Want to Save a Hospital?

Now's your chance...

This hospital is a breath away from closing its doors after 103 years of service.

St. Francis Hospital in Chicago desperately needs a buyer.

And a turnaround team. They've got the goods, now they apparently need the management, money and guidance...

Anyone up for the challenge?

Jamaica Gets it Right with Universal Healthcare

Free healthcare for all in Jamaica, and the first few days are going well...

Here's one blogger's take from last year, before the island nation implemented free healthcare for children.

Good comments on abc.com here.

Today I spoke with a friend in the IT field who holds dual Jamaican-US citizenship.

One parent still lives in Jamaica. His reaction to the news that Jamaica is offering universal coverage for adults, delivered in an optimistic tone - "I think it's great, but we can't afford it."

Seems paying for comprehensive coverage is a "universal" problem - unless we're willing to combine the resources and infrastructure of a public system (funded via tax revenues), with the resources private firms are willing to offer.

If you're interested in taking a trip to da island to check out the healthcare environs, contact Dr. Jacqueline Watson at Health Concepts International.

Tonight: "Long Road Out of Eden" Music Therapy

Start with the Ahoy Stadium in Rotterdam.

Add one Health Management Rx blogger, several thousand fans, and one amazing band.

Stir vigorously.

Result? Some serious music therapy.

Tomorrow we return to our regularly scheduled broadcast.

Forget Mouth-to-Mouth: CPR Gets a Makover

If you're at the scene of an accident with a nonresponsive victim, the latest news is reporting chest compressions are the most important thing you can do (as a layperson) to promote successful resuscitation - after dialing 911 of course.

The AHA has more information about "hands-only" CPR here.

When I worked at a nonprofit medical facility in DC, one administrative goal was to achieve 100% AHA Healthcare Provider CPR certification. Although I did the training less than 6 months ago, information about the 'hands only' method wasn't yet available.

First, every hospital should have a goal of 100% staff CPR certification, regardless of job title or functional area. Many have policies in place for nursing and ER staff, but this isn't sufficient. Start small - is everyone on your executive team certified?

Second, no matter what your job description entails, if you work in a healthcare/hospital organization you need someone following the latest developments and tracking new research with the potential to improve patient care.

If this function is too far below your ivory tower vantage, that's fine, but be sure you've got an analyst, intern, or other staff member with one eye on the news.

We'll Know Health 2.0 Has Succeeded When...

We'll know Health 2.0 has succeeded when H2.0 firms spawn international viral movements that start infecting social media networks and then jump offline...

Click here for a massive example making its way around the web this April Fools.

Scroll down for an explanation, then look it up.



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You just got Rickrolled! Happy April Fools.

And yes, I can tie ANYTHING to the healthcare industry.

Blue Light Special: How Much Is an Ambulance Ride Worth in DC?

Double what it was worth yesterday, according to this Examiner article.

First, there's the new mileage charge of $6.06, due to go into effect mid-next month (now we know why it's "The Cruelest").

If we hear stories of ambulances diverting to hospitals further away to up city revenue I will lose all faith in humanity.

Also, is it any coincidence residents in east Anacostia, a lower-income portion of the city, will have to travel the furthest for emergency care, and thus incur the largest fees?

Perverse healthcare payment incentives strike again - charge the population least able to pay the most for the ride.

Ambulance rides are usually charged to private insurers (HMOs), or Medicaid, but guess who eats the bill if someone needs or wants a medical taxi?

Mayor Fenty upped basic life support rides from $268 to $530, ALS trips from $471 to $832, and a super-duper ALS 2 ride will now set you (or your fellow taxpayers) back $953.

You could argue that we're finally beginning to pay ambulance crews what they're really worth, but the truth is most of the money is netted by the District of Columbia - to the tune of $7.2M in projected revenues.

The other interesting thing about this legislation, sort of like Martha Stewart's big stock deal, is the timing...Mayor Fenty signed this piece just before a new law requiring council approval for ambulance fee revisions goes into effect.

But fees in DC hadn't been adjusted in 5 years, and were apparently quite a steal compared to other cities' rates. Plus, the Mayor is running a fiscally responsible city here, and DC has new schools to fund.

He's running the city like a business, and the revenues have to come from somewhere...I'd just like to see some concurrent news that a portion of that windfall will go to more ambulance equipment, staff bonuses and raises, and increased benefits packages.

Join New LinkedIn Healthcare Bloggers Group

The ever-capable George Van Antwerp over at The Patient Advocate - Patient Centric Healthcare has created a new group on LinkedIn to facilitate healthcare bloggers' networking.

View George's blog invitation here, and the LinkedIn "join" page here.

Thanks George for putting this together - now we'll have an even better excuse to jaw about the state of global healthcare!