Health
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Robinson Rancheria Resort, Casino & Bingo has donated $5,500 to St. Helena Hospital’s new emergency department.
“We are proud to support our community health care needs in Lake County,” said Robinson Rancheria Tribal Council Member Kim Fernandez. “Contributing to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake’s new Emergency Department will be a tremendous benefit to Lake County residents. Robinson Rancheria continues to support to Lake County in the areas of health care, community and education.”
The new emergency department at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake is being built from the ground up at a budgeted cost of $12.1 million.
Adventist Health has provided $9 million, but in order to complete this project, the hospital is seeking community funding in the amount of $3 million.
Redbud Health Care District has generously contributed $1 million, Rotary Club of Clearlake has pledged $25,000, hospital employees have provided $150,000 to date and generous members of our community, such as Robinson Rancheria Resort Casino & Bingo, are pledging and giving as well.
Naming opportunities are available. If you are interested in learning more or making a donation, please contact our St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake Development Office at 707-995-5678.
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- Written by: Editor
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Thursday announced that more states are moving forward to implement the health care law and establishing Health Insurance Marketplaces.
HHS conditionally approved Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, and West Virginia to operate state partnership marketplaces, which will be ready for open enrollment in October 2013.
“HHS will continue to work collaboratively with all states to build the marketplace,” Secretary Sebelius said. “Working together, we will be ready in seven months when consumers will be able to use the new marketplace to easily purchase quality, affordable health insurance plans.”
Thursday’s conditional approvals bring the total number of states that have been conditionally approved to partially or fully run their marketplace to 24 states and the District of Columbia.
In addition, several other states have suggested their own approaches to contributing toward plan management in their marketplace in 2014.
HHS will continue to provide all states with the flexibility, resources, and time needed to support the establishment of the new health insurance marketplace.
Consumers in every state will soon be able to buy insurance from qualified health plans directly through a marketplace and may be eligible for premium tax credits and cost sharing assistance to help lower their costs.
These health plans will ensure consumers have the same kinds of valuable insurance choices as members of Congress, and cannot be denied coverage because of a preexisting condition.
For more information on the new health insurance marketplace, visit www.healthcare.gov/marketplace/ .
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Physicians at Sutter Lakeside Hospital announced their new 2013 Medical Executive Committee officers at the physician holiday party on January 5, 2013.
Anesthesiologist Dr. Fred Johnson is the hospital’s new chief of staff, and will serve in this position for two years.
Cardiologist Dr. Bradley Clair is the vice chief of staff, hospitalist Dr. James Pretorious is the chief of medicine, Dr. Keith Donald was reelected as the chief of surgery, anesthesiologist Dr. Christopher Fossaceca is the secretary/treasurer and orthopedist Dr. Paul Axtell and family medicine physician Dr. Shobana Vankipuram will serve as members-at-large.
The Medical Executive Committee is the governing body of the medical staff and is accountable for the overall medical quality and care delivered to patients in the hospital.
At the holiday party, new Chief of Staff Dr. Fred Johnson thanked outgoing Chief of Staff Dr. Vivek Reddy, for his service, stating, “Every once in a while, we’re not just in the pack, but we lead the pack.”
In accepting a plaque from the physicians, Dr. Reddy responded, “To me, the most rewarding part of my job is to know that I made a difference in people’s lives. Being the chief of staff at Sutter Lakeside has only increased my passion for our small hospital that does such good work.”
Dr. Johnson also paused to recognize Dr. Bunchong Kosolcharoen, known as Dr. Tony. “Dr. Tony, director of our Intensive Care Unit and one of our eICU physicians, was elected by hospital staff as our ‘Physician of the Year,’ and we really appreciate him.”
Dr. Johnson introduced new general surgeon, Dr. Albert Wankel, to the group and welcomed back Vice President of Medical Affairs Dr. Diane Pege.
Dr. Alan Sampson, Dr. Paula Dhanda, Dr. Paul Axtell and Dr. Vernetta Johnson were recognized and honored for their philanthropic service abroad.
Dr. Reddy and Dr. Axtell provided a phone consult to Dr. Dhanda while she was helping a patient overseas in the Republic of Chad. Dr. Johnson ended the evening by reminding his fellow physicians, “We can easily get tunnel vision regarding health care and our place in that paradigm. However, every now and then something happens that reminds us that what we do each day is truly important in the lives of our patients. Lake County may be one of the five poorest counties in California, but that should never detract each of us from working to make the health care delivery here second to none. Sutter Health has partnered with our community to make our hospital one in which we can all be proud. I am certain that partnership will continue to flourish well into this century and beyond.”
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- Written by: Editor
KANSAS CITY, Mo. and ROSEVILLE, Calif. – Adventist Health announced it will transition responsibility for its revenue management services to Cerner Corp. (Nasdaq: CERN).
The health system’s hospitals, clinics and home health services represent more than $2.7 billion of annual revenue.
This strategic alignment between Cerner and Adventist Health expands on the 2012 selection of Cerner to provide an integrated revenue cycle platform across Adventist Health’s acute, ambulatory and post-acute venues.
The new agreement covers the transition of Adventist Health’s revenue management services to Cerner to improve end-to-end revenue management across the entire Adventist Health organization.
Adventist Health made a strategic decision in 2012 to standardize, modernize and consolidate its system-wide revenue management functions and sought out Cerner because of Cerner’s ability to marry technology with people and business processes.
“To achieve this goal, we are teaming up with Cerner to create an innovative approach for our revenue cycle operations. This expanded partnership builds upon our decade-plus relationship with Cerner and allows us to leverage a single platform, ensure consistency in our revenue management operations, and reach top quartile – or better – performance in the industry,” said Robert Carmen, president and chief executive officer of Adventist Health. “Our patients, communities and employees will benefit by this shared vision that advances the quality of care and improves the patient experience.”
The partnership also will focus on decreasing variability and driving best practices through the standardization of revenue management technologies and business processes, as well as fostering iscovery and innovation on Adventist Health’s journey to population health.
Ultimately, this alignment allows for continuous innovation of software and revenue management workflows to address both current and future reimbursement models.
“The landscape of health care and our country’s current delivery system, payment mechanisms and regulatory footprint are undergoing a dramatic change that will challenge providers in ways never imagined even a few short years ago,” said Neal Patterson, co-founder, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Cerner. “Adventist Health is a leader in the health care industry. We look forward to serving as their strategic advisor as they face new challenges and innovate for new models of health care.”
Cerner and Adventist Health have partnered for more than 10 years to advance the quality of care and improve patient experience through technology and services.
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- Written by: Editor