Augusta Health names new vice president and chief legal officer
(Augusta Health – May 3, 2024)

Augusta Health announced its newest senior-level executive, Timothy Norton, as Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, effective April 30. He will succeed Jean Veilleux, who will retire in July after four years of dedicated service to Augusta Health. Norton joins Augusta Health from Health First, a $2 billion health system in Melbourne, Florida, where he served as Vice President and Deputy Chief Legal Counsel. Before his time at Health First, Norton served as Assistant General Counsel for WellSpan Health in York, Pennsylvania. “I am pleased to welcome Tim to the Augusta Health family,” said Mary N. Mannix, President and CEO of Augusta Health. “Tim’s profound understanding of healthcare legal and regulatory affairs will be valuable to our team as we navigate the evolving regulatory landscape.”

Chief Nursing Officer selected for VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital
(VCU Health – May 2, 2024)

After a national search, L’Andrea McLaughlin, RN, DNP, CMSRN, CSSLGB, has been selected to serve as the chief nursing officer (CNO) for VCU Health Tappahannock Hospital. McLaughlin has been the interim CNO for Tappahannock Hospital since January 2024. Her official appointment to the position was effective April 28. With more than 20 years of nursing experience, McLaughlin started her nursing career at the bedside and progressed to nursing leadership over her accomplished career. Her clinical experience includes providing care in correctional facilities, emergency medicine, medicine-surgery progressive care and ambulatory care.

Clinch Valley Medical Center Awarded ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from Leapfrog Group
(Clinch Valley Health – May 3, 2024)

Clinch Valley Medical Center received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. This national distinction celebrates Clinch Valley Medical Center’s achievements in protecting hospital patients from preventable harm and errors. “We are very pleased with this high mark, which places Clinch Valley Medical Center among the top tier of hospitals across the country when it comes to patient safety,” said Peter Mulkey, Clinch Valley Health CEO. “I would like to extend my personal gratitude to every member of our team from our nurses, clinical and ancillary staff to our physicians, board members and volunteers for their ongoing commitment to quality care and patient safety.”

Family and diversity inspire Sheila Hernández-Rubio on her path toward medicine and community
(VCU Health – May 2, 2024)

Sheila Hernández-Rubio grew up in Stafford County as a first-generation immigrant, and as a child that meant translating for her parents – from filling out legal documents to acting as an interpreter at medical appointments. “I always knew that I either wanted to become a doctor or a lawyer, just because of how I was raised and the things that I saw growing up,” Hernández-Rubio said. “So from the jump, I was like, I’m gonna do this because I have the privilege of being able to speak English and Spanish and being able to understand my culture while navigating the U.S.”

Pilot program improves well-being of families during advanced care planning
(Children’s National Hospital – May 3, 2024)

Children with life-limiting rare diseases and their caregivers face tremendous stress and anxiety about the heart-breaking decisions before them. A new intervention – designed at Children’s National Hospital to support the palliative needs of these families – improved their spiritual and emotional well-being, according to new research published in the journal, Pediatrics. Called FACE Rare (FAmily CEntered Pediatric Advance Care Planning Intervention for Rare Diseases), the counseling tools were found to be safe, effective and increased feelings of peace among families in this underserved population.

Psychiatrist vs. psychologist vs. therapist: What is right for me?
(Bon Secours – May 2, 2024)

Seeking mental health support is a brave and sometimes daunting thing to do. Recognizing you need help is the first step, but how do you determine the best fit for your needs? Let’s compare the differences between a psychiatrist vs. psychologist vs. therapist first so you can better decide which is the right provider for you. A great place to start in your journey to mental health is your primary care provider. Your primary care physician or health care provider can provide referrals to mental health specialists or prescribe medication if needed. Additionally, mental health issues can lead to physical health problems, such as how chronic stress can lead to long-term conditions and even change your digestion process. But it’s important to understand the differences between the types of mental health providers that are available.

Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg Opens MOB In Virginia
(Healthcare Design – May 2, 2024)

Integrated health system Riverside Health (Williamsburg, Va.) has opened a new medical office building (MOB) on the campus of Riverside Doctors’ Hospital Williamsburg, in Williamsburg, Va. The new facility houses medical offices for physical therapy, orthopedics, internal medicine, endocrinology, pulmonology, women’s health, and vascular surgery, according to a news release.

Smith receives RGH Associate of the Month after lab award
(News on the Neck – May 2, 2024)

Bon Secours Rappahannock General Hospital announced Oneita Smith as RGH Non-Clinical Associate of the Month for March. Smith is a lab assistant in the RGH Laboratory. She’s been with RGH for almost seven years. The award demonstrates recognition by an associate’s colleagues for their hard work and commitment to the ministry of Bon Secours and the good help being provided at Rappahannock General Hospital.

Wythe County Community Hospital HOPE Packs Project
(Wythe County Community Hospital – May 3, 2024)

Wythe County Community Hospital team members gathered and packed over 900 Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence (HOPE) packs this week. WCCH staff proudly volunteers to help with HOPE Packs each month. HOPE Packs provides weekly supplemental food to any student within Wythe and the surrounding counties of Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, and the City of Galax. Way to go, WCCH! #MakingCommunitiesHealthier

California Regulator Adopts Rule to Restrain Health Care Costs
(California Health Care Foundation – May 2, 2024)

You won’t notice it right away, but a new California state agency took a major step last week toward reining in the seemingly uncontrollable costs of health care. The Office of Health Care Affordability approved the state’s first cap on health industry spending increases, limiting growth to 3% by 2029. This means that hospitals, doctors and health insurers will need to find ways to cut costs to prevent annual per capita spending from exceeding the target. Between 2015 and 2020, per capita health spending in California grew more than 5% each year, according to federal data.

Many states are eager to extend Medicaid to people soon to be released from prison
(Stateline – May 2, 2024)

A new policy that allows states to provide Medicaid health care coverage to incarcerated people at least a month prior to their release has drawn bipartisan interest and a slew of state applications. Federal policy has long prohibited Medicaid spending on people who are incarcerated in jails or prisons, except for hospitalization. As a result, when people are released, they typically don’t have health insurance and many struggle to find health care providers and get needed treatment. In a population that is disproportionately likely to have chronic conditions such as heart disease and substance use disorders, that can be deadly.

Bird flu’s big question: What’s driving its spread
(Axios – May 3, 2024)

The bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle that’s swept across nine U.S. states is posing perplexing questions about how the virus is spreading between animals and the risk posed to humans. Detecting viral spread early and limiting how long the flu circulates in a population of animals cuts the odds it will mutate and adapt to other species. The fact that the virus has infected a range of animals and is already in more than 30 herds — and the resulting potential for contact with humans and other animals — has public health experts’ radar up.

Cancer Supertests Are Here
(The Atlantic – May 2, 2024)

It takes a certain amount of confidence to call your biotech company Grail. According to its website, the Menlo Park–based firm got its name because its “co-founders believed a simple blood test could be the ‘holy GRAIL’ of cancer detection.” Now the company claims that its “first-of-its-kind” screening tool, called Galleri, “redefines what’s possible.” At the cost of a needle stick and $949, the company can check your blood for more than 50 forms of cancer all at once.

Covid lessons remain unlearned as avian flu infects cattle, hospitals say
(Politico – May 3, 2024)

Hospital leaders say the health system won’t be ready if the avian flu that’s infected American dairy cattle becomes widespread among humans. In discussing a hypothetical scenario, the hospitals have struck a different tone than the Biden administration. It says the risk is currently low to most people and that agencies are closely monitoring for any sign of danger to Americans. Still, hospital officials told POLITICO they’re dismayed that they don’t feel better prepared, just four years after Covid-19 caught them unawares. They’re not confident that the health care system — including the government agencies that have wound down Covid responses — can avoid the missteps around tests, bed space and communication that plagued the last public health emergency, should this strain of flu, H5N1, become more of a threat.

It may be safe for some to wait 15 years for repeat colonoscopy, study suggests
(NBC News – May 2, 2024)

New research suggests patients with an average risk of colon cancer may only need to undergo a colonoscopy screening every 15 years instead of the recommended 10. Swedish researchers found that waiting an extra five years after a first negative colonoscopy carried about the same risk of later having a colorectal diagnosis or dying from the disease as getting screened every 10 years. Extending screening time could reduce “unnecessary invasive examinations,” according to the study published Thursday in JAMA Oncology. Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S. and the second most deadly behind lung cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends that screening begin at age 45 for people who don’t have a family history of colorectal cancer or other risk factors, such as inflammatory bowel disease.

Biden expands ObamaCare to ‘Dreamers’
(The Hill – May 3, 2024)

The Biden administration announced a rule Friday morning that will allow certain “Dreamers” to access the ObamaCare marketplace. Under the rule, active recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) will be eligible to enroll in a qualified health plan or a basic health plan under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and some forms of financial assistance. “This final rule reflects the president’s key commitment to protecting ‘Dreamers’ and DACA recipients. He is focused on providing them with the support they need to thrive and reach their fullest potential,” Neera Tanden, director of the Domestic Policy Council, told reporters Thursday.

CDC: Hospitals no longer required to report COVID-19 data
(Healthcare Finance News – May 3, 2024)

Beginning Wednesday, hospitals are no longer required to report COVID-19 hospital admissions, hospital capacity, or hospital occupancy data to the Department of Health and Human Services, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To date, hospitals had reported the data to HHS through the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network. While hospitals are no longer required to submit the data, the CDC is still encouraging them to do so voluntarily. Data voluntarily reported to NHSN after May 1 will be available starting May 10 at COVID Data Tracker Hospitalizations.

Lawmakers unlikely to permanently extend telehealth flexibilities this year
(STAT News – May 3, 2024)

Members of Congress appear poised to advance another short-term extension of pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities instead of permanently addressing the issue, seven sources familiar with the talks said. During the Covid-19 pandemic, lawmakers allowed Medicare patients to access telehealth services in more places and with a greater variety of providers than before, but some of those flexibilities are set to expire at the end of the year. The expiration is expected to be an impetus for a broader health care package in December, when other public health programs also run out.

Senate Finance Committee introduces legislation aimed at fixing drug shortages
(The Hill – May 3, 2024)

The Senate Finance Committee introduced bipartisan legislation Friday aimed at preventing and reducing generic drug shortages by leveraging Medicare and Medicaid programs. The draft legislation proposes the creation of a “Medicare Drug Shortage Prevention and Mitigation Program” that would encourage improved contracting and purchasing practices in the drug supply chain. The program would begin in 2027, according to the committee. The provisions would include requiring Medicare participants to adopt “new standards for supply chain resiliency, reliability, and transparency” for generic drug purchasing in order to receive Medicare payment incentives.

U.S. intelligence chief warns Congress of rise in cyberattacks
(CNBC – May 2, 2024)

The number of ransomware attacks worldwide grew as much as 74% in the past year, according to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. Haines said U.S. entities were the most heavily targeted in 2023, with attacks in sectors such as healthcare doubling from the prior year. The intelligence chief also said they have seen a sharp increase in attacks on control systems for critical infrastructure but added that there are several ways for entities to prevent being targeted.