Consumers for Quality Care on LinkedIn: Tennessee Hospital Monopoly Falling Short on Quality  | Consumers for… (2024)

In 2021, Ballad Health - a 20-hospital system serving the Appalachian Highlands in Northeast Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, Northwest North Carolina and Southeast Kentucky - reported an average of 4 hour emergency department length of stay for admitted patients. In 2022, ED length of stay for admissions increased t0 6 hours. In 2023, 7.5 hours. So far this year? Almost 11 hours! How did this happen? The KFF Health News article by Brett Kelman and Samantha Liss points to Ballad’s state-certified monopoly status. “Ballad Health was formed in 2018 after state officials approved the nation’s biggest hospital merger based on a so-called Certificate of Public Advantage, or COPA, agreement. COPAs have been used in about 10 hospital mergers over the past three decades, but none has involved as many hospitals as Ballad’s.State lawmakers in Tennessee and Virginia waived federal anti-monopoly laws so rival hospital systems — Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System — could merge into a single company with no competition. Ballad is now the only option for hospital care for most of about 1.1 million residents in a 29-county region at the nexus of Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina.”After seeing the effects this monopoly has had on the community, Tennessee lawmakers are looking into ways to ensure future COPAs aren’t allowed to pass in the state. From state Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville): “It’s just been a nightmare for community members out there. And they have no other option.”Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gdEdWM3i

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For all the Houstonians out there....Do you enjoy going to your Kelsey Seybold Clinic?Have you be curious about the Kelsey Seybold Clinic?Get care at over 35 Kelsey-Seybold Clinic locations throughout Houston and surrounding areas.Medical plan coverage offered by UnitedHealthcare of Texas, Inc. Administrative Services provided by United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates. Copay Focus plans are offered in partnership between UnitedHealthcare and Kelsey-Seybold in Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston and Brazoria counties. Care received outside of Kelsey-Seybold Clinic may not be covered unless approved in advance. For cost shares and complete details of coverage, log in to your online account at myuhc.com/exchange.Unless otherwise required, virtual care benefits are available only when services are delivered through a designated Kelsey-Seybold provider. Virtual care visits are not intended to address emergency or life-threatening medical conditions and should not be used in those circ*mstances. Services may not be available at all times, or in all locations, or for all members. Check your benefit plan to determine if these services are available. Data rates may apply. Certain prescriptions may not be available and other restrictions may apply. #houston #houstontx #kelseyseybold #healthmarketstx

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#ICYMI - Our President and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Mutterer, RN, MA, LCPC, CADC, LNHA, had an insightful conversation with Scott Slocum yesterday morning on 1340 WJOL radio's "Slocum in the Morning." "We're really focused on quality and patient safety. That's clearly #1 for us," said Michael. "But (we're) also looking at access, we know that we've got to continue to improve our access in not only our Emergency Department, but really all areas of access for healthcare are important. We want to make it as easy as possible to access healthcare, access our physicians, and access our Silver Cross brand." Tune in get to know more about Michael and hear the great things in store for Silver Cross Hospital! https://lnkd.in/gQ74wxby

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Listen Here: https://lnkd.in/geAZ4254This episode features Paige Twenter, Assistant Editor, Becker's Hospital Review. Here, she discusses Kaiser Permanente pharmacy workers in Oregon and Washington planning to strike for three weeks in October, a proposed law in California that would require corporate chain pharmacies to report all medication errors, and more.For more information about Becker's Healthcare, please contact Jessica Cole or Scott Becker.#podcast #womensleadership #healthcarenews

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Listen Here: https://lnkd.in/g7y9NMywThis episode features Paige Twenter, Assistant Editor, Becker's Hospital Review. Here, she discusses Kaiser Permanente pharmacy workers in Oregon and Washington planning to strike for three weeks in October, a proposed law in California that would require corporate chain pharmacies to report all medication errors, and more.For more information about Becker's Healthcare, please contact Jessica Cole or Scott Becker.#podcast #womensleadership #healthcarenews

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Congratulations to the 29 hospitals who earned an “A” on the #TheLeapfrogGroup’s Hospital Safety Grade in TENNESSEE! Special congratulations to the hospitals that have earned an “A” since 2020: #TristarHorizonMedicalCenter #TriStarSouthernHillsMedicalCenter#MethodistLeBonheurGermantown #TristarCentennialMedicalCenterOne of the driving forces behind #HealthCareTN is our mission of building value-based healthcare markets for our employer members and local communities.This is why, as the Tennessee Regional leader for #TheLeapfrogGroup, #HealthCareTN works across the state to collect, analyze, and publicly report the performance of healthcare providers.#TheLeapfrogGroup’s fall 2023 Hospital Safety Grade assigned a grade to over 3,000 U.S. hospitals on their ability to protect patients from medical errors, injuries, accidents and infections. You can see how your hospital performed on patient safety here: https://lnkd.in/eG9tQeh#HospitalSafetyGrade, #HCTransparency, #MedErrors, #patientsafety, #ptsafety

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The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) posted this story but what are they doing to rectify the issue?- Placing supervision requirements for their training pathways onto practices?- Offering a Fellowship Support Program every 6 months to commence 6 months after the doctor applies? - Expecting overseas doctors eligible for the Specialist Stream to arrive in Australia and wait up to 12 weeks for paperwork processing before they can commence?- Declining applications for PEP Specialist comparability with no clarity on feedback or consideration for individual circ*mstances?Is it a fair call to say that RACGP are not addressing the situation but rather nodding in agreeance with everyone from the sidelines?Should we let them know that they are the ones who can implement positive changes?

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🌐Learn about CAREpoint 3 from our Midwest Regional Manager, Christine Laking, BSN, RN, EMT-P. In this video she introduces CAREpoint 3, outlining the common issues it can address. Watch to discover insights from the expert on:-The benefits for hospitals with the latest generation of CAREpoint 3. -Challenges in the Emergency Department and how GD's solutions can provide effective resolutions.-The impact of CAREpoint 3 on enhancing patient care. #carecoordination #EDWorkFlow #HospitalValue📋Discover CAREpoint 3 today: https://lnkd.in/e3ufjXyv

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In the News: The August 2023 Kaufman Hall National Hospital Flash Report, based on July data from more than 1,300 hospitals, reveals financial performance worsened across both operating margins and patient volumes.Read the report here: https://hubs.li/Q020Q4hY0#healthcarefinance #healthcarerevenue #healthcarerevenuerecovery #healthcarercm #complexclaims #motorvehicleaccident #workerscompensation #veteransaffairs #outofstatemedicaid #agedar #underpaymentrecovery #denialsresolution #denialsprevention #clinicaldenials #technicaldenials #complexrcm

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We just caught up with Braxton Jett on the pulse of the MGMA Alabama conference he attended last week, and wow, did he have some great insight! Check out his key takeaways: 💬 #RPM was a hot topic in conversations among speakers and attendees.🔍Althoughthere was a lot of discussion on RPM and #preventivecare among speakers and attendees, these innovations were hardly seen among the event's vendors.🌱Financial Viability + Patient Experience: There was a significant presence of primary care providers at the event. The majority of the conversation among independent #primarycare providers revolved around staying financially solvent, thinking outside the box to drive revenue, and creating a positive experience for patients.If you're on the lookout for new ways to bring in revenue and elevate patient care, look no further. Learn more here athttps://lnkd.in/dUaJiQQ

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