| Government News | Senate postpones Ronny Jackson's confirmation hearing for head of VA amid allegations of improper conduct
Senators have postponed the confirmation hearing for Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, MD, the nominee for secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, amid concerns over his qualifications and newly raised allegations of improper conduct as the White House physician. The hearing, which was scheduled for April 24, was postponed following reports from current and former White House medical staff accusing Jackson of creating a hostile work environment through excessive drinking on the job and improper distribution of medication. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been hesitant to support Jackson's nomination, and will look further into the misconduct allegations while also reevaluating his qualifications. | | | -back to top- | | GPO News | 2018 Vizient Connections Summit to focus on maximizing supply chain operations, pharmacy performance
Vizient Inc (Irving, TX) will host the 2018 Vizient Connections Summit, focused on maximizing supply chain operations and pharmacy performance, May 1-3 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The annual spring conference will offer members, industry experts, and suppliers a blended networking and educational programming agenda with strategies that will help supply chain leaders become more clinically effective and operationally efficient. The conference agenda is designed for executive leaders from supply chain, pharmacy, value analysis, nursing, and service lines with supply chain responsibility. In addition to organized networking opportunities, the event will feature educational and interactive sessions on topics including: Supply chain strategies; pharmacy strategies; care-delivery improvement across the continuum; value-based care delivery; workforce strategies; data use, analysis, and measurement; and trends and innovations. Members may register now to attend the spring 2018 Connections Summit. | | | -back to top- | | Provider Services News | Valify adds AllSpire Health GPO LLC to its list of collaborative organization partnerships
Valify (Frisco, TX) announced the addition of AllSpire Health GPO LLC (Allentown, PA) to its list of partnerships with healthcare collaboratives. The partnership with AllSpire Health GPO, LLC is the latest in the pattern of collaboratives selecting Valify for delivering value to their members. With the addition of AllSpire Health GPO LLC, Valify is currently aligned with six collaboratives spanning 164 hospitals and 25,800 beds. According to the company, Valify’s database now accounts for $200 billion in total spend across 700+ hospitals. | | | -back to top- | Amazon, JPMorgan, Berkshire company to name CEO within 2 months
Executives at Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan Chase are expected to select the CEO of their healthcare company within the next two months, a source familiar with the matter told Axios. The search includes various well-known CEOs and officials from across the healthcare industry, including former CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt, former U.S. Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Castlight Health Todd Park, and former Aetna executive Gary Loveman. The nonprofit healthcare company will initially offer healthcare coverage to employees across the three companies, but officials plan to explore expanding the venture to other large companies. | | | -back to top- | | Manufacturer News | Fresenius Medical Care North America launches corporate charitable foundation
Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) (Waltham, MA) launched the Fresenius Medical Care Foundation, a nonprofit created to address the environmental, social and economic conditions that increase the risk for chronic kidney disease. FMCNA has pledged to match donations from its employees, medical staff, and other individuals up to $1 million to fund the Foundation in its inaugural year. As part of the Foundation’s launch, FMCNA employees assembled 4,000 Healthy Eating, Active Lifestyle kits, which included items such as basketballs, volleyballs, dodge balls, soccer balls, footballs and air pumps. Approximately 400 Chicago Public School students received kits while participating in the event, with the remaining kits donated to children of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. In addition, the newly formed Foundation will donate $50,000 to the YMCA in support of its Camp Duncan medical summer camp program for children with diabetes and kidney disease. | | | -back to top- | | From Repertoire Magazine | RepConnect presents a NEW 2-Minute Drill on Medtronic Nellcor Pulse Oximetry
Now on RepConnect – a new 2-Minute Drill on Medtronic Nellcor Pulse Oximetry.
Click here or log in to the RepConnect app to view the new Drill! | | | -back to top- | | Hospital and IDN News | Virginia Mason Medical Center creates consulting group to serve hospitals, with rural focus
Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle, WA) started NetworxHealth LLC, an affiliated consulting group that helps hospitals – particularly those serving rural communities – address challenges and assess opportunities in several critical areas, including C-suite staffing. NetworxHealth’s services include skilled guidance for boards of directors during transitions in C-level positions (e.g., CEO, CFO, chief nurse officer, and COO). NetworxHealth consultancy services also encompass management expertise in pharmacy operations, continuing medical education, financial management, supply chain efficiency, laboratory operations, group purchasing, facilities, and construction project management. NetworxHealth experts are available for interim and longer-term assignments as needed by their customers. | | | -back to top- | The Hospitals of Providence names new market CEO
The Hospitals of Providence (El Paso, TX) named Nicholas Tejeda as market CEO. Tejeda will work with Monica Vargas-Mahar, market COO and CEO of The Hospitals of Providence East Campus in El Paso, to oversee the El Paso market. Tejeda has worked at The Hospitals of Providence since 2015. He most recently was CEO for The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain Campus and Sierra Campus (El Paso). | | | -back to top- | Adventist's Florida Hospital provides details of $600M network enhancement campaign
Florida Hospital (Orlando, FL), part of Adventist Health System (Altamonte Springs, FL), plans to invest $600 million in acquisitions and renovations over the next three years. Florida Hospital Tampa's new patient tower will cost $300 million. The tower will feature additional beds, operating rooms, and parking. The hospital also has plans for a $30 million upgrade to its ED at Florida Hospital North Pinellas (Tarpon Springs). It will also spend $17.5 million to expand Florida Hospital Carrollwood's (Tampa) ED, which will add 15 private rooms, doubling the number of patients who can receive healthcare services. Florida Hospital is also expanding its network into Lakeland, Florida, where it recently purchased 103 acres for $14.5 million. A freestanding emergency room and a hospital are proposed for the site. Florida Hospital Connerton Long Term Acute Care will begin an expansion to add 25 beds and an ICU. Florida Hospital's three-year capital investment plan also includes expanding its ambulatory care network. The hospital plans to construct three freestanding emergency rooms in Westchase and two in Brandon, and will increase the number of urgent care clinics from six to 10. | | | -back to top- |
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