Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
The jury attributed 88% of the fault to the University of Kansas Hospital Authority and 12% of the fault to LivaNova USA Inc., the medtech company that manufactured the device that was used in Stephen Nolte’s heart surgery at KU Med. This is one of more than two dozen lawsuits filed against the University of Kansas Hospital Authority and LivaNova, the Kansas City Star reports.
Kansas City Star:
Jury Awards $7.65 Million In Deadly KU Med Infection Case
A Wyandotte County jury on Tuesday awarded $7.65 million in damages to the wife and son of a Raytown man who the family alleged contracted a fatal infection from a contaminated device used during his heart surgery at KU Med. (Thomas, 4/28)
More healthcare industry updates —
Pioneer Press:
West Suburban Medical Center Staff Detail Poor Conditions
When Sallanshell Wilson saw a family member of one of her patients walking down a lengthy hall at West Suburban Medical Center with a cane, she noticed that every few steps the woman slouched to the right. At that moment, Wilson thought, “If she had a walker, that will keep her more stable and possibly prevent her from falling,” she said. Wilson, a former registered nurse at the hospital, took it upon herself to buy a walker for the woman, paying for it out of her own pocket. (Hardy, 4/28)
Chicago Tribune:
Defendant Who Allegedly Shot Chicago Cops At Hospital Back In Court
The last time Alphanso Talley came before Judge John Lyke, things seemed to be going well. Talley was on electronic monitoring after being paroled in January from the Illinois Department of Corrections, where he’d been serving sentences for aggravated battery to a police officer and possession of a stolen vehicle. He also had a pair of cases pending for alleged carjacking and armed robbery, records show. (Kubzansky and Charles, 4/28)
North Carolina Health News:
Atrium Board Schedules Long Closed Meeting
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority board has scheduled a special meeting for today with four hours set aside for a closed session, an unusually long stretch of private discussion for a public body. (Crouch, 4/29)
Modern Healthcare:
Bayada, Compassus Forge Hospital Home Health Joint Ventures
Health systems are teaming with outside operators in a bid to make their home health units more financially viable. About 8% to 10% of patients discharged from the hospital need home health services such as wound care, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. For many health systems, though, home care isn’t meaningfully contributing to the bottom line: The units typically account for only about 3% of overall revenues, said Tom Lillis, a post-acute care consultant with mergers and acquisitions advisory firm Stoneridge Partners. (Eastabrook, 4/28)
The CT Mirror:
Bristol Hospital Aims To Finalize UConn Deal By January
A deal for the University of Connecticut Health Center to take over Bristol Hospital is on track to be finalized by December or January, the hospital’s CEO Kurt Barwis said. (Golvala, 4/28)
St. Louis Public Radio:
SIUE Completes New $117M Health Sciences Complex
The renovation and construction of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s new $117.4 million health sciences building has been completed, the university said Tuesday. The more than 172,000-square-foot facility, which will hold both pharmacy and nursing schools, will provide new classrooms, laboratories, study areas and administrative offices. (Bauer, 4/28)
Modern Healthcare:
Inside Mayo Clinic Platform’s Accelerator Program For Startups
Early detection of chronic diseases, reducing surgical risk and care transition coordination are just a few of the complex challenges the latest group of startups in Mayo Clinic Platform’s accelerator program are tackling. Since its 2022 launch, Mayo Clinic Platform_Accelerate, the program for emerging digital health companies, has featured about 100 companies. OpenEvidence, the well-funded, AI-powered clinical decision support platform, is one of the successful companies that was part of the program. (Famakinwa, 4/28)
Stat:
New Report On Closing Health Disparities Finds Fragile Gains
A report released Wednesday highlights successes in reducing health disparities in U.S. states. Since the last iteration of the analysis by the Commonwealth Fund, two states expanded eligibility for Medicaid, many states extended postpartum coverage for mothers, and enrollment in Affordable Care Act marketplace plans increased at an unprecedented clip. (Oza, 4/29)
