, Fresh Hope, Fresh Challenge, Matthew Weinstock, April, 18
Interview with Carmela Coyle, president and CEO, Maryland Hospital Association
Geriatric Guru: Focus on Living Well, Not Just Living Longer, Haydn Bush, May, 16
Interview with Ken Dychtwald, president and CEO, Age Wave
The Nurse Will See You Now in Aisle Five, Haydn Bush, June, 16
Interview with Hal Rosenbluth, founder, Take Care Health, chairman and senior strategy consultant, Walgreens
Is Health Care Ready for Google? Matthew Weinstock, July, 14
Interview with Roni Seiger, M.D., product manager, Google Health
New AMA President Eyes Health Care Reform, Haydn Bush, August, 14
Interview with Nancy Nielsen, M.D., president, American Medical Association
Iraqi Health Care’s Revival and What it Can Teach U.S. Hospitals, Matthew Weinstock, September, 14
Interview with Terry Cline, U.S. health care attaché in Iraq
Activist Calls for Renewed Focus on Prevention as HIV Epidemic Worsens, Matthew Weinstock, October, 14
Interview with Julie Scofield, executive director, National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors
Why Palliative Care Matters to Patients and to Your Bottom Line, Bill Santamour, November, 16
Interview with Diane E. Meier, M.D., director of Center to Advance Palliative Care
For Nurses, IT’s About Time…and Motion, Alan Joch, December, 14
Interview with Marilyn Chow, R.N., vice president of patient care services, Kaiser Permanente
Section: Practical Ethics
Do You Penalize Rule Breakers? Matthew Weinstock, January, 24
Opinions from Howard Kern and Glenn Bingle, M.D.
Should You Play Ball? Terese Hudson Thrall, February, 18
Opinions from Reeven Elfman and Kevin Unger
Can You Grow and Still Preserve? Haydn Bush, March, 18
Opinions from Jim Coller and Constance A. Howes
Is it Time to Leave the City? Terese Hudson Thrall, April, 20
Opinions from Nicholas Jacobs and Alan Channing
Is Reuse Too Risky? Haydn Bush, May, 17
Opinions from David Muhs and Chris Van Gorder
Put Privacy or Technology First? Terese Hudson Thrall, June, 17
Opinions from Greg Lintjer and Phyllis Marino
Will Bad News Slow Transparency? Haydn Bush, July, 16
Opinions from Rich Morrison and Kevin Churchwell
Save the CEO? Terese Hudson Thrall, August, 15
Opinions from Sarah Buck and Thomasine Kennedy
Should You Block a Competitor? Haydn Bush, September, 16
Opinions from John Grossmeier and Russell Johnson
Hire Away Needed Nurses? Terese Hudson Thrall, October, 19
Opinions from Jeff Payne and Nicole Morin-Scribner
Should Cell Phones Be Banned? Haydn Bush, November, 19
Opinions from Doug Vinsel and Anthony Spezia
Parking Problems, Terese Hudson Thrall, December, 16
Opinions from Rodney Reider and John Harney
Section: Staffing Watch
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, January, 26
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, February, 28
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, March, 24
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, April, 26
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, May, 24
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, June, 22
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, July, 24
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, August, 18
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, September, 24
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, October, 22
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, November, 22
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Staffing Watch, Terese Hudson Thrall, December, 20
Roundup of staffing problems and solutions
Section: Storyboard
How University Hospital Sliced Door-to-Balloon Time, Haydn Bush, January, 25
More efficient procedures and use of technology lead to better outcomes
Finding Ways to Improve Behavioral Health, Matthew Weinstock, February, 22
A new guide shows CEOs strategies to offer mental health services
Steps to Better Board Accountability, Matthew Weinstock, March, 20
A new report urges hospital boards to pay more attention to community benefit
What Do the Candidates Say About Health Care? Matthew Weinstock, April, 22
Breakdown of top three presidential candidates’ plans
One Hospital’s Mission to Improve ED Experience, Matthew Weinstock, May, 20
Improved patient throughput results in better care, staff satisfaction
Thought Decisions: Who Gets Care During a Crisis? Matthew Weinstock, June, 18
Health officials offer a blueprint for triaging patients during a mass casualty
Leaving the ED Without a Long Wait, Haydn Bush, July, 19
Hospital gets ED patients admitted in 23 minutes, down from 85
The Proliferation of Quality Reports, Matthew Weinstock, August, 16
Consumers can access tremendous amounts of data online, but does it all make sense?
RAC Attack, Matthew Weinstock, September, 19
The CMS recover audit contractor program is set to roll out nationwide
Health Care 2008, Matthew Weinstock, October, 20
Where do McCain and Obama Stand?
Working Around Technology, John DiConsiglio, November, 20
A recent study shows how nurses circumvent bar-code medication systems
How to Zap VAP, Haydn Bush, December, 19
Technology could reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia rates
Workforce Issues
Gatefold: The Aging Workforce, Lee Ann Runy, January, after 48
The aging U.S. population presents another challenge for health care: an aging workforce
Gatefold: The Changing Role of the CMIO, Lee Ann Runy, February, after 36
Chief medical information officer is a relatively new position at most hospitals, but it’s changing as rapidly as the technology they oversee
Your Future Chief of Staff? Howard Larkin, March, 30
He knows that if you don’t catch Generation Y online, you may not catch them at all
CNO Burnout, Gina Rollins, April, 30
Many nurse executives are quitting, leaving hospitals hard-pressed to replace them
Nurse Staffing Laws: Should You Worry? Terese Hudson Thrall, April, 36
For hospitals, mandates range from onerous to OK
Can Hospitalists Cross the Quality Chasm? Ken Terry, June, 52
They’re driving the bus, but so far it hasn’t gotten very far
Success with Staff: How to Become a Top Employer, H&HN Staff, 65
Executive Dialogue series
The Disappearing Primary Care Physician, Harris Meyer, November, 28
Primary care docs can make more as specialists, leaders taking steps to reveres dangerous trend
Finding Your Next CEO, Terese Hudson Thrall, December, 24
Executive turnover is costly, and it’s getting harder to find qualified replacements. What can you do?
Gatefold: Executive Career Paths, Lee Ann Runy, December, after 26
The three stages of career development and advice needed to climb the hospital management ladder
No Bad Apples, Terese Hudson Thrall, December, 42
Disruptive behavior hurts staff morale and endangers patients. Now the Joint Commission insists that you do something about it
