Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Financial Struggles Threaten More Hospitals; Rural Providers Seek Help
WIBW: Kansas Hospital Closed, Remains Open For Records Handling Through End Of Week
One town in Kansas is losing its hospital. 13 NEWS reached out to the Herington Hospital Monday morning about reports of its closure. Employees were informed Monday the facility is indeed closing. The hospital confirmed the closure to 13 NEWS around 3 p.m. All services end on Monday. The building will remain open through the end of the week for people to retrieve their medical records. Any records will need to be requested in person, though the hospital did note they will be maintained. In a statement released Monday afternoon, Herington Hospital cited “lengthy financial struggles and consistently low patient volumes” prompting the decision. (Grabauskas, 10/9)
Becker's Hospital Review: Yale New Haven Hospital Targets Have Negative Days' Cash On Hand, Report Shows
Three Connecticut hospitals that are the target of Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health either have negative or near negative days' cash on hand, according to a September 2023 report. The hospitals — Waterbury Hospital and two others operated by Eastern Connecticut Health Network, Manchester Memorial and Vernon-based Rockville Hospital — are currently owned by Los Angeles-based for-profit operator Prospect Medical. Yale New Haven officials have expressed increasing concern about the financial state of the three hospitals, threatening the completion of any potential acquisition. (Thomas, 10/9)
Axios: What Rural Health Providers Want From Washington
Rural health providers have a long to-do list for Congress. When the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee last month put out a call for ideas on shoring up rural America's fraying health care system, rural providers came prepared. (Goldman, 10/10)
In other health care industry news —
The Boston Globe: Good Samaritan Medical Center In Brockton Reopens Sunday After Power Outage
Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton fully reopened Sunday morning, about a day after a power outage in some parts of the building forced officials to evacuate some patients and direct ambulances to other hospitals in the area. The hospital lifted its “code black” — meaning it had been diverting ambulances to other facilities — at about 7:30 a.m., according to Deborah Chiaravalloti, a spokesperson for Steward Health Care. “We are back up and running,” Chiaravalloti said in an email. (Hilliard, 10/8)
Modern Healthcare: Former Intermountain CEO Harrison To Lead General Catalyst Company
Venture capital firm General Catalyst has tapped former Intermountain Health CEO Dr. Marc Harrison to lead a new company focused on health system transformation. The company, Health Assurance Transformation Corp., or HATco, was launched publicly by Harrison and General Catalyst CEO Hemant Taneja at the HLTH conference on Sunday in Las Vegas. The company, which will be owned by General Catalyst, will provide advisory services to health systems and help them pivot to value-based care, adopt digital platforms that can scale across the enterprise, align stakeholder interests and improve financial sustainability. (Perna, 10/8)
KFF Health News: Thousands Got Exactech Knee Or Hip Replacements. Then, Patients Say, The Parts Began To Fail
Ron Irby expected the artificial knee implanted in his right leg in September 2018 would last two decades — perhaps longer. Yet in just three years, the Optetrak implant manufactured by Exactech in Gainesville, Florida, had worn out and had to be replaced — a painful and debilitating operation. (Schulte, 10/10)
On AI in health care —
Modern Healthcare: Google Cloud Adds Generative AI Search Functions To Vertex AI
Google’s cloud arm is adding a generative artificial intelligence search function for healthcare and life science organizations, the company announced at the HLTH conference on Monday. Google Cloud said its Vertex AI search capabilities are being tuned for healthcare organizations, which will allow clinicians to search for specific information directly in electronic health records and other clinical systems. (Perna, 10/9)
Fox News: Mayo Clinic Sees AI As ‘Transformative Force’ In Health Care, Appoints Dr. Bhavik Patel As Chief AI Officer
As artificial intelligence gains an ever-widening role in the medical field, the Mayo Clinic has recently appointed a new executive to lead the health system’s efforts in that area. Radiologist Bhavik Patel, M.D., has been named chief artificial intelligence officer (CAIO) for Mayo Clinic Arizona. Before joining the clinic in 2021, Patel practiced at Duke University Medical Center and Stanford University Medical Center. Dr. Richard Gray, CEO of Mayo Clinic Arizona, announced the hire on LinkedIn, noting the organization has only "begun to scratch the surface of AI's potential in medicine." (Rudy, 10/10)
