Ilene MacDonald
FierceHealth
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Past articles by Ilene:
It’s official: Longtime AIDS researcher Robert R. Redfield, M.D., to lead Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Despite allegations that he oversaw shoddy HIV research 20 years ago, Robert R. Redfield, M.D., will become the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services, praised Redfield’s lifelong dedication to public health and his compassionate care to patients. → Read More
Feds cite University of Maryland hospital for patient rights violations over patient dumping case captured in viral video
The University of Maryland Medical Center violated a patient’s rights as well as several patient safety regulations when staff at the Midtown Campus discharged the woman in only her hospital gown on a cold January evening, according to a federal investigation. Among the violations: failure to discharge the patient in a safe manner and failure to protect the patient from harassment and potential… → Read More
VA head David Shulkin’s job hangs by a thread; Trump eyes Rick Perry as possible replacement
President Donald Trump reportedly feels that Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, M.D., has become a distraction and is considering replacing him with Energy Secretary Rick Perry. Trump met with Perry on Monday but did not formally offer him the position. → Read More
The key drivers behind U.S. healthcare spending may surprise you
A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association confirms that the United States still spends more than any other country on healthcare, while its citizens live shorter lives. But the common explanations for the reasons that costs are so high may be wrong. → Read More
GOP lawmaker calls on Trump to fire VA Secretary David Shulkin
The troubles are far from over for Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., has renewed his call for Shulkin to resign in the wake of an inspector general report that found the VA head misused taxpayer money to partially fund a trip to Europe this summer. → Read More
Cleveland Clinic’s new CEO Tom Mihaljevic aims to make the system ‘the safest place in healthcare, anywhere’
Cleveland Clinic President and CEO Tom Milhaljevic said that while the system reduced readmissions, improved care coordination and increased hand-washing among caregivers in 2017, it needs to take patient safety initiatives further. “Hospital-acquired infections and serious safety events should never happen,” he said. “We will bring those to zero.” → Read More
Lifespan in talks with Partners, Care New England about merger
Partners HealthCare and Care New England merger plans may include another healthcare system. The two organizations announced they have approached Lifespan—the largest hospital system in Rhode Island—and will begin a “formal discussion” to explore how all three healthcare providers can work together. → Read More
Bon Secours, Mercy Health to merge and create fifth largest Catholic health system in the U.S.
Bon Secours Health System, a not-for-profit Catholic health system with operations in Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and New York, intends to merge with Mercy Health, a Catholic Health ministry in Ohio and Kentucky. Together, the two organizations will create a Catholic health system with $8 billion in net operating revenue and $293 million in operating income. → Read More
Bon Secours, Mercy Health to merge and create fifth largest Catholic health system in the U.S.
Bon Secours Health System, a not-for-profit Catholic health system with operations in Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and New York, intends to merge with Mercy Health, a Catholic Health ministry in Ohio and Kentucky. Together, the two organizations will create a Catholic health system with $8 billion in net operating revenue and $293 million in operating income. → Read More
Veterans groups rally around VA Secretary David Shulkin in wake of ethics violation, internal turmoil within agency
Veterans groups say Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, M.D., has their full support, despite allegations he and his staff misused taxpayers’ money to pay for a European trip and amid reports that political appointees within the agency may be trying to push him out. Among his supporters: The Veterans of Foreign War, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and AMVET. → Read More
Veterans groups rally around VA Secretary David Shulkin in wake of ethics violation, internal turmoil within agency
Veterans groups say Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, M.D., has their full support, despite allegations he and his staff misused taxpayers’ money to pay for a European trip and amid reports that political appointees within the agency may be trying to push him out. Among his supporters: The Veterans of Foreign War, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and AMVET. → Read More
Mayo Clinic’s John Noseworthy to retire; search begins for new CEO
Mayo Clinic’s longtime president and CEO John Noseworthy, M.D., will retire at the end of 2018, and the world-renowned organization will soon begin a search for his replacement. The organization announced Noseworthy’s planned retirement along with its performance report for 2017, which leaders describe as one of its strongest years in quality, safety, education and clinical practice. → Read More
Female surgeons, nurses, residents often face harassment in healthcare industry but may soon fight back
The widespread misconduct toward and sexual harassment of women who work in hospitals and other healthcare settings has been such a longtime part of the culture of medicine that many say they either laugh it off or accept it as part of their jobs. But the #MeToo movement may soon hit healthcare, and women will come out in force to push back against the mistreatment. → Read More
VA head Shulkin to reimburse disputed European travel expenses, but Dems call for hearing over controversy
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, M.D., says he will reimburse travel expenses that were the subject of an internal investigation into a trip he took to Europe this summer, but that may not put an end to the controversy. One lawmaker has called for Shulkin’s resignation, and four Democrats have requested a hearing about the trip. → Read More
HHS Secretary Alex Azar goes before House panel to defend health program cuts in Trump’s proposed FY19 budget
Newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told the House Committee on Ways and Means Wednesday morning that the Trump administration’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2019 makes significant and strategic investment in health programs, boosting discretionary spending by 11% and increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration by… → Read More
HHS Secretary Alex Azar goes before House panel to defend health program cuts in Trump’s proposed FY19 budget
Newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told the House Committee on Ways and Means Wednesday morning that the Trump administration’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2019 makes significant and strategic investment in health programs, boosting discretionary spending by 11% and increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration by… → Read More
HHS Secretary Alex Azar goes before House panel to defend health program cuts in Trump’s proposed FY19 budget
Newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told the House Committee on Ways and Means Wednesday morning that the Trump administration’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2019 makes significant and strategic investment in health programs, boosting discretionary spending by 11% and increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health and Food and Drug Administration by… → Read More
Trump signs $400B budget deal that funds healthcare programs, reopens government after overnight shutdown
A brief, overnight government shutdown came to an end Friday morning when President Donald Trump signed a $400 billion, two-year, bipartisan budget deal that includes funding for several major healthcare programs, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program, community health centers and initiatives to combat the opioid crisis. → Read More
Trump signs $400B budget deal that funds healthcare programs, reopens government after overnight shutdown
A brief, overnight government shutdown came to an end Friday morning when President Donald Trump signed a $400 billion, two-year, bipartisan budget deal that includes funding for several major healthcare programs, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program, community health centers and initiatives to combat the opioid crisis. → Read More
Trump signs $400B budget deal that funds healthcare programs, reopens government after overnight shutdown
A brief, overnight government shutdown came to an end Friday morning when President Donald Trump signed a $400 billion, two-year, bipartisan budget deal that includes funding for several major healthcare programs, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program, community health centers and initiatives to combat the opioid crisis. → Read More