November 14, 2019 | When the CIO becomes the patient

November 14, 2019

INDUSTRY NEWS

KP names EVP Gregory Adams interim CEO and chair

Kaiser Permanente Chief Executive Bernard Tyson, 60, died unexpectedly Sunday. The company has tapped Gregory Adams, an executive vice president and group president, as interim CEO and chairman. Expressing sympathy and respect, the National Union of Healthcare Workers postponed its planned five-day strike in California. It would have involved 4,000 of the company’s behavioral health workers. Under Tyson’s leadership, Kaiser Permanente expanded into medical education and new markets. (Wall Street Journal; Sacramento Bee)

Role of pharmacy chains in opioid epidemic

Five pharmacy chains ordered 33 billion pills containing oxycodone and hydrocodone from 2006 through 2012. That’s almost half of the prescription pain pills distributed in the United States, according to a Washington Post analysis. Walgreens topped the list; most chain pharmacies used wholesalers to supply prescription opioids, but Walgreens obtained 97% directly from drug manufacturers. “By acting as its own distributor, Walgreens took on the responsibility of alerting the DEA to suspicious orders by its own pharmacies and stopping those shipments,” the Post reports. The investigation package includes statements from the five chains. (Washington Post; statements)

INNOVATION & TRANSFORMATION

Most hospitals earn A or B from Leapfrog

The Fall 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade report has been released. Of the 2,600 hospitals included, 33% earned an “A,” 25% earned a “B,” 34% earned a “C,” 8% a “D” and just under 1% an “F.” The three states with the highest percentages of “A” hospitals are Maine (59%), Utah (56%) and Virginia (56%). Leapfrog points out that 36 hospitals have achieved an “A” in every grading update since the launch of the Safety Grade in spring 2012. Hospitals often dispute the methodologies used to produce such rankings, Healthcare Dive notes. Part of the problem is that outcomes vary widely, which can be confusing to consumers. (Leapfrog; Healthcare Dive)

When the CIO becomes the patient

Mayo Clinic Chief Information Officer Cris Ross learned firsthand how technology affects patients and providers. It wasn’t always a positive learning experience. He discussed his experience with MedCity News Editor-in-Chief Arundhati Parmar at the recent HLTH conference, talking about the lessons he learned from his experience as a stage 3 colorectal cancer patient. For instance, Mayo had just launched a new EHR system. He watched physicians struggle; it made him “cringe,” he said. Now he plans to focus on improvements, including simplifying documentation. (MedCity News)

CONSUMERS & PROVIDERS

Most terminal cancer patients receive low-value services

Despite recommendations to the contrary, more than half of patients with terminal cancer continue to receive intensive medical services at the end of life, according to research published in JAMA. In the last year of life, these patients experience a disproportionate share of medical spending. Many of these services are not linked to better outcomes and are associated with poorer quality of life. “Given the low income of many elderly patients in the United States, the financial consequences of medically intensive services may be substantial. Costs of such services at the end of life, including patient financial consequences, should be considered by both physicians and families,” the researchers conclude. (JAMA; HealthLeaders Media)

Preventable deaths more common in rural areas

Rural Americans die more frequently from cancer, heart disease, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease and stroke—all potentially preventable—than do their urban peers, according to data released by the CDC. Between 2010 and 2017, rural counties saw a widening disparity in preventable deaths from cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease, compared to city areas. This is despite the fact that preventable cancer deaths fell to less than 10% of all nationwide deaths from cancer in 2017. (Medscape Medical News; CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

NEW & NOTED

Do small pharmacies charge more? Compared with large chains, independent pharmacies and small chains had the highest cash prices for generic drugs, according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. However, an accompanying editorial calls the findings into question. (Annals of Internal Medicine; Annals editorial)

Breach report: More than 300,000 people had data exposed in health care breaches reported to Health and Human Services last month. Providers, health plans and their business associates reported 47 data breaches affecting 311,430 patients to HHS’ Office for Civil Rights. The 36 data breaches reported in September affected 2 million people. (Modern Healthcare)

VA app now released: The Department of Veterans Affairs and Apple announced that millions of U.S. veterans will now be able to access their medical records on their iPhones. The initiative, including an app, was announced in February. The app makes it easier for veterans to access their medical data across multiple providers. (FierceHealthcare)

MULTI-MEDIA

Judge blocks “conscience rule,” gives HHS ok to make new rules

A federal judge in New York has blocked the Department of Health and Human Services’ so-called conscience rule, which would have allowed health care workers who cite moral or religious reasons to opt out of providing certain medical procedures. “The Court’s decision today leaves HHS at liberty to consider and promulgate rules governing these provisions,” District Judge Paul Engelmayer wrote. “In the future, however, the agency must do so within the confines of the APA [Administrative Procedure Act ] and the Constitution.” (CNN)

MARKETVOICES...QUOTES WORTH READING

“One of the big determinants of whether a clinician is happy with an electronic health record system …is whether they were well-trained for it, and have they set up their own customizations to use it the way they want… I don’t think we had done the best job.”—Mayo Clinic Chief Information Officer Cris Ross, on how his experience as a cancer patient gave him a new perspective on EHRs, in an interview with MedCity News