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Nov. 1, 2019

1. High cost of diabetic care.
2. New study found that over 50% of residents in nursing homes harbor drug resistant bacteria.
3. Residents of nursing homes may be colonized for months.
4. Judge denies CMS bid for site-neutral payments (surprise facilty fee charges from your doctors office visit).
5. Physician groups call court ruling on site-neutral charges bad for patients.
6. CMS readmission penalities.
  

Oct. 1, 2019

1. China Rx: The Safety of The United States Drug Supply.
2. Zantac and other medications found to have low levels of carcinogen NDMA.
3. Kentucky Hospitals Suing Opioid Makers.
4. Nursing Homes are Breeding Grounds for the deadly fungus Candida auris.
5. CDC Presentation: Candida Auris: Growing threat, difficult to contain & treat.
6. CDC Draft recommendations for the control of MRSA in the NICU.
7. Global Trends of antibiotic resistance in Farm Animals.
8. Antibiotic resistance in sewage treatment plants in Sweden is similiar to that of hospitals.
9. GAO report. CMS need to make sure quality metrics address strategic objectives.
10. Propublica: Health Insurance Companies not agressively persuing billing fraud.
   

Sept. 1, 2019 - Newsletter

1. Bacterial Phages - A new hope in defeating resistant bacteria.
2. CDC Releases report on unnecessary antibiotic usage.
3. Why are Duodenoscopes so difficult to sterilize.
4. Resistant Klebsiella and E. coli widespread in Asia.
5. Link between body weight and the gut microbiome.
6. Soaring insulin costs.
7. American surgeons now going to Mexico to perform surgery.
8. Surprise billing up to 43% of Emergency Room Visits.
9. Johnson & Johnson held responsible for fueling Opioid Crisis.
10. Federal scientists warned of coming opioid epidemic.
11. How easy is it to obtain medical records from Hospitals. "The Patient Scorecard".
  

Aug. 1, 2019 - Newsletter

1. OpEds regarding Disparities in infectious disease, government timidity in addressing public health threats and the need for data for action.
2. Super-bug fighting viruses are making a comeback
3. WHO declares an EBOLA international health emergency.
4. HHS fails to report 2/3 of malpractice payments to National data-bank.
5. Average life expectancy in the US has been declining for 3 consecutive years.
6. Medical mistakes harm 1 in 10 patients, many are preventable.
7. Unprofessional behavior and surgical complications.
8. Pharma pays 3 billion to doctors and hospitals.
9. Mandatory drug price disclosures in advertising blocked by federal judge.
10. Pain societies told to disclose financial ties to opioid makers.
  

July 1, 2019 - Newsletter

1. The Changing Narrative of MRSA Infection Control in the United States.
2. Candida auris -- NYTs Reporter Andrew Jacobs.
3. Hospital Quality Rankings -- Jack Pattie Radio Show.
4. Control of MSSA and MRSA.
5. Candida Auris Patients Shed Fungus Via Skin.
6. The Absurdly High Cost of Insulin.
7. Surgeons' Opioid-Prescribing Habits are Hard to Kick.
8. Coworker Reports of Unprofessional Behavior predict Surgeons' Surgical complications.
9. Columbia Nursing Study Finds Link Between Healthcare Associated Infections and Understaffing.
   

June 1, 2019 - Newsletter

1. Vaccinations & Epidemics Shrouded in Secrecy
2. Pressure Injury Metric.
3. Travel Ban To Prevent Pathogens.
4. Government Mistrust and Ebola.
5. Senate Healthcare Reform.
6. HHS Requiring Drug Price Disclosure on TV Ads.
7. Leapfrog Group Releases Hospital Rankings.
8. FDA Pulls Cervical Mesh off The Market.
9. Hidden FDA Medical Device Reports.
   

May 15, 2019 - Newsletter

1. Second Victim -- Is this a good term?
2. NQF Metric Approval and Unintended Harms of Risk Adjustment for Disparities.
3. CMS Quality Reporting Metrics.
4. Research Integrity Problems and Meta Analysis.
5. Pharma Exec from Insys Therapeutics goes to Jail.
6. NYTs OpEd -- 80 Thousand Deaths - Time for Reckoning on Medical Devices.
7. Doctors Targeted Online by Vaccine Opponents.
8. Hospitals Double or Triple Medicare Rates.
      

Apr. 15, 2019 - Newsletter

1. The dangerous pathogens and the need for vaccinations.
2. Candida auris: Highly contagious, hard to stop, hard to kill.
3. The veil of secrecy surrounding infectious disease in hospitals.
4. Sepsis mortality in the United States.
5. Hospital safety issues in Arizona.
6. Non-profit hospital CEO salaries average 3.1 million.
7. Patient groups funded by drug makers -- Keep silent on high prices.
8. Duke research integrity fine of over $100 million.
9. Malware causing fake cancers in CT scanners.
   

Mar. 15, 2019 - Newsletter

1. CMS Requires The Posting of Hospital Prices.
2. CDC Releases Data and Recommendations on Staph. Aureus & MRSA.
3. Kentucky's Response to Hepatitis A.
4. Los Robles Hospital in California.
5. Hospitals Not Farms Main Driver of Antibiotics.
6. Chlorhexidine Bathing Not Effective in facility wide MRSA Prevention.
7. Association of Urinary Tract Infections and Antibiotic Consumption.
8. Drug Companies Battle Fecal Transplants.
9. The Opioid Epidemic -- 60 Mins.
10. Opioid Maker Rap Video.
11. Healthcare Journalist Struggles to Navigate Her Own Healthcare Chrisis.
   

Feb. 15, 2019 - Newsletter

1. PACCARB Comments: Importance of the microbiome, The need to increase surveillance of carriers and healthcare worker safety.
2. The Opioid Crisis and Project Tango -- Jack Pattie Radio Show
3. Big Pharma Funding of Medical Education.
4. HW USA CMS Comment regarding conflicts of interest between hospitals and accreditation agencies.
5. Timely reporting of outbreaks of deadly drug resistant bacteria in Mexico but not the United States.
6. State reports on Hospital Acquired Conditions posted by AHRQ.
7. Comment on Caps on Malpractice Payments.
8. Kentucky Representative files bill requiring patient notification if their healthcare provider is sanctioned by their Board for sexual misconduct.
 

Jan. 15, 2019 - Newsletter

1. New Guidelines for Infectious Disease, Healthcare Worker Safety
2. Medical Review Panels
3. Health Watch USA Comments of the Goals of the Presidential Advisory Committee for Antibiotic Resistance
4. Hospitals Now List Charge Master Prices Online
5. Physicians Overuse
6. Prominent Doctors are Not Disclosing Conflicts of Interests
7. Conflicts of Interests in Medical Journals. Authors, Editors and Institutions.
  

Dec. 15, 2018 - Newsletter

1. Healthcare Worker Safety, Medical Devices, NICU MRSA -- HICPAC Comment
2. CDC: C. Difficle Infections Have Not Decreased, MRSA Reduction Not On Track To Meet Goals.
3. MDRO (MRSA) Transmits Early, Readily and Frequently in Patient Rooms.
4. Antibiotic Stewardship Programs are Of Poor Quality.
5. LHL OpEd on Spiraling Healthcare Costs.
6. Doctors Not Informed of Defective Implants.
7. Deaths From Medical Errors Have Researchers Alarmed.
8. Sales Reps. May Not Be Welcome in Operating Rooms.
9. GAO: FDA Oversight of Its Orphan Drug Program is Flawed.
10. Why Are More Americans Dying From Drug Overdoses.
11. Massive Database of Retracted Papers.
12. Association Between Physician Burnout and Patient Safety.
13. ER Wait Time Metric NOT Renewed by NQF.
   

Nov. 15, 2018 - Newsletter

1. Comment on NQF Proposed Tracking of Dialysis Patients Being Placed on Transplantation Lists.
2. Public Comment on Healthcare Worker Safety and Dangerous Pathogens.
3. 1 in 4 Biostatisticians Were Asked to Commit Scientific Fraud.
4. Scientific Misconduct and Medical Journals
5. Antibiotic Resistant Infections Double in Europe.
6. Probiotic May Help Eliminate Staphylococcus.
7. Doctor With HAI Sues Hospital Over Not Being Told of Outbreak.
8. Associated Between Hospital Outcomes and Accreditation.
9. Public Transparency of Doctors Placed on Probation.
   

Oct. 15, 2018 - Newsletter Issue 2

1. The FDA's MAUDE Database and Hip Implants
2. The Fecal Transplant Foundation
3. Readmission Penalties Against Safety-Net Hospitals are Eased.
4. California Hospitals are Buying Physician Practices.
5. AHA Is Against Same Payment For the Same Service Despite Where it is Provided.
6. Workers' Healthcare Costs Continue to Rise.
7. CMS Announces Ramped Up Oversight of Hospital Inspection Agencies.
8. California Requires Physicians to Tell Patients of Probation Status.
9. Kentucky Lawmakers Want Hearing on Nursing Home Staffing.
10. Mass Resignations Guts the Research Integrity Watchdog -- The Cochrane Collaborative.
11. Carriers at a higher risk for Resistant Bacterial Infections.
12. European Medicine Agency Recommends Restricting Fluorquinolone Usage.
   

Sept. 27, 2018 - Issue 2

1. Newly published article in Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control. It deals with the prevention of surgical site infections and points out that a World Health Organization standard is to screen all preoperative patients for Staph. aureus, not just MRSA. In addition, the article addresses the problem of healthcare workers who all too often can become carriers of dangerous pathogens.
2. Short public comment (2 mins) before the Presidential Advisory Council for Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB) stressing the need to focus on stopping the spread of drug resistant bacteria, not just on antibiotic development and stewardship.
3. An OpEd in the Lexington Herald Leader on the importance of setting standards.
4. Comment letter to PACCARB to recommend requesting that the FDA withdrawal Polymyxins from over-the-counter formulations.
5. Candida auris, a new highly deadly and resistant pathogen rapidly spreading throughout our facilities.
6. 100+ restaurants put on probation, including two in large Kentucky medical centers.
7. CMS awards grants for the development of new quality measures.
8. California Governor signs into law a bill requiring physicians on probation to inform their patients.
9. Updated information and CME credit approval for HW USA's Oct. 4th Conference.
     

Sept. 17, 2018

1. Preventable Hospital Mortality - ASPF Presentation.
2. COI -- Conflicts of Interest. A major review article.
3. Turmoil at Cochrane.
4. Pharma Payments to FDA Advisers.
5. Doctors Receive $8.4 Billion from Pharma.
6. NEJM Will Not Retract Article Suspected of Plagiarize.
7. Russian Bots Weaponize Vaccine Debate Online.  
   

Aug. 12, 2018 - Newsletter

1.  CMS Places Recommendations on Infectious Disease on Hold
2.  CMS Asking for Comments RegardingTransparency of Hospital Accrediation Surveys.
3.  CMS Asking for Comments Regarding Differing Payments Between Hospital Owned and Independent Physician Practices.
    

July 26, 2018 - Newsletter

1. Health Watch USA Patient Safety Conference.
2. Doctors, Hospitals sue Patients for Negative Comments.
3. Family Members are Hesitant to Express Safety Concerns.
4. HHS Plans to Delete 20 Years of Critical Medical Guidelines.
5. Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics are Over- prescribed.
6. Can For-Profits Accomplish The Same Mission As The Non-Profit They Acquired.
   

June 26, 2018 - Newsletter

1. Proposed CMS Regulation
2. MRSA Infections and Hospital Rankings with a Focus on Kentucky.
3. China Rx: Is our Drug Supply Safe
4. Adverse Outcomes of Opioid Analgesics
5. European Medication Agency & Quinolone Hearings.
6. AHRQ: Frequency of Drug Events are on the Rise.
7. California's "Patient's Right To Know Act"
   

May 29, 2018 - Newsletter

1. CDC Re-stresses Contact Precautions for MRSA
2. Miss-use of Antipsychotics in Nursing Homes
3. Dominant Hospitals Dictate Price
4. Monopolized Healthcare Reduces Quality Increases Cost
5. Humana Offers Incentives for Hospital Quality
6. Louisiana sent out 30,000 nursing home evictions
7. HW USA's YouTube Presentations:
-- Open Notes
-- CDC on Hepatitis A, B, & C
-- HW USA's PACCARB Public Statement
-- China RX

Apr. 26, 2018 - Newsletter

1. CDC Releases New Vital Signs Report on Resistant Bacteria.
2. CDC: Rare Superbugs are More Common Than Previously Believed.
3. CDC says Its Steps Have Limited the Spread of "Nightmare" Bacteria.
4. CDDEP: Human Antibiotic Consumption Up 65%.
5. Change in Habits Beat Opioids For Chronic Pain Relief.
6. Opioid Makers Gave $10 Million to Advocacy Groups
7. Patient Groups Take Millions From Drug Makers.
8. Profiteers Lure Women Into Often-Unneeded Vaginal Mesh Surgery.
   

Mar. 26, 2018 - Newsletter

1. U.S. Healthcare Prices Not Utilization Drives High Cost.
2. High Expenses for Even the Insured.
3. U.S. Antibiotic Resistance Cost Doubled to 2 Billion Dollars.
5. 500 Doctors Elude Consequences.
6. The United States Has Two Opioid Epidemics
7. Dead in Bed.
8. Fluoroquinolone Overuse in the United States.
9. When Antibiotics Become Toxic.
  

Feb. 26, 2018 - Newsletter

1. Newly proposed metric for Hospital Acquired Pressure Injury.
2. Reporting of Medical Errors -- The Iowa Study.
3. Reuters MRSA Report Wins AAAS Award.
4. Opioid Makers Giving Patient Advocacy Groups Millions.
5. Conflict-of-Interest and the High Blood Pressure Industry.
6. Inadequate Screening of Newly Hired Doctors In Ohio.
  

Jan. 25, 2018 - Newsletter

1. Survival Tips In The Age of Drug-Resistant Bacteria.
2. Medicare Penalizes 751 Hospitals.
3. Dangerous CRE Outbreak in Kentucky.
4. Infection Lapses Rampant in Nursing Homes.
5. Can Hospitals Be More Transparent About Medical Errors?
 

Dec. 15, 2017 - Newsletter

1. Health Watch USA Presentation - The Leapfrog Group Healthcare Ratings Summit
2. Health Watch USA 2016 Conference Presentations (Ivan Oransky, Joycelyn Elders, Said Abusalem, Emily Paterson).
3. A patient advocates story.
4. New Zealand Bans Vaginal Mesh.
   

Nov. 21, 2017 - Newsletter

1. 2017 Conference Presentation Videos.
2. Comment on Health Worker MRSA Carriers.
3. Letter to Senator Grassley Supporting Transparency of Healthcare Accreditation Surveys.
4. One Billion Dollars Spent on Replacements of 7 Cardiac Medical Devices.
5. Pharmaceutical Payments to U.S. Medical Journal Editors.
6. Whistle-blowers & Double Booking of Surgeries.
7. Poor Quality of Studies Used For FDA Approval of Medical Devices.
8. Texas Health System Solving the Healthcare Cost Transparency Problem.
9. Anthem Says No To Scans Done By Hospital-Owned Clinics.
10. Maryland Launches Healthcare Cost and Quality Site for Residents.
     

Oct. 23, 2017 - Preconference Newsletter

1. Chlorhexidine Bathing Does Not Work Hospital-Wide.
2. Testimony before FDA Patient Engagement Advisory Committee.
3. OpEd Regarding Healthcare Reform.
4. Health Watch USA's Nov. 3rd, 2017 Patient Safety Conference.
   

Oct. 1, 2017 - Newsletter

1. PACCARB Public Comments.
2. Chlorhexidine is Not Essential Component in Hand Rubs.
3. Results of the WHO Meta Analysis Regarding Chlorhexidine is Questioned.
4. Senator Charles Grassley Pushes For Hospital Inspection Reports.
5. Two in Five Americans Have Experience a Medial Error Themselves or With Someone Close to Them.
6. The Joint Commission Rarely Revokes Accreditation.
7. Many Kentucky Counties will have only one insurer.
8. Many Corporate Investors Increase Common Ownership in Hospitals.
 

Sept. 5, 2017 - Newsletter

1. Main hospital reports drastic decrease in MRSA infections using universal screening.
2. Workload affects hand hygiene compliance.
3. We're kidding ourselves regarding hand hygiene compliance.
4. Medical Journals and Fake News
5. FDA cracks down on stem cell clinics.
6. Hospital accreditation surveys to remain hidden.
7. Is your surgeon doubled-booked?
8. Hospital staff turnover very high.
9. Hospital mergers continue.
   

Aug. 1, 2017 - Newsletter

1. The Research Evidence Behind Chlorhexidine Recommendations.
2. Shoddy Research, Deadly Results.
3. National Trends of CAUTIs.
4. MRSA Testing in Healthcare Workers
5. MRSA Bloodstream Infections NOT Declining.
6. Strong Measures To Counter Belfast C. Diff Outbreak.
7. CDC Antiobiotic Usage Report
8. Myth Regarding Drug Expirations.
9. Patients Right To Know About Doctors on Probation.
10. Battle Over Essure.
11. More Duodenoscopes Recalled.
   

July 17, 2017 - Newsletter Issue 2

1. Chlorhexidine Recommendations
2. National CAUTI Trends
3. CDC Consumer Meeting
4. $27 Billion Sepsis Crisis
5. Zero Hospital-Acquired Infections Is Possible
 

July 1, 2017 - Newsletter

1. Research Evidance For The Antiseptic Chlorhexidine Prevention of Infections May Bee Overstated
2. Urinary Infections From Catheters are Falling
3. Dangerous Implantable Medical Devices
4. Gastric Banding
5. Changes to ACA's Medicaid Financing Will Create 168% Increase in Uninsured in Kentucky
6. Research Fraud Could Result in The Death Penalty in China 
 

June 15, 2017 - Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Evidence Mounts That Some Hip Implants Are Toxic to the Brain
2.  Prevention of Urinary Catheter Infections in Nursing Homes.
3.  New Protocols Reduce Missed Sepsis By 76%.
4.  More than Half of Physicians are Employed by Hospitals.
5.  Price Gouging by ER's disproportionately Affect Minorities.
6.  Medical Ethics In Conducting Clinical Trials.  
  

June 1, 2017 - Newsletter

1. Patient advocate Dr. Amy Reed dies of iatrogenic complications from a medical device.
2. Chlorhexidine daily bathing did not work at lead author's hospital.
3. First try antibiotics fail 25% of the time in pneumonia.
4. Does the United States need a paradigm shift to control MRSA.
5. Correlation between hospital quality and YELP Reviews.
6. High spending physicians not associated with higher quality.
7. A wider role of regulatory scientists is needed.
8. John Oliver on For-Profit Dialysis.
9. Brain toxicity from cobalt and chromium containing hip implants.
10. AETNA pulls out of the healthcare exchanges.
11. Entire issue of JAMA on conflict-of-interest.
 

May 1, 2017 - Newletter

1.  Does the United States Need a Paradigm Shift to Control MRSA.
2.  Industry Influence of Healthcare Policy.
3.  MRSA outbreak at UC Irvine.
4.  A quarter of Nursing Home Residents are Colonized with Multi-Drug Resistant Gram Negative Bacteria. 
5.  CMS is Proposing to Make Hospital Accreditation Surveys Transparent.
6.  Effects of Full Disclosure, Apology and Rapid Compensation.
7.  Wide Variation in Cesarean Section Rates.
    

Apr. 15, 2017 - Newletter - Issue 2

1. Does the United States Need a Better MRSA Tracking System
2. REUTER'S Investigative Report: Money from infection-control industry muddies research into beating back superbugs
3. Universal Screening For the Superbug CRE (CPE) Can Be Cost Effective
4. Preventable Hospital Deaths and Hospital Accreditation
5. Flying Blind: Why do we keep blaming the victims of medical errors?
6. Disruptive behavior by physicians
7. Why Selling Health Insurance Across State Lines Will Not Work
    

Apr. 1, 2017 - Newletter

1. Is the Rude Surgeon a Risk to Patient Safety
2. Should Hospitals & Doctors Apologize for Medical Mistakes.
3. Should We Treat Medical Errors Like Plane Crashes.
4. Another Estimate of Preventable Hospital Mortality.
5. Is Congress Going to Move to Punish Anyone Using the ACA and Medicare.
6. Doctors Recommending Unnecessary Tests.
7. Drug Industry Payments to 60% to 85% of Doctors.
8. VA Medical Center Decreases MRSA by 80% to 85%.
9. MRSA in the United States may be Increasing In Hospitals.
10. W.H.O. Deadly Drug Resistant Superbugs are on the Rise.
11. MRSA Colonization Creates a Risk for MRSA Infections.
12. FDA Warns of Rare but Severe Complications of Chlorhexidine.
13. Preop Chlorhexidine Increased Ventral Hernia Repair Infections.
14. Universal Screening for CRE Found to Be Cost Effective.
15. Anti-bacterial Soap May Be Causing Resistant Bacteria.
16. Hospital Floors May Be Spreading Bacteria.
17. California Stepping Up Investigation of Hospitals With High Infection Rates.
18. Family Reports of Adverse Events May Go Undocumented.
19. Star Cancer Researcher and Ethics Charges.
   

Mar. 1, 2017 Newsletter

1. Estimating Hospital Related Deaths Due To Medical Error.
2. AHRQ Report on Hospital Mortality.
3. OpEd: Choosing A Hospital.
4. Association Between Hospital Financial Penalties and Reduction in Readmissions.
5. Nearly Half of Death Certificates Are Inaccurate.
6. Lisa McGiffert: Should hospitals be held accountable for high infection rates?
7. Status of Dutch Working Party on Infection Prevention.
8. Detecting and Isolating C. Difficile Carriers Projected to Decrease Infections By Over 60%.
9. VA Report on Decrease in MRSA Infections, 87% in the ICU and 80% in Non-ICU settings.
10. Stewardship of fluoroquinolone and cephalosporin in control of C. Difficile.
11. “Super-Spreaders’ cause most cases of Ebola.
12. Terminal Cleaning – Ultra Violet Cleaning Systems.
13. Power Morcellators – New GAO Report.
14. Dangers of Essure Contraceptive Devices.
15. Rude surgeons pose problems in OR.
  

Feb. 1, 2017 Newsletter

1. PACCARB Public comment on the need for a better surveillance system to track multi-drug resistant organisms.
2. Amanda Rusmisell presents on the dangers of the Essure Contraceptive Device.
3. Nightmare Bacteria CRE may be able to develop multiple types of resistance.
4. 5% Carrier Rate for CRE found in DC Medical Centers.
5. Woman dies in Reno, Nevada from totally resistant CRE.
6. FDA bans antibacterial chemicals in soaps.
7. NEJM responds to consumer concerns regrading research integrity.
  

Jan. 1, 2017 Newsletter

1. Kentucky Legislative Testimony On Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria.
2. Increased Reporting of Resistant Bacteria is Needed.
3. Letter to NEJM Requesting Critical Analysis of the REDUCE MRSA Study.
4. Commentary on Conflict of Interest and Efficacy of Hand Hygiene Monitoring Research.
5. Physician Data Bank and Future Malpractice Risk.
6. Metal Poisoning from Hip Implants. Is the FDA Doing Enough?
7. Opioid Maker Physician Perks.
8. One-Third of Long Term Opioid Users Maybe Hooked.
9. CMS Hospital Acquired Condition Penalty - 769 Hospitals Penalized.
10. Market Power May Predict Hospital Prices.
  

Dec. 20, 2016 Newsletter

1. Preventable Hospital Mortality.
2. A Tale of Superbugs' Deadly Costs.
3. AHRQ published National HAC Scorecard. Observe 21% Decrease.
4. Call to Ban Concurrent Surgeries.
5. By 2050 10 Million People May Die Each Year From Resistant Bacteria.
6. 21st Century Cures Act Passes.
7. Rochester Hospitals Examined by FDA for Not Reporting Power Morcellator Failures.
8. The Throwaway Scope.
9. Medicare Data Shows Steep Increase in Drug Prices.
 

Nov. 22, 2016 Newsletter - Issue 2

1. The high cost of healthcare-associated infections -- Reuters.
2. Multidrug resistance and Carbapeneum resistant pseudomonas in children.
3. Burden of Healthcare-Associated Infection sin Europe.
4. Medical device salesman in the operating room.
5. Surgical robot purchases in the Cincinnati VA Med. Ctr.
6. Tax exempt New York hospitals offshore investments.
7. CMS finalizes off-campus facility reimbursement.
8. Fewer hospitals earn Medicare bonuses.
9. A patient advocate tells her story.
10. Videos of presentations from the 2016 HW USA Patient Safety Conference. 
     

Nov. 1, 2016 Newsletter

1. How to obtain the medical care you need.
2. Antibiotic usage in hospitals from 2006 to 2012.
3. California State legislator introduces a bill for reporting of infections caused by resistant organisms.
4. Dangers of medical staff scrubs and hospital furniture in spreading infections.
5. Heart bypass device linked to spreading of infections.
6. Healthcare Insurance premiums rising by 25%.
7. Employers shifting healthcare costs to employees.
 

Oct. 4 2016 Newsletter

1. Is the funding of the pharmaceutical industry actually a governmental bailout??
2. Comments given to the Sept. 2016 Presidential Advisory Committee for Combating Antibiotic Resistance Bacteria.
3. UN Declaration on Antibiotic Resistance.
4. Scotland Uses the U.S. Healthcare System as a reason to Nationalize Their System.
5. Many Large Advocacy Groups Are Quiet On The High Cost of Drugs.
6. Is Obama Care Entering A Death Spiral.
7. Employers Requiring Employees to Pay More.
8. U.S. Supreme Court To Bar Nursing Home Arbitration.
9. Chinese Clinical Trials Maybe 80% Fabricated.
10. Hospital Employment of Physicians Did Not Approve Quality,.
11. HHS Makes It Harder for Clinical Researchers To Avoid Sharing Data.
12. Bedless Hospitals are On The Rise.
13. Thyroid Cancer is Over Diagnosed.
14. Hospital Readmission Rates are Dropping.
  

Sep. 10, 2016 Newsletter

1. U.S. healthcare reform needs reforming.
2. Two-thirds of healthcare costs are paid for by the government.
3. Florida Blues Collect $472 million in profit on ACA plans.
4. Health insurers performance under the ACA.
5. Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic Resistance Bacteria.
6. U.S. not tracking "Superbugs".
7. FDA yanks over-the-counter antibacterial soaps.
8. CDC releases report on sepsis.
9. CMS releases new rules for condition of participation.
10. The life changing magic of choosing the right hospital.
11. 11 hospitals with the highest c-section rates.
12. Too many hospitals neglect to adequately staff ICUs.
     

Aug. 15, 2016 Newsletter - Issue 2

1. United States suing to block insurance mergers
2. Fixing the insurance exchanges.
3. Hospital executives earn bigger bonuses as VBP takes hod.
4. Expensive robotics may not be benefiting patients.
5. CMS Star ratings of hospitals is now online.
6. Patients' view of consent forms.
7. Nurses and doctors are unionizing against corporate healthcare.
8. Overloaded nurses and the dangers at the Univ. of Louisville Hospital.
9. Medicare's readmission penalties hit a new high.
10. Are over-the-counter antibiotics causing resistance to the antibiotic of last resort.
11. Webinar on the new superbug gene: MCR-1.
12. Which healthcare infections are resistant in your state?
13. Decolonization and hand hygiene can reduce MRSA infections.
14. More warnings on fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
 

Aug. 1, 2016 Newsletter

1. Hospital facility fees irk patients.
2. Can we reduce medical harm.
3. OIG finds 30% of patients in rehabilitation hospitals experience harm.
4. 53% of hospitals neglect key staffing standards.
5. HHS removes pain question from federal patient satisfaction surveys.
6. Surgeons disclosure of adverse events, not followed by prevention discussions in 68%.
7. One rule clarification could change the face of healthcare.
8. Health insurers tests feds with steep rate requests.
9. California insurance on exchanges to jump 13.2%
10. Healthcare spending growith rates rises again in 2015.
11. Co-ops focus on staying afloat as numbers dwindle.
12. Microbiome therapy and the prevention of C. Difficile.
  

Jul. 10, 2016 Newsletter

1. Health Watch USA's Comments to the Presidential Advisory Council Against Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria.
2. MRSA surveillance of high risk patients lowers MRSA infections.
3. Updated protocols for UK National Health Service MRSA screening and isolation.
4. Sepsis is the most expensive hospital condition to treat.
5. Superbug resistant to last line antibiotic now in the United States.
6. Superbug found of the beaches of Rio De Janeiro.
7. U.S. trained nurses have better outcomes.
8. Biden threatens to cut off research funding.
9. Pharmaceutical Industry meals may cause doctors to prescribe more expensive drugs.
10. Inpatient patient experiences are associated with Patient Safety Indicators.
11. Consumer Reports lists hospitals with high C-Section Rates.
12. Doctors and conflicts of interests with the drug and device industry.
13. Scopes are still hard to get clean and may still spread superbugs.
14. Heath policy of morcellation and the N of 1.
 

Jun. 20, 2016 Newsletter - Issue 2

1. 14 Top superbugs in the United States.
2. Totally Resistant Bacteria in the United States, KY highest in MRSA.
3. The Outpatient Facility Fee Scan.
4. Justice Dept and Antitrust Problems in North Carolina Hospital Systems.
5. Is Healthcare Hazardous to Your Health.
6. Over 100 Million Prescriptions Written.
7. Consumer Reports - Reports Hospital C-Section Rates.
8. Medical Device Guardians Act Filed.
    

Jun. 10, 2016 Newsletter

1. Full Disclosure of Medical Errors
2. 14 Top Superbugs in the United States
3. 5% CRE Carrier Rate in DC Hospitals
4. Totally Resistant CRE found in the United States
5. US Response to Totally Resistant CRE
6. Prevention of Urinary Catheter Infections - CAUTI
7. Do We Need To Screen for CRE?
8. Zithromax is Overused in Children
9. Non-Profit Finances Now Online
10. John Oliver on Healthcare Financial Debt
11. Is the Insurance Industry Responsible for Raising Premiums
12. IRS Says Some Accountable Care Organizations Are Not Tax Exempt
13. Have Nursing Cuts at Univ. of Louisville Made the Hospital Unsafe?
14. Are Patients the Healthcare System's Free Labor?
15. 11 More Deaths From Medical Endoscopes
  

May 22, 2016 Newslettter - Issue 2

1.  United Kingdom's final action plan on antibiotic resistance.
2.  30% of antibiotics are prescribed unnecessarily.
3.  CRE carriers found in over 5% of patients hospitalized in Washington, DC.
4.  Healthcare uninsured in the United States reported to be 9.1%.
5.  Some Non-profit hospitals are making the most money.
6.  Federal District Court struck down subsidies.
7.  Insurance mergers are bad for consumers.
8.  John Oliver on research integrity.
9.  Medical Errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States.
10.  State of California fines lapses in infection control at UCLA.
11.  UCLA now posting drug company documents.
12.  Drug seekers using transparency to find easy physician prescribers.
13.  United Healthcare displaying on the web, patient doctor satisfaction scores.
14.  Head of the FDA is concerned with the Federal 21st Century Cures Act.
15.  Hospitals shift CMS hip and knee implant costs to the manufacturer.
  

May 1, 2016 Newsletter

1. UK Chancellor -- Drug Resistant Bacteria Greater Threat Than Cancer.
2. Hospitals Not Testing Patients For Fear of Penalty?
3. Screening and Isolation of C. Difficile Carriers Lowers Infection Rate More Than 50%.
4. The Microbiome is Important. Oral Bacteria Linked to Pancreatic cancer.
5. CMS Proposes To Track Antibiotic Prescribing.
6. Leapfrog Releases New Hospital Report Card.
7. Hospital Star Rankings do Correlate With Risk of Dying.
8. C. Section Risks. Your Biggest One May be Your Hospital.
9. Surgeons Need To Tell Patients If They Doubled Booked Surgeries.
10. One in 25 Medical Papers Have Inappropriate Manipulation of Figures.
11. More CRE Superbug Infections on Medical Endoscopes.
12. More than 1000 complications (out of 3647 patients) Spinal Fusion Drug/Device (Infuse)
Went Unreported For Years.
13. Healthcare Rendition -- Just sell your debt, and let someone else collect.
14. Wide Variation in Healthcare.
      

Apr. 10, 2016 Newsletter

1) Health Watch USA's public comments on the Presidential Advisory Committee on Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria.
2) The Superbug CRE found in the sewers of LA.
3) Nearly 25% of nurses in Mich are aware of patients dying due to inadequate nursing.
4) NEJM's under attack for research integrity problems.
5) Doctors who get Pharma $$ prescribe more brand name meds.
6) The Union of Concerned Scientists advocate limiting research disclosure.
7) US Senate investigates concomitant surgery.
8) More CRE found on scopes
9) Olympus profits on scope problems
10) Olympus pays kickback Settlement
   

Mar. 20, 2016 Newsletter - Issue 2

1. Research Integrity
2. The Spread of C. Difficile in Hospitals is 1000X Faster Than in the Community.
3. An Unusual Outbreak of the Virtually Untreatable Bacteria CRE in Kentucky.
4. Lax State Laws Make It Easier to Hide Infections.
5. Superbugs Account for One in Seven Infections.
6. Which Countries Have the Highest Rates of Antibiotic Resistance (CDDEP).
7. Docs Who Get $$, Prescribe More Brand Name Drugs.
8. AHRQ finds a 17% Decline in Hospital Acquired Conditions.
9. U.S. Senate Holding Hearings on Concurrent Surgeries.
10. The High Cost of a Hospital's Asking Price Is Shouldered by the Uninsured.
11. Johnson & Johnson Pays Record Verdict For Hip Replacement Devices.
 

Mar. 6, 2016 Newsletter

1. Deadly Infections on the Rise in U.S. Hospitals
2. Making Healthcare Safer -- The CDC's New Initiative to Combat Resistant Bacteria.
3. Video of the CDDEP on Resistant Bacteria.
4. Researchers report Chlorhexidine Wipes did not prevent ICU infections.
5. Probiotic Use Being More Accepted by Physicians.
6. Supreme Court Sets Back State Transparency of Healthcare.
7. New GAO Report Finding Hospitals Face Challenges Implementing Evidence Based Practices.
8. Many Dislike Healthcare System But Like Their Care.
9. AHRQ Stops MONARCH Development
10. Consumer Union Removes the Paywall from Their Hospital Rankings.
11. Olympus Pays Record Fine Over Medical Device Bribery Scandal.
12. FDA Mandates New Warnings on Essure Contraceptive Devices. 
  

Feb. 20, 2016 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  HW USA's response to the CDC Letter regarding the CAUTI Metric.
2. A presentation on antibiotic resistant bacteria by the CDDEP.
3. CRE is found in up to 4.6% of Nursing Home Admissions.
4. News worsening regarding totally antibiotic resistant bacteria.
5. A coordinated approach to combating antibiotic resistance is needed.
6. Is it time to dump chlorhexidine bathing.
7. Are antibiotic soaps safe?
8. Medical Errors are all too common -- Hartland Institute
9. NEJM: Better patient outcome measures are needed.
10. Can electronic medical records prevent patient harm?
11. The FDA is requiring more testing on Metal-on-Metal implants.
     

Feb. 1, 2016 Newsletter

1. Only 5% of Surgeons Use the Best Techniques To Prevent Transmission of Pathogens During Surgery.
2. Massachusetts Acts to Stop Simultaneous Surgeries.
3. Incomplete Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest In a Chlorhexidine Study.
4.. Price Tag for Delivery Varies Widely.
5. 50 Hospitals Charge The Uninsured More Than 10 Times Cost.
6. Senate Report States Ineffective Monitoring of Medical Device Safety Fails Patients.
7. Olympus to Recall and Redesign Scopes.
8. New Test May Differentiate Between a Cold (Virus) and a Bacterial Infection.
9. Fewer than 20% of Nurses Were Found To Comply With Standard Precautions.
   

Dec. 22, 2015 Newsletter - Issue 2

1. Congressional funding of $375 million to fight superbugs.
2. Fuoroquinolone (i.e. Cipro) antibiotics need stronger warnings.
3. HW USA's comments on Maine's new regulation regardinghospital reporting.
4. 758 Hospitals are penalized for HACs.
5. OIG to test the validity of NHSN data.
6. AHRQ reports a dramatic decrease in HACs.
7. The Commonwealth Fund release State Scorecards.
8. Opioid overuse not involves more than a few physicians.
9. The Profitability (or Not) of Harming Patients.
   

Dec. 1, 2015 Newsletter

1. Management of Healthcare Workers Colonized with MRSA.
2. APIC Ebola Preparedness Survey - A Year After the Outbreak. .
3. Some Antibiotics Worsen MRSA Infections.
4. Kentucky Hospital Exemplifies the National Nursing Shortage.
5. Doctors Fell Metal Allergy Not a Deal Breaker for Implants.
6. Fluoroquinolones Need Stronger Warnings.
7. Kentucky Hospitals Settle Dept. of Justice Action for Cardiac Device Implantation. National Settlement $250 Million.
8. Kentucky Now Retreating From Healthcare Law??
9. Healthcare CEO's Average Salary Increased to $3.95 Million.
10. United Healthcare May Exit the ACA Exchanges.
11. Facility Fees Charged for Outpatient Services are Curbed Only for Some.
12. Medicare Cuts back on Some Billing Auditors.
 

Nov. 1, 2015 Newsletter

1. Drug resistant bacteria places cancer and chemotherapy patients at risk.
2. Letter from CDC/CMS calls for adherence to NHSN reporting standards and requirements.
3. Kaci Hickox, RN who was placed in forced quarantine during the Ebola crisis, sues Chris Christie.
4. The Leapfrog Group hospital quality scores have been released.
5. Wall Street Journal calls for a bigger media role in assuring medical device safety.
6. Choosing Wisely campaign to reduce overutilization of healthcare has a slow start.
7. Dartmouth Accountable Care Organizations To close.
8. More healthcare insurance Co-Ops are closing..
9. Chlorhexidine may not be advantageous over other agents in pre-operative patients.
   

Oct. 10, 2015 Newsletter

1. The Presidential Council for Antibiotic Resistant Organisms
2.  Excellent results the Veterans Administration has had with controlling MRSA
3.  Is the CRE epidemic out-of-control, with an estimated 9,000 cases over a two year period?
4.  MRSA can live in homes for years.
5.  The FDA requiring duodenoscope manufacturers to conduct post market surveillance.
6.  CMS Fines Hospital Laboratory - This is a rare event.
7.  Consumer Union posts the 12 worst rated hospitals for infection control.
8.  The Leapfrog Group posting C-Section rates. Kentucky is the highest in the nation.
    

Sep. 20, 2015 Newsletter - Issue 2

1, Surveillance and Prevention of C. Difficile
2. Surveillance and decolonization found to decrease serious Staph Infections by about 40%.
3. Stopping Staph May Alter the Course of Diabetes.
4. WHO Healthcare Associated Infection Fact Sheet.
5. CDC Recommends Antibiotic Stewardship in Nursing Homes.
6. Endoscopic Cleaning Machines Implicated in Superbug Outbreaks.
7. Outpatient Facility Fees are Increase The Cost To Consumers.
8. Physician Ownership by Hospitals Affects Referral Patterns.
 

Sep. 2, 2015 Newsletter

Aug. 15, 2015 Newsletter - Issue 2

1. The Dangers of Medical Devices and how post market monitoring needs to be strengthened.
2. CMS Readmission Penalties
3. Yelp and ProPublic team up to review hospital quality.
4. Significant concerns on the antibiotic Levaquin.
5. Antiseptics can induce antibiotic resistance.
6' MRSA control policy in 2002.
7. CDC releases recommendations on controlling superbugs.
8. Lack of facilities not working together is seen as a major hindrance in the fight against antibiotic resistant organisms.
9. Bacteria which develop antibiotic resistance may become stronger not weaker.
   

Aug. 1, 2015 Newsletter

1.  Full disclosure of medical errors.
2.  Kentucky close to achieving universal healthcare.
3.  CMS predicts faster spending growth (Healthcare costs set to soar).
4.  New Medicaid enrollees costing more than expected.
5.  Only 10% of new FDA approved drugs offer substantial advantages.
6.  Surgeons getting graded (Propublica's surgical scorecard).
7.  How your hospital can make you sick.
8.  HHS proposes to improve care and safety for nursing home residents.
9.  Antibiotics not infection seen as juvenile idiopathic arthritis trigger.
10. FDA and medical devices.
11. CMS proposing a new bundled hospital payment for hip and knee replacements.
 

July 10, 2015 Newsletter

1.  Dangerous metal poisoning from some hip implants.
2.  The way we count urinary tract infections may not be accurate.
3.  10 tips on preventing medical errors and infections.
4.  Superbug infections are spreading and getting stronger.
5.  C. Difficile infections can be reduced by up to 70%
6.  A must see video on Hospital Readmissions.
7.  Hospital stocks soar with SCOTUS approval of the ACA.
8.  Patients having trouble paying for high deductable plans.
9.  Premiums expected to rise again. 
 

Jun. 20, 2015 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  A consumer action calling for the FDA to include the antiseptic chlorhexidine in their proposed rule to collect more data on the antiseptics.
2.  Kentucky has the highest use of the antibiotic Cephalosporin in the nation.
3.  The White House holds a summit on antibiotic resistant superbugs.
4.  The bloodstream infections, sepsis, is costing Medicare $5.5 billion and affects almost 400,000 patients per year.
5.  A recent Op-Ed on the poor control of MRSA in the State of Kentucky.
6.  Training, recertification and cretification of physicians with emphysis of on the Da Vinci Robot.
7.  Atul Gawande, An avalanche of unnecessary medical care.
8.  FBI Investigaing Johnson & Johnson Over Morcellators.
   

Jun. 1, 2015 Newsletter

1.  FBI Investigates Medical Device Makers (Morcellators & Retrograde Endoscopes).
2.  U.S. Supreme Court Requries Professional Boards To Not Be Controlled By Individuals They Regulate.
3.  Response to NEJM Conflict of Interest Editorial.
4.  Conflict-of-Interest in the CDC?
5.  Medicare Hospital Payment Data Now Posted.
6.  New Study Supports Contact Precautions in Nursing Homes
7.  Up to Half of Research Studies are Not Valid-- Editorial in The Lancet. 
    

May 17, 2015 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Recent FDA recommendation which avoids getting more data on chlorhexidine.
2.  The dismal results of voluntary reporting of infections.
3.  Concerns with giving infants antibiotics.
4.  Using C. difficile vs. C. difficile and not drugs to fight infections.
5.  Hospital Sues Olympus Over Ducdenoscopes
6.  PBS Frontline report on the Ebola Outbreak.
7.  Employer Based Health Insurance is Growing the Fastest
5.  OpEd on HealthCare Reform, Presentation on Morcellators and HW USA highlighted at the 25th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen, Denmark
   

May 1, 2015 Newsletter

1.  CMS Releases Consumer Ratings of Hospitals.
2.  Dr. Kraman's Commentary on Written Disclosure of Medical Errors.
3.  The High Rate of Superbugs in Nursing Homes.
4.  Dr. Noorchashm's Testimony on Morcellation.
5.  FDA Requiring Approval for Old Drugs, Skyrockets Prices.
6.  Another Study Shows MRSA Screening is Beneficial.
7.  Delayed Reporting To The FDA of CRE Infections From Flexible Retrograde Endoscopes. 
  

Apr. 12, 2015 Newsletter

1.  Written Disclosure of Serious Events and the Risk of Malpractice Claims.
2.  White House Plan To Stop Drug Resistant Bacteria.
3.  Smoking Makes MRSA Worse.
4.  New study finds Surveillance and Decolonization Lowers MRSA Infection Rates in Surgical ICUs.
5.  New Blood Test May Distinguish Between Viral and Bacterial Infection.
6.  Informed Consent Process Questioned.
7.  Graphic - Uninsured in Kentucky and the ACA.
 

Mar. 24, 2015 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Non-profits may not be what they seem.
2.  Dallas nurse how contracted Ebola sues the Texas Health Resources.
3.  Charles Denham Settles Kickback Allegations.
4.  Body Cameras for ER Doctors.
5.  According to Dept. HHS - 16.4 Million More People Insured Under the ACA.
 

Mar. 10, 2015 Newsletter

1.  Burden of Clostridium Difficile (C. Diff.) infections in the United States
2.  Statins may be over recommended
3.  Medical devices may be shielded from lawsuits
4.  New website gives summary totals for what insurers pay.
    

Feb. 24, 2015 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Measles Vaccine
2.  CDC Attacks Drug Resistant Organisms
3.  CRE Emerges in South Carolina
4.  FDA Finds Numerous Studies Flawed
5.  Blake Griffin has MRSA
6.  Hospitals Suing Low Income Patients
7.  Hospital CEO Salary Compensation
8.  The Public's Trust in Physicians
 

Feb. 1, 2015 Newsletter

1.  New Regulation Will Help Stop Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria.
2.  A New Study Questions the Effectiveness of Chlorhexidine Bathing.
3.  Dozes of Drug Studies are Flawed.
4.  NPSF Calls For More Transparency.
5.  John Hopkins States Hospitals May Be Profiting From CLABSI.
6.  More Nurses Better Care.  Why Is It Hard For Hospitals To Hire Them.
  

Jan. 20, 2015 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  10 Things you need to know about Healthcare Associated Infections.
2.  CDC Releases data on Healthcare Associated Infections
3.  Is HAI funding based upon emotions?
4.  Genetic Sequencing aids surveillance efforts.
5.  Healthcare Costs are still on the rise.
6.  Critiquing the USA healthcare system.
7.  Cost effectiveness of infection prevention.
    

Jan. 1st, 2015 Newsletter

1.  Ebola and MRSA   
2.  ECDC Data Shows Progression on Antibiotic Resistance in Europe.
3.  KY Regulation Requiring Reporting of Dangerous Bacterial.
4.  23% of Adults in Massachusetts Experienced a Medical Error.
5.  Medicare Paycuts To 721 Hospitals With High Rate of HACs.
6.  FDA Medical Device Advisers Often Have Conflict of Interest.
7.  Complex Statistics Used To Distort Some Research Findings.
   

Dec. 15, 2014 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  CRE on the rise in India.
2.  Ebola reveals a double U.S. Standard.
3.  30% less enroll in ACA exchanges than expected.
4.  Health care spending in US 3.6% is lowest in decades but expected to increase next year.
5.  Financial ties of FDA device advisors are often not disclosed.
  

Dec. 1, 2014 Newsletter

1.  Experts disagree on the best hospitals
2.  Older US Adults have shortcomings in healthcare access and coordination.
3.  Reimbursement cuts shifting MRI scanning from outpatient to hospital based.
4.  The rate of Knee implants is skyrocketing.
5.  Despite knowledge, providers are still not selecting the optimal antibiotic for the prevention of resistance.
6.  CED releases guidelines for EBOLA in the Emergency Department.
  

Nov. 20, 2014 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Dr. Leana Wen's TedMed Resistance to Presentation on Transparency in Medicine.
2.  NNU Strike Over Ebola.
3.  C. Difficile Spreads Beyond Hospitals.
4.  ACA Has Lower Health-Care Enrollment Than Expected.
5.  CMS Technical Expert Panel on Hospital Acquired Conditions.

  

Nov. 1, 2014 Newsletter

1.  APIC Poll Found Only 6.5% of Facilities Well Prepared for EBOLA
2.  CDC Strengthens Guidelines for Treating Ebola Patients
3.  Are antibiotics a false sense of security.
4.  ACA Insurance Premiums are Increasing.
5.  Doctors order unnecessary tests in ER despite Malpractice Reform.
 

Oct. 15, 2014 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Resources on Ebola.
     NNU Nurses Conference Call.
     NNU 'We were lied to'
     CDC Flyer on Ebola.
     Lessons Learned.
     Are Hospitals Ready?
2.  Kentucky New HAI Regulation Filed.
3.  VA Drops MRSA Infection Rate by 72%.
     

Oct. 1, 2014 Newsletter

1.  ASM Ebola Resources.
2.  Nurses Concerned Hospitals Not Ready For Ebola.
3.  Reduction in Antibiotic Usage Decreased Readmissions Due to Infections.
4.  Screening and Decolonization for Surgical Site Infection Prevention - Pa Patient Safety Advisory.
5.  Childhood Obesity Linked to Antibiotic Usage.
6.  The new hip implants may not be better than the old hip implants.
7.  13% of FDA Advisory Doctors are reported to have conflicts of interest.
8.  Was the USA's first Ebola patient given an unnecessary antibiotic.
9.  Opioid use in non-cancer pain may have low effectiveness.
10.  Hospitals in States that participated in the Medicaid expansion saved $5.7 billion.
11.  CMS Post Sunshine payment data.
12.  Consumer anger on the high cost of healthcare.
13.  Big Pharma stating to market the C-Suite instead of doctors.
14.  Nearly 500,000 may be moved off the ACA because of qualification problems.
     

Sept. 15, 2014 Newsletter - Issue 2

1. MDRI infection increases 1% for each day in the hospital.
2. 78% of hospitals may be using inappropriate antibiotics.
3. Ebola may boost Infection Control Software.
4. New York proposes not HAI reporting regulations.
5. Feds reverse course. Are now posting HAC data.
6. Hospital administrative costs account for 25% of their healthcare dollar.
7. ACA premiums are not decreasing.
8. Titan Spine offers a warranty.  
  

Sept. 6, 2014 Newsletter

1.  FDA Staph Workshop -- Jeanine R. Thomas, President MRSA Survivors Workshop.
2.  Relationship between surgical complications and hospital finances.
3.  CMS's new programs to reduce HACs
4.  Senators Urge Removal of Power Morcellators.
5.  Hospital to Offer Surgical Warranties for Knee Replacements.
6.  Kentucky has fourth highest rate of MRSA Bacteremia in the nation.
7.  Healthcare Workers Exposure to Triclosan.
8.  Daily antiseptic baths in ICUs may become less effective.
9.  Healthcare spending increasing again.  
   

Aug. 2014 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Hospital Rankings Systems debated for a New York Hospital.
2.  NHSN data shows KY to have the fourth highest rate of MRSA bloodstream infections.
3.  Chlorhexidine (antiseptic) usage associated with Chlorhexidine resistance in CLABSI."
4.  K. Marimuthua and S. Harbarth review articles on MRSA screening.
5.  Search and Destroy strategy reported again to work.
6.  Commentary points out flaws in Chlorhexidine studies.
7.  How Kentucky Got Obamacare Right, Kentucky's uninsured down 8.5%.
8.  Hospitals may lose billions in states that did not expand Medicaid.
9.  Data on Hospital Acquired Conditions no longer on Hospital Compare.
10.  Maryland hospitals  may not be reporting all errors.
11.  Power Morcellation to Remove Uterine Fibroids Being Marginalized.
   

Aug. 2014 Newsletter

1. GAO able to obtain coverage for 11 of 12 factitious applications.
2. Nightmarie Bacteria increased fivefold in southeast U.S.
3. The Leapfrog Group releases 2013 Hospital Survey Results.
4. US Senate HELP Committee on Patient Medical Errors.
5. J&J pulls power morcellators.
6. The IOM calls for an end of the 510K medical device approval process.
7. Missouri Law OK's providers who did not pass a complete licensure exams.
   

July 2014 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Results of the United Kingdom's NHS C. Difficile and MRSA Control Policies.
2.  Weekly Bathing with Chlorhexidine in Military Trainees.
3.  Low Dose Antibiotics May Promote Biofilms.
4.  CRE Outbreaks in Florida.
5.  Up To 1/3 of Knee Implants May Be Unnecessary.
6.  US Healthcare System Last Among Developed Nations.
7.  The Physician's Role in Hospital Governance is Mitigated.
8.  Value Based Purchasing Saves BC/BX 500 Million in 2012.
9.  Non-profit hospitals in Charlotte, NC region Thrive on Profits.
10  Commonwealth Funds Finds the Number of Uninsured is Dropping.
   

July 2014 Newsletter

1.  Dangers of Uterine Morcellation.
2.  Recovery of the Gut Microbiome Following Fecal Transplant.
3.  CMS to Penalize Hospitals for High Rates of HACs.
4.  HW USA Comments on the New HAC Proposal.
5.  Should Joint Replacement Manufacturers Give a Warranty?
6.  Box Warning on Antidepressants May Increase Suicide Attempts in Young People.
7.  Large Price Variation in Healthcare.
8.  Healthcare Reform May Cut Premiums by 76%.
  

June 2014 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Narcotic drug abuse in the elderly - Peter Eisler.
2.  ICHE MRSA Prevention Guidelines.
3.  MRSA Colonized Patients Contaminate the Environment More Than MRSA Infected Patients.
4.  CRE Outbreak in Florida.
5.  Phage Therapy.
6.  Safety Problems in the Cleveland Clinic.
7.  Sham Peer Review.
8.  Commonwealth Fund - US Last Again.
9.  Mass. Nurses Push for Financial Disclosure of Hospital Charges, Investments and CEO Salaries.
   

June 2014 Newsletter

1.  Ultraviolet Environmental Disinfection.
2.  European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease.
3.  New Antibiotic To Treat MRSA.
4.  More Funding Needed for MDROs.
5.  The Nursing Shortage.
  

May 2014 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  CDC Radio/Web Presentation on Drug Resistant Organisms, Antibiotic Overutilization and MERS.
2.  HW USA Joins with APIC and Other Healthcare Advocacy Organizatons to Support NHSN.
3.  US and EU Progress in Fight Against Drug Resistance.
4.  Verticle Integration of Hospitals and Physicains Leads to Higher Prices.
5.  Kaiser Raises Prices Amid Large Reserves.
6.  Medtronic's Infuse Goes to Court
7.  CU posts C-Section Rates.
   

May 2014 Newsletter

1.  CMS Strengthens Rules for Healthcare Acquired Conditions.
2.  Hospitals Lower HACs But Much Work Needs To Be Done.
3.  One in 20 Patients are Misdiagnosed.
4.  Dr. Steven Tower on MoM Hip Implant Adverse Events.
5.  The FDA Wants Stricter Rules for Pelvic Mesh Implants.
6.  Routine Headache Neuroimaging is Overutilized.
7.  Antibiotic Resistance Genes Are Widespread in Nature.
8.  Chlorhexidine and Alcohol In Skin Antisepsis.
9.  WHO - Antibiotics Are Losing Their Effectiveness.
   

Apr. 2014 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  OIG Report on Out Patient Surgery Facility Fees.
2.  Morgan Stanly -- Insurance Premium Increases.
3.  Summary of OIG Adverse Event Reports.
4.  USA Today Report on Drug Abuse in the Medical Community.
5.  Misdiagnosis Affects 1 in 20 Patients.
6.  Experienced Nurses Are the Key To Shorter Length of Stay
7.  The Dangers of Uterine Morcellation.
8.  Insurance Company Price Transparency.
    

Apr. 2014 Newsletter

1.  MRSA Surveillance.
2.  HW USA You Tube Channel.
3.  CDC Releases New Incidence Data on HAIs.
4.  Update on CMS's Policy of Not Paying for HACs.
5.  CMS to Release Physician Billing Data to The Public.
6.  Renewed Effort Needed To Combat Drug Resistant Bacteria.
7.  HW USA Comments on Dept HHS 2020 HAI Goals.
8.  England Health Sec. States Hospitals Are Obliged To Report Medical Errors.
9.  Leaders of Academic Medicine Sit On Healthcare Corporate Boards.
   

Mar. 2014 Newsletter - Issue 3

1.  Bloodstream infections in community hospitals.
2.  CRE can survive weeks to months on dry surfaces.
3.  Stethoscopes can spread bacteria.
4.  Quote on Medical Overuse from a Top ACO Administrator.
5.  Reducing Early Elective Deliveries.
6.  The ACA is not succeeding but isn't failing either.
7.  $178.900 bill for outpatient bunion surgery.
  

Mar. 2014 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Public Reporting of Healthcare Associated Infections in Kentucky
2.  Lack of Standardization of Prevention Protocols My Contribute to Multi-Resistant Drug Organisms.
3.  Medical Overuse Presentation by Rosemary Gibson.
4.  CDC links C. Difficile Infections in Children to Antibiotic Overuse.
5.  Kentucky is Number On (CDDEP) in Antibiotic prescribing.
6.  Deaths Links to Cardiac Stents Rise as Overuse is Seen.
7.  Map of America's Coronary Sent Hot Spots.
  

Mar. 2014 Newsletter

1.  CDC Starts Campaign to Prevent C. Difficile.
2.  Rep Tom Burch Files a Public Reporting Bill on Healthcare
3.  Hospital Facility Fees add Billions to Medical Bills - Kansas City Star
4.  Dr. Steve Tower Presents on the Dangers of MoM Hip Implants.
5.  Progress in Healthcare Quality is Still Extremely Slow
6.  On-Line Ratings are Becoming a Fact of Life
7.  One Third of Skilled Nursing Home Residents are Harmed
8.  Pharm Industry Payments to Doctors Plummets with Transparncy.
9.  MRSA Infections Have Significantly Decrease at VA Nursing Homes.
   

Feb. 2014 Newsletter - Issue #2

1.  The Forgotten Role of Alcohol
2.  Low Levels of Chlorhexidine May Increase MRSA Resistant Carriers.
3.  Carefusion and Chlorhexidine Controversy
4.  NQF Conflict of Interest
5.  Sticker Shock From Insurance Deductibles
6.  More Doctors Shifting to Hospital Employment
7.  ACOs Run by Doctors Could Put Some Hospitals Out of Bussiness
     

Feb. 2014 Newsletter

1.  CareFusion pays US DOJ a 50 Million Dollar Settlement
2.  Deadly MRSA Strikes Southern Kentucky.
3.  Infection Control Practices Not Implemented In Many ICUs.
4.  NIH  Sounds Alarm on Research Integrity.
5.  Full Disclosure of Medical Errors.
6.  Can the State Recoup Medicaid Expenses After Death.
7.  Wisconsin Hospital Association Reduces Readmissions by 22%
8.  Hospital Consolidation Picks Up Pace.
9.  Hospital Charge to Cost Rations - Kentucky Has the 23nd Highest Hospital.
10.  Healthcare Spending in High Income Countries.
11.  Asking Price Does Affect Medicare Payments.
  

Jan. 2014 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  VA Reports Continued Decrease in MRSA Utilizing Surveillance.
2.  AHRQ Update Preventing Pressure Ulcers.
3.  Nurse Burnout and Understaffing Linked to Healthcare Infections.
4   Association of Fatigue with Decision Regret in Nurses
  

Jan. 2014 Newsletter

1.  How long does it take for bacterial resistance to develop - CDDEP
2.  Antibacterial Soap Comes Under Fire.
3.  Improved Hand Hygiene is Needed to Control C. Diff.
4.  Protecting Americans From Infections Disease Outbreaks.
5.  Probiotics May Help Prevent C. Difficile Infections.
6.  Superbugs May Spread Via Air Currents.
7.  Mass. Report.  Hospital Consolidation and Mergers Drive Up Costs.
8.  Major Drug Company Will Stop Physician Drug Promotion Payments.
9.  Unreported Robotic Surgery Injuries.
10.  Medicare Names Best and Worst Hospitals For Hip and Knee Replacement.
11.  FDA Upgrades Medical Device Database.
12.  AHA:  Top 5 procedures to be discussed by patient and physician prior to proceeding.
13.  Propublica Post Hospital ER Waite Times.
 

Dec. 2013 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  USA Today MRSA Report.
2.  CMS Posts MRSA and C. Difficile Data.
3.  Quality and Access Problems with UK's NHS.
4.  HAIs Decreasing in California.
5.  Nurses Loosing Hospital Jobs.
6.  Minimum Staffing Ratios for Nurses.
7.  ACO Improving Quality.
8.  Almost Half of Hospitals Do Not Plan to Form ACOs.
9.  Medicaid Expanding Under the ACA.
10.  Vermont Planning a Single Payer System.
11.  Nearly 1 in 4 Americans Site Healthcare Cost as a Major Problem.
12.  United Health Care is Cutting Doctors from Their Network.
13.  Too Many Children are One Antipsychotic Drugs.
  

Dec. 2013 Newsletter

1.  Medtronics Recall Possible Defective Cardiac Guidewires
2.  DePuy Settles Hip Implant Case for 2.5 Billion Dollars
3.  Global Status of Antimicrobial Resistance
4.  Choosing Wisely Campaign
5.  The Statin Calculator Controversy
6.  KYNECT Signs Over 56,000 -- 80% are Medicaid
7.  Hospital Sticker Price Affects Medicare Outlier Payments
8.  Insurers Limiting Networks, Cutting Doctor Fees
9.  Large Discrepancies Found in Medicare Post-Hospital Care Spending
   

Nov. 2013 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Lancet Infections Disease Commission -  Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
2.  Tort Reform is not a Substitute for Healthcare Reform
3.  The Controversy over the New Statin Guidelines
4.  Medicare Hospital Payment Reduction and Bonuses
5.  Medicare Value Purchasing
6.  Outlier Asking Prices Driving Up Outlier Medicare Payments
7.  Value Based Purchasing is Inevitable and That is Good
8.  US Healthcare Outcomes are Down, Spending is Up
9.  Johnson and Johnson - May Agree to 4 Billion Dollar Hip Implant Settlement
10.  Bill 2285 "Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Resistance (STAAR) Act. 
   

Nov. 2013 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Hospital Costs are Skyrocketing
2.  Robotic Surgery May Have More Complications Than Thought
3.  FDA Investigates Robotic Surgery
4.  Commonwealth Fund Updates www.whynotthebest.org 
     

Nov. 2013 Newsletter

1.  MRSA Screening At the VA Causes Continued Decline in MRSA Infections
2.  Frontline Story -- Nightmare Bacteria
3.  AHRQ Policy on Universal Decolonization
4.  Gloves and Gowns Alone Do Not Stop All Hospital Infections
5.  US Has a high rate of Inappropriate Antibiotic Usage.
6.  Sepsis Costs more and Deaths are Higher in Teaching Hospitals.
7.  Health Insurance Co-Ops are In Danger
8.  Germany's Drug Approval Process
9.  Removing Sales Reps From the OR
10.  Hospitals Enter the Insurance Market
11.  Hospitals With More Nursing Staff Have Lower Rates of Readmissions
12.  Robotic Surgery Damaging Patients Rises With Marketing
13.  Research Errors All Too Common
   

Oct. 2013 Newsletter - Issue 3

1.  APIC Patient Empowerment Poster To Prevent Healthcare Infections.
2.  Gloves/Gowns and Hands Washing Alone are not Enough to Prevent Infections. 
3.  Hospital Administrators Underestimate the Rate of  Pressure Sores
   

Oct.  2013 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  MRSA in Surgical Wards Reduced Surveillance
2.  Cardiovascular Stent Overutilization Alleged in Kentucky
3.  Mapping USA's Coronary Stent Hot Spots
4.  Antibiotic Overutilization
  

Oct.  2013 Newsletter

1.  MRSA in Surgical Wards Reduced by Surveillance
2.  Diverse Sources of C. Difficile HAI
3.  National Burden of MRSA
4.  Pediatric MRSA
5.  U.S. Senate HELP Cmt on Sepsis
6.  Cost of HAIs
7.  Patients Colonized with MRSA more likely to get an infection.
8.  Vanderbilt Having Nurses Clean Rooms
9.  Nurse Staffing Bill Introduced in U.S. Congress
10.  How Many Die Each Year of Adverse Events
 

Sep.  2013 Newsletter

1.  Kaiser Family Foundation -Tobacco Surcharge Calculator. 
2.  IBM to place 110,000 retirees on Health Exchanges.
3.  KFF - Health Insurance Rates for 17 States have Been Published.
4.  Medical Costs still Climbing.
5.  41% of Patient Rooms had 1 or more Surfaces Contaminated with MRSA or C. Difficile.
6.  Deep Infection, Most Common Reason for Total Hip Readmission.
7.  Low-Risk Thyroid Cancer Over Diagnosed, Over Treated.
8.  North Carolina Requires Hospitals to Post Prices (Ankle MRI varies from $400 to $2100).
     

Aug. 2013 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  HW USA comment on CMS Proposed Facility Fee Regulation
2.  An Infection Outbreak in One Hospital Affects All Hospitals
3.  Superbugs are Overpowering Antibiotics Faster Than CDC Predicted
4.  Hospitals Earn A Profit From Adverse Events
5.  Medical Tourism for Hip and Knee Replacements
6.  Transitional Care Cuts Readmissions by 20%
7.  KFF Health Insurance Federal Subsidy Calculator
8.  Pres Bush Receives Angioplasty Performed Absent Symptoms
 

Aug. 2013 Newsletter

1.  Antibiotic Resistance Much Higher Than CDC Estimates
2.  Drug Resistance is a Growing Threat
3.  Kentucky has the Seventh Highest Increase in C-Section Rates in the Nation
4.  146 Practice Standards are Called into Question
5.  Health Insurance Competition Lowers Premiums
6.  New Estimate of U.S. Hospital Deaths Associated With Medical Errors
7.  Leapfrog Group New Hospital Error Calculator
8.  Consumer Union;  Your Safer-Surgery Survival Guide
9.  Mistakes they Don't Want You To Know -- Forbes Mag.
10.  Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Deaths at the University of Kentucky
11.  More Diagnostic Tests in a Pediatric ER does not Improve Outcomes
12.  Doctors Selling Practices to Hospitals -- CNN
13.  1.7 Million Medical Bill Bankruptcies
14.  Organized Crime and Healthcare Delivery
15.  CMS Proposed New Regulations for Facility Fee Discrepancies
   

Jul. 2013 Newsletter - Issue 2

1. Coccidioidomycosis infections in the western United States
2. The USPSTF recommends screening for Hepattis C.
3.  The Tuberculosis Bacteria is becoming more dangerous.
4.  The high cost of being born in the United States.
5.  Kids on Speed.
6.  Surgical Price Transparency Causes Bidding War in Oklahoma.
7.  Hospitals Admit Mistakes and Save Money.
8.  Medical Devices Can Be Vulnerable To Cyber Threats
9.  The Astonishing Growth of Healthcare Jobs in America
10.  Why our Healthcare lets Prices Run Wild
11.  White House Delays Health-Care Rule
    

Jul. 2013 Newsletter

1.  Full Disclosure of Medical Errors -- 25 Years Since First Proposed.
2.  One in 12 Patients in Canadian Hospitals Maybe Carrying a Superbug
3.  Hepatitis C Screening is Recommended for Those Born Between 1945 to 1965.
4.  MRSA Kills 28 Yr Old in Laurel County, KY.
5.  CMS Prepares for Hospital Infection Control Inspections.
5.  Hospital CEOs Awarded for Profit Over Quality.
7.  10 Hospital Patient Safety Checklists.
8.  Improving Efficiency Scores While Maintaining Quality.
 

Jun. 2013 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  C. Difficile Linked to Outpatient Healthcare Exposure.
2.  Decolonization of MRSA Carriers prevents Surgical Infections
3.  Active Surveillance Advocated for Deadly Coronavirus
4.  University of Kentucky Sues Reporter Over FOI Request
5.  Hospital Mergers May Be Driving Up Healthcare Costs
6.  States Place Pricing Information on the Web
7.  Medicaid Expansion, Lowers Mortality in Three States but
Oregon reports no significant effect on measured physical health outcomes.  
  

Jun. 2013 Newsletter

1.  Hospitals May Profit from CLABSIs.
2.  MRSA Trial Evaluating Chlorhexidine Bathing.
3.  Infection Rates at on Facility Affects Rates at Other Facilities.
4.  Cause-of-Death Reporting BY Resident Physicians Not Always Accurate.
5.  US News Best Hospital Rankings May be Misleading.
6.  California Exchanges Lower Premium Rates
7.  The $2.7 Trillion Dollar Medical Bill - NYT
   

May 2013 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Kentucky Hospital Rankings in the Herald Leader
2.  CRE Covered by Medical News
3.  Are we entering into a post-antibiotic era ?
4.  Deadly CRE Spreading Fast in Hospitals
5.  Hospitals See Serge in Superbugs
6.  State of New Jersey Sees Improvements in Adverse Events and Infections.
7.  Maine Releases Their 2013 Healthcare Acquired Infection Report.
8.  Is Hospital Safety the Patient's Responsibility or the Hospitals?
9.  HW USA Signs on to the APIC's Letter to advocate funding for NHSN.
10.  Costs Vary Widely for Same Hospitals.
11.  CMS Datafile on Hospital Costs.
   

May 2013 Newsletter

1.  Dr. Arjun Srinivasan presentation on Jack Pattie Show on HAIs.
2.  MRSA Colonization Predicts MRSA Infection in GI Surgery Patients.
3.  VA Uses Three Tiered Approach to Clean Rooms of C. Difficile Patients.
4.  Hospital Facility Fees Face Competitive Pressure.
5.  Government Oversight Committee on Healthcare Transparency.
6.  Many Hospitals do Make Money on Adverse Events.
7.  Is Hospital Safety the Responsibility of the Patient.
8.  United States Sues Novartis Pharma for Allegedly Paying Kickbacks.  
    

Apr. 2013 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Missouri Senate Passes Bill to Toughen Reporting on Hospital Acquired Infections.
2.  Many Hospitals do Make Money When Patients Developed Infections and Adverse Events.
3.  VA Uses a Three Tiered Approach to Clean Rooms of C. Difficile Patients.
4.  Hospital Facility Fees Face Competitive Pressure. 
5.  Doctor Owned Hospitals Fare Better Under the Healthcare Reform Law. 
    

Apr. 2013 Newsletter

1.  CLABSIs in ICUs may be related to the facility's culture of safety.
2.  KY Representative Tom Burch Calls for Mandatory Reporting of CRE. 
3.  CRE is on the Rise.
4.  What NIH had to do to Control an Outbreak of CRE.
5.  New research indicates that patients with diarrhea should be isolated unit cultures are back to exclude a C. Difficile infection.
6.  Possible spread of MRSA from Livestock to Humans.
7.  Hospitals fail to take simple steps to prevent the spread of C. Difficile. 
8.  Death rates rise at Critical Access Hospitals.
9.  Large Increase in Insurance Premiums are expected. 
     

Mar. 2013 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  CRE a Growing Threat in Kentucky.
2.  Hospital Complaint Inspections are Now Online.
3.  ProPublica Updates Dollars for Doctors.
4.  CMS Updates Readmission Penalties.
5.  National Academies Press - U.S. Health - Shorter Lives, Poorer Health.
6.  A World Without Antibiotics.
7.  Large Increase in Premiums are Predicted by Health Insurance Companies.
8.  Nurses Worldwide Question Hospital Safety.
9.  Nurse Understaffing Linked to Higher Infections in NICU.
10.  Nursing Fatigue Lined to Errors.
11.  29 States Receive a Failing Grade in Price Transparency.
12.  CDC has an New APP on "Solve the Infection".
    

Mar. 2013 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  MRSA Rates are Not Falling.
2.  CDC Issues Advisory for new Super Bacteria - CRE.
3.  Despite Efforts C. Difficile Rates are Not Decreasing.
4.  Chief Medical Officer of United Kingdom Warns of Entering A Post-Antibiotic Era.
5.  CMS May Have Gaps in Oversight of Conflict of Interest.
6.  Commission Advocates End of Fee for Service System.
7.  C-Sections Rates Vary Between 7% to 70% at Different Facilities. 
8.  Leapfrog Group Posts New Data on Early Elective Deliveries.
9.  I-Pone Helps Monitor Patients and Saves Money.
10.  Choosing Wisely Targets 90 Dubious Tests. 
11.  Consolidation and Mergers May Increase Costs but Not Quality.
12.  NEJM and MedPAC - Improving CMS's Readmission Value-Based Purchasing Policy.
    

Mar. 2013 Newsletter

1.  The Bitter Pill - High Cost of Healthcare   Time Mag
2.  ER Admission Rates Vary 2,5 Fold in Different States.
3.  Hundreds Sue Kentucky Hospital for Alleged Unnecessary Heart Surgery.
4.  Robotic Hysterectomies Increase but With Little Benefit.
5.  Medical Groups Identity 90 Unnecessary and Overused Treatments.
6.  Healthcare Associated Infections - Only 6 Outbreaks Reported to the KY Health Depart. By KY Hospitals in 2012
7.  The Superbug CRE is Spreading in the U.S.
8.  DC Hospital Nurses fight Over Patient-to-Nurse Ratios.
9.  Is the Patient Safety Movement in Danger of Flickering Out?
10. Women are Experiencing 29% More Hip Implant Failures Than Men. 
     

Feb. 2013 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Presentation before KY House Health & Welfare Committee
2.  Tough CDC Regulations on Control of CRE
3.  CDC HAI Improvement in Hospitals Over 5 Years
4.  Employers Must Offer Family Care
5.  Health Insurance Government Subsidies
6.  Wide Rage of Prices For Hip Surgery
7.  Kentucky Uninsured 28% and Climbing
  

Feb. 2013 Newsletter

1.  One one MRSA outbreak and No C. Difficile Outbreaks were Reported by Kentucky Hospitals in 2013
2.  CRE op-ed -- The pending epidemic
3.  One in five hospital based doctors report unsafe workloads
4.  Employers may choose to pay a penalty than give employees health insurance.
6.  CMS release rules for drug and device companies to report gifts to doctors  
   

Jan. 2013 - Issue 2 Newsletter

1. Two Takes Hospital Faculty Fee Op-Eds
2.  Success in Preventing CLABSIs - A case report of the best performing hospital.
3.  Regulations Enacted in NY to Prevent Sepsis
4.  Rise in Bacteria Called Apocalyptic Scenario
5.  Value Purchasing - Who is Getting Rewarded and Who is Getting Penalized.
6.  HW USA Comments on the Medical Loss Ratio Regulations
7.  Hospitals Generate 2.3 Trillion Dollars in Economic Activity
8.  NY Safe Staffing Bill Filed.
9.  Non-Physicians May Prevent Physician Shortage
10.  New Push for the Public Option
11.  JJ Metal on Metal Hip Implants have a 36% 5 Year Failure Rate
   

Jan. 2013  Newsletter

1.  Non-Payment of CLABSI - Letter to NEJM
2.  Hospital Facility Charges - Washington Post, Cleveland.com, Newsobserver.com, Seattle Times
3.  CMS Readmission Penalty
4.  Not a clear relationship between increased Spending and Quality
5.  Healthcare Acquired Infections and MRDOs.
6.  Spread of MRSA in Hospital Staff
7.  MRSA and C. Difficile Acquired Infections Leading to Higher Readmissions 
8.  Antibiotics Do Not Help Most Lower Respiratory Infections
9.  NY Files Safe Staffing Bill
10,  Wal-Mart Bails on Providing Insurance Coverage to Part Time Workers.
11.  Family Health Insurance Premiums and the Proportion they Pay are Raising.
12.  The Case is Made For Evidence Based Surgical Indications. 
  

Dec. 2012 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  AMA calls for Patient Welfare to Take Priority over Employer Interests,  AMA & NYTs.
2.  MRSA and C. Difficile Infections Cause Higher Readmission Rates.
3.  New Zealand Hospital Address MRSA Colonization in Hospital Staff Members.
4.  34 Ways To Lower Colon Surgery Infection Rates.
5.  C. Difficile Started with Floroquinolone Use.
6.  Dogs Can Identify C. Difficile in Stools.
7.  Always Events.
8.  Effects of Healthcare Consolidation and Integration.
9.  Fraud in large Medical Corporations.
10.  The "Medical Misadventure Diagnostic Code.
11.  Fixing the Health Insurance Loss Ratio Saved Nearly $1.5 Billion.
12.  Six of Every Seven Doctors Say the Healthcare System is Broken.
13.  18 States Planning to Run Their Own Healthcare Exchanges.
14.  Dartmouth Atlas reports Differing Surgery rates in Different Parts of the Country.  
 

Dec. 2012 Newsletter

1.  MRSA Recommendations from the 2012 DHHS HAI Meeting.
2.  59% of Surveyed are Now Screening for MRSA.
3.  Patients are Major Reservoir for MRSA.
4.  MRSA Control in One Hospital Affects MRSA In Other Hospitals.
5.  Alliance for Prudent Use of Antibiotics Joint Statement.
6.  USA Today -- Killer Bug No Drugs -- CRE.
7.  CDDEP Relaunches Antibiotic Resistance Map.
8.  Leapfrog Group Releases Hospital Rankings.
9.  Effectiveness of Screening Mammography in Preventing Infections.
10.  Doctors Joining Hospitals to Receive Higher Medicare Pay.
12.  CMS Posts New Website to Download Data.
13.  New Government Whistleblower Law.
14.  Projections Show Limited Savings From Meeting Quality Targets Under the
Medicare Shared Savings Program. 
   

Nov. 2012 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  MedPAC Considering Equal Pay for Free Standing and Hospital Employed Doctors
2.  Randomized Control Trials for the Use of Parachutes.
3.  C. Difficile is on the Rise According to H-CUP Data.
3.  59% of Surveyed ICUs are Now Screening for MRSA.
5.  Use of Antibacterial Soap.
6.  P4P Reduces Mortality in England's Hospitals.
7.  Surgical Mortality is Lower in Magnet Hospitals.
8.  Humana Spending $500 Million to Buy Provider Network. 
   

Nov. 2012 Newsletter

1.  ACOs Produce Limited Healthcare Savings
2.  Medicaid Provider Centene Sues Kentucky
3.  ICU Medical Errors May Cause More Deaths Than Breast Cancer
4.  Living Kidney Donors May be at Higher Risk to Develop Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease
   

Oct. 2012 Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Nursing-Sensitive Value-Based Purchasing
2.  Magnet Hospitals Have Fewer Surgical Deaths
3.  Nurses Prevent More Medication Errors in Supportive Hospitals
4.  Non-Payment for Care Related to CLABSI did not Reduce Infection Rates ( Read Why ) 
5.  Preventable Errors May Cost 1 Trillion Dollars a Year
6.  Psychotropic Agents are Being Prescribed at an Alarming Rate
  

Oct. 2012 Newsletter

1.  US News & World Report Ranking System
2. Joint Commission Conference on Medical Overuse
3.  Comments on AHRQ Proposal for the Public to Report Adverse Events
4.  Review:  Unaccountable
5.  PBS Money and Medicine
6.  Health Care Cost Institute -- Costs are Rising
7.  Are Employers Requiring Employees to Pay More for Insurance
8.  NHSN Expanded for Infections in Nursing Homes
9.  Private Rooms May Cut Infection Rates
 

Sept. 2012 Newsletter - Issue 2 

1.  IOM Report:  Better Care at Lower Cost
2.  Mass. Reform Lowers the Rate of Increase in Healthcare Costs
3.  Healthcare Reform Tax Penalty to hit 6 Million, IRS will Not pursue Americans without health insurance.  
4.  Non-payment of CAUTI results in little recoupment of funds.
5.  CMS 2011 Finance and Accreditation Report.
6.  Nurse Centric ACO are Proposed
    

Sept. 2012 Newsletter 

1.  USA Today Coverage of the C. Difficile Epidemic.
2.  California Releases Their MRSA Report.
3.  Isolation and Screening Used to Control the KPC and CRE Epidemic.
4.  Underreporting of HAIs in California.
5.  Why Hospital Rankings Differ.
6.  Shared Decision Making and informed Consent Improves Quality and Cuts Costs.
7.  US Spends far More on Healthcare than Any Other Nation.
8.  Mass. Passes Law to Control Healthcare Costs.
9.  Health Once Canceling Contract with KY Medicaid Provider Coventry Care.
10.  HCA Probed Unnecessary Heart Procedures.
11.  ACO Cuts Readmission Rates by 30%. 
12.  New Law will Penalize Hospitals with High Readmission Rates. 
   

Aug. 2012 Newsletter  

1.  MRSA has Doubled in the Five Years. 
2.  Nurse Burnout Linked to an Increase in Healthcare Associated Infections.
3.  New York Hospitals have Confidentially Reported 40,000 Adverse Events Since 2007.
4.  CUSP cuts Colorectal Surgery HAIs by 33%. 
5.  The Joint Commission Published Monograph on CLABSI Prevention. 
6.  Hospitals are Not Doing Enough to Avoid Cardiac Readmissions. 
7.  Experts Advise to Abandon Gastric Banding. 
8.  USPSTF Recommends Against Cardiac Stress Testing.  
9.  Mass. Legislature Passes Provision to Limit Healthcare Cost Increases. 
10.  Virginia's Certificate of Need Laws are Challenged. 
      

Jul. 2012 Newsletter - Issue 2  

1.  Process and Mortality Measures Not Observed to Increase Quality -- NEJM
2.  RWJF  Hospital Mergers Generally Lead to Significant Price Increases. 
4.  OIG Reports that only 1% of Adverse Events are Reported to States By Hospitals. 
3.  Patients Reluctant to Disagree With Their Doctors. 
4.  Healthcare Costs Still Rising in Massachusetts. 
5.  Drugs for Anemia Made Billions but May Also Have Harmed Patients.
6.  Insurance Companies Forming ACOs. 
7.  New York Hospital Dropping Health Insurance, 
8.  FDA Spied on E-Mails from its Own Scientists.
9.  CLABSI drop in Ohio and Kansas.
     

Jul. 2012 Newsletter 

1.  CDC Releases Updated Guidelines for Control of CRE
2.  CMS Suspends Mandate for At Least One Member of the Hospital's Medical Staff sit on the Hospital's Board.
3.  Consumer Reports Releases New Hospital Rating System.
4.  Hospital Care for Medically Indigent May Go Uncompensated.
5.  CMS Office of Actuary, Growth in Healthcare Spending will be Faster than the GNP. 
6.  Newly Graduated Nurses Have Trouble Finding Jobs.
7.  HAIs fall by 20% in England. 
   

Jun. 2012 Newsletter 

1.  Standardized Infection Ratio -- Poster Presentation at the 2012 HAI Data Summit
2.  The human bacterial flora
3.  High Utilization of CT and MRI Scanners.
4.  Insurance Companies Forming Accountable Care Organizations
5.  Leapfrog Group's 2012 Hospital Survey
6.  Only a Small Fraction of Doctors are doing CMS's Quality Reporting.
7.  New Website:  www.haiwatch.com 
   

May 2012 Newsletter - Issue 2 

1.  Physicians Getting Shrinking Piece of Healthcare Pie.
2.  Bigger hospitals are associated with driving up healthcare prices.
3.  Insurers and Private Equity Firms are Entering the Market.
4.  Patients Give Poor Marks to the US Healthcare System - NPR/RWJ/Harvard Survey
5.  Presentation by Regina Holliday.
6.  Excellent Graphic on the Cost of Medical Care.
7.  CDC Calls for Hepatitis C Screening.
8.  Link between Lowe Staffing and Nursing Home Deaths.
9.  New Government Site on Healthcare Quality.
10.  Infections Linked to Higher ICU Mortality and Higher Hospital Readmissons.
11.  Patient Web Rankings are Found to be Accurate.
12.  Healthcare Reporting in Alberta, Canada.    
  

May 2012 Newsletter

1)  High Cost of Healthcare -- Employers may elect to pay penalty.
2)  Commonwealth Fund -- Prices Vary Widely. 
3)  Prices Variation of an Appendectomy
4)  Medical Blue Book
5)  High Cost of Healthcare is Unsustainable. 
6)  Gaps in Healthcare Still Persists.
7)  Surgical Site Infection Monitoring.
8)  Missouri Statement of Public Reporting of Healthcare Associated Infections.
9)  Overuse of Cesarean Deliveries.
    

Apr. 2012 Newsletter

1)  MedPAC Calls for Cuts in Hospital Outpatient Doctor Office Visits
2)  Healthcare Varies Widely in Each State
3)  Consumer Reports:  Some Medical Devices are Dangerous and Never Tested for Safety
4)  Risks to External Radiation for Diagnostic Tests -- American Cancer Society
5)  50% of Cancer Research Does Not Hold Up
6)  Report from the Union of Concerned Scientists
7)  Healthcare Costs on the Rise for Patients
8)  Pressure Ulcers are Reservoir for MRSA
  

Mar. 2012 Newsletter - Issue 2

1)  C. Difficile Mortality on the Rise - CDC News Release. 
2)  High Cost of US Healthcare System Compared to Other Countries. 
3)  Medicare Billing Fraud. 
4)  Hospitals and Private Equity Firms. 
5)  Telemonitoring Decreases Readmissions to Hospitals.  
6)  Hospitals Demand Upfront Payment For Non-Emergency Visits.   
7)  Use of CT Scans Differs Between ER Doctors at the Same Hospital.   
   

Mar. 2012 Newsletter

1)  Healthcare Integration, Medicare Reimbursement and Loss of the Independent Medical Staff. 
2)  Michael Bennett Publishes "My Father".
3)  ICD-10 Billing is Delayed.
4)  Problems With CMS Ratings of Hospitals ??
5)  Should Infection rates after C-Sections Also Be Reported. 
6)  Case Report of HAI in a Prominent Reporter.
7)  There is Still a Punitive Safety Culture.
6)  Problems with Gastric Banding, Clean Surgical Instruments, Pain Medication Prescriptions
7)  CED Recommendations for controlling C. Difficile.
        

Feb. 2012 Newsletter

1)  Health Watch USA Model Public Reporting Legislation.
2)  Approved and Planned Federal Public Reporting Infection Measures.
3)  NHSN CLABSI Report Now on Hospital Compare.
4)  Highly Resistant Bacteria in 37 States.
4)  If a Cow Map Exists Why Not a MRSA or HAI Map.
5)  Can Insurance Companies Survive ACOs
6)  Do Bone Marrow Transplants Have a Role in Breast Cancer Treatment.
    

Jan. 2012 Newsletter - Issue 2

1)  MedPAC estimates Mid Level Outpatient Visits from Hospital Employed Doctors may be 80% Higher than those from independent providers.
2)  Organized Medicine asks for money saved from the decrease in the OSC funds to fix the SRG.
3)  70% of Hospitals use a Full Employment Medical Staph Model  &  Cardiology Doctors are Leaving Practice for Hospital Employment. 
4)  Mercy Hospital Report VAP (Ventilator Associated Pneumonia) rate of Zero.
5)  Innovation Summit Conference.
6)  Medicare Coordinated Care Value Purchasing has not saved money.
7)  Publicly reported infection numbers may be flawed -- A report from Colorado and California. 
8)  AMA states clarity needed as to when to report Adverse Events.    
         

Jan. 2012 Newsletter

1.  OIG Report -- Hospitals Not Capturing Errors.
2.  Dr. Jarvis Presentation on Surveillance Cultures.
3.  AHRQ Report -- No Improvement in Hospital Safety Indicators Over a 10 Year Period.
4.  Small Doctor Practices are Closing and Hospital Employment is Increasing.
5.  Avistin Effectiveness in Ovarian Cancer is Questioned.
6.  The use of PSA testing for Prostate Cancer is Questioned.
7.  California Releases Hospital Acquired Infection Report.
8.  Doctor's Medicare Claims Data is Released to Rate Doctors.
9.  MRSA Colonization Rate in Children Reported to be almost 3%.
10.  The California Medical Association Comments on CMS Proposed Regulations which Allow for a Single Governing Body in a Multi-Hospital Network.
    

Dec. 2011 Newsletter  - Issue 2

1.  Commonwealth Fund's Report on Success Strategies for CLABSI.
2.  Risk Adjustment Does Not Explain Results Between Facilities.
3.  Public Reporting in PA is Associated With Lower Hospital Mortality.
4.  Most Reportable HAI are Preventable. 
5.  Vancomycin Prophylaxis -- May Not Always Be Good.
6.  Private Rooms Found to Have a Lower Infection Rate.
7.  Rates of MRSA Bacteremia May be Too Low to Be Used as A Tool To Monitor Improvement.
8.  Medical Over Usage, in the Treatment of Pain and in psychotropic Drugs Used in Nursing Homes & Foster Care
 

Dec. 2011 Newsletter

1.  Tennessee Hospitals Reduce Bloodstream Infections.
2.  Majority of Adverse Events That Were Reported by Patients Had Not Been Reported By Staff.
3.  Infection Rates Drop in Pennsylvania.
4.  The Shield of PSOs is Under Attack.
5.  Medical Expenses Push 10 Million More Into Poverty.
6.  AHRQ Web Page on Full Disclosure.
  

Nov. 2011 Newsletter

1.  The Leapfrog Group expresses concern about Accountable Care Organizations (ACO)
2.  The Commonwealth Fund Gives the United States Low Marks.
3.  CMS Issues Final Update on Measures for HACs
4.  70% of Hospitals are Hiring More Physicians.
5.  CMS States that Hospital Acquired Conditions on "Hospital Compare" Website.
6.  CDC States That Colonization Does Not Affect the Definition of a Healthcare Associated Infection.
7.  A Policy of Full Disclosure Lowers Stanford's Malpractice Premiums.
8.  State of Maine MRSA Surveillance Data on Nursing Home Residents Admitted to Hospitals. 
9.  Mich. Keystone Program Finds the Prevention of CLABSI and VAP is Cost Effective.
 

Oct. 2011 Newsletter

1.  US Ranks Last Among Industrialized Nations in Preventable Healthcare Deaths
2.  Metal on Metal Hip Prostheses are Breaking Down
3.  Health Insurance Cost to Increase 8 to 9%
4.  Avoidable Readmissions Cost CMS More than 17 Billion Each Year.
5.  Nurses in England Complain of Under Staffing in 75% of Patients.
6.  State of Maine MRSA Hospital Surveillance Data on High Risk Patients. 
    

Sep. 2011 - Newsletter - Issue 2

1.  Consumer Advocates Call for Transparency in Hospital Accreditation Process
2.  Alcohol Wipes may not be Effective in Controlling C. Diff and Norovirus
3.  Checklists Save lives and Money
4.  Tennessee Reports Decrease in CLBSI Associated with Public Reporting
5.  OIG Reports Hospitals are Not Effective in Capturing Adverse Events
6.  CDDEP finds CA-MRSA growing in percentage along with the total number of MRSA.    
7.  The Number of US Uninsured Grows to 49.9 Million  
 

Sep. 2011 - Newsletter

1.  HW USA and over 50 Consumer and Consumer Organizations Call For Repeal of the Federal Law Prohibiting the Release of Hospital Accreditation Surveys.
2.  Poor Reporting in Patient Safety Organizations
3.  MRSA Skin Infections on the Rise
4.  C. Difficile Infections are More Common in the Elderly.
5.  70% of Central Line Infections Occur Within the Maintenance Period. 
4.  Vertical and Horizontal Healthcare Integration May be Causing an Increase in CMS and Healthcare Costs
6.  US Infant Mortality Rate is Higher Than 40 Other Countries      
    

Aug. 2011 - Newsletter

1.  Comment on MRSA Surveillance Cultures Published in JACS
2.  Healthcare Reform - Costing More and Covering Less People
3.  Patient Toll of Hospital Acquired Infections
4.  IOM rules Under Attack
5.  Physician Shortage Projected to be as Much as 25%.
6.  Medicare Proposes Cutting Physician Fess by 29.5% and Some Imaging Fees by 50%.     
    

July 2011 - Newsletter Issue 2

1.  Hospitals Run by Doctors Have 25% Better Quality
2.  Funding for Antibiotic Resistance is Low
3.  Angioplasties Reported to be Overused
4.  Wrong Site Surgery Takes Place 40 times a Week
5.  CDC Published Outpatient Infection Prevention Guidelines
6.  Chantix may Increase Cardiovascular Risk
7.  Full Disclosure Lowers Malpractice Costs
8.  Medicare's Policy of Non-Payment of Healthcare Acquired Conditions.