marcusevans-healthcare

Long-Term Care Summit

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Transforming a Long-Term Care Facility

Ted LeNeave, a speaker at the marcus evans Long-Term Care CXO Summit Spring 2012, on succeeding in the long-term care business.

Interview with: Ted LeNeave, President & Chief Executive Officer, American Healthcare, LLC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The key to success in long-term care (LTC) facilities is having the right culture, a place where people want to work, says Ted LeNeave, President & Chief Executive Officer, American Healthcare, LLC. If employees feel engaged and valued, the relationship of trust will go both ways, resulting in a thriving organization, he adds.

A speaker at the upcoming marcus evans Long-Term Care CXO Summit Spring 2012, LeNeave talks about overcoming staffing and reimbursement issues by having an attractive organizational culture.

How can facilities overcome the issues that being short staffed brings about?

One solution is to hire more staff if possible, but the problem is related to finding the right employees. The work environment must be able to attract people, as nursing facilities are currently competing against each other for the same people. This does not solve the nurse shortage problem, but it would address the issues individual facilities are faced with.

What culture are healthcare employees looking for?

Some LTC facilities have plants or pets to make them more homelike, but that is not the type of culture change that attracts and retains employees.

What we have done is turn our organizational chart upside down. In a traditional chart, the president is at the top, with several vice presidents one level down, then various managers and employees. This automatically makes people think that the person on top of the pyramid is the most important, when that is not the case.

In our chart, I am at the very bottom, with 2,300 people above me. I always say that whoever is behind or underneath you is a resource, and the person above you, your boss. In our company, I am a resource for 2,300 people; they are my boss and I have to make sure that they are happy.

How do you practice this philosophy?

This cannot simply be on a piece of paper; you have to live it. It means giving people the authority to develop their own facilities and departments, because they know what is needed more than you do. Becoming a resource and less of a dictator helps you build a relationship of trust, and makes staff feel engaged and that their voices are heard. This makes the difference.

When I came into this organization, it was failing and many employees were unhappy. In large organizations with many facilities where you do not have all employees in front of you, you have to let them run facilities the way they see fit. This is a service industry.

In today’s low reimbursement and cost-cutting environment, how do you make sure the quality of service does not suffer?

As reimbursement rates go down, we must find a way to generate more revenue with lower reimbursement rates or cut costs. The way we decide is: is it a matter of quality of life or quality of care? Quality of care is the most important, as it includes food, and making sure that residents are getting the medication and therapies they need. Quality of life is what makes living fun, providing activities and an aesthetically pleasing environment. We try to be more efficient on the quality of life side.

How should LTC facilities prepare for US demographic changes?

The current reimbursement structure has created an institution-like environment, but the Baby Boomers will soon demand a higher quality and more individualized care. They are used to getting what they want and need, but most of them are outliving their savings, therefore this will be a challenge. Who will pay for it? This will have a domino effect, with unhappy residents and staff eventually putting facilities out of business.

The key to success is having an organizational culture that makes staff happy. They will then make sure that patients are getting quality care.

Contact: Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian, Press Manager, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Long-Term Care CXO Summit Spring 2012

Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on the Health Care Reform, innovative quality improvement, and staff recruitment and retention strategies.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – healthcare sector portal

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com

National Healthcare Summits

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Better Handling Medical Waste in Healthcare

William Norton from Red Bag Solutions, a solution provider company at the marcus evans National Healthcare CXO Summit Spring 2012, on the advantages of destroying medical waste onsite.

Interview with: William Norton, Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, Red Bag Solutions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Similar to healthcare, the medical waste industry is experiencing a significant amount of change due to consolidations, gas prices, regulations and competitive pressure,” says William Norton, Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, Red Bag Solutions. As a result, hospitals are re-assessing their treatment and compliance costs and are searching for more sustainable on-site treatment alternatives which will reduce cost, liability and regulatory concerns, he adds.

Ahead of the marcus evans National Healthcare CXO Summit Spring 2012, in Hollywood, Florida, April 26-28, Norton discusses waste management solutions and how to reduce the risk of patient infections within the hospital.

How can hospitals better handle infectious medical waste and reduce the costs associated with it?

When it comes to the disposal of medical waste, many hospitals do not accurately gauge their overall costs. An independent study reported that hospitals focused on a stated price per pound noted in their contracts, but in fact there are other expense components, such as gas sur-charges, training support fees, red/autoclave bags, transport containers, solidifiers, re-usable products, and many other ancillary costs that are often overlooked.

The majority of hospitals have their waste collected and transported for destruction instead of processing it directly onsite. This means that there are liability risks involved for employees, patients and the community along with the potential of spillage or contaminated landfills, which is a long-term environmental liability.

An enhanced medical waste management system would be located onsite. Through our technology, we are able to mitigate all short- and long-term risks by destroying medical waste within the hospital. From an environmental standpoint, this reduces waste volume by 90 per cent, and what is sent to the landfill is unrecognizable and sterile and can be handled as ordinary municipal trash.

What types of waste can be disposed?

Every type of hospital generated medical waste can be processed, such as contaminated packing, sharps containers, tubing, slides, test tubes, gowns, gloves, blood products, body fluids and plastics. In some states we have the approval to process body parts.

Patient records, confidential documents and electronic media can also be disposed. We are able to reduce the volume and cut it up so finely that there is no readability. The document destruction process is NSA certified.

From a safety standpoint, what are the benefits of getting rid of waste onsite?

The beauty of having a waste management system onsite is that waste can be destroyed and sterilized as soon as it is produced. If there is any type of epidemic within a community, we can destroy the associated waste immediately and avoid further harm. This means that there are no by-products being stored that could potentially create infection control concerns at the hospital and or other municipal location.

Plastic items, including full sharps containers, can be run separately and recycled. This allows hospitals to reduce their carbon footprint as there are fewer trucks coming in and out to collect waste, plus achieve sustainability objectives now so important to institutions.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the National Healthcare CXO Summit Spring 2012

This unique forum will take place at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida, April 26-28, 2012. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on continually finding ways to maximize budgets, developing an accountable care organization and ensuring compliance for upcoming transformations of our healthcare system.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – healthcare sector portal

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About Red Bag Solutions

Red Bag Solutions is an on-site medical waste manufacturing and service company providing the most sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost competitive technology on the market today. Its technology is globally disbursed since it converts RMW into sterile ordinary municipal trash in 30 minutes and reduces volume 90% with no odor.

www.redbag.com

About marcus evans Summits

marcus evans Summits are high level business forums for the world’s leading decision-makers to meet, learn and discuss strategies and solutions. Held at exclusive locations around the world, these events provide attendees with a unique opportunity to individually tailor their schedules of keynote presentations, think tanks, seminars and one-on-one business meetings. For more information, please visit www.marcusevans.com

National Healthcare Summits

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Improving Patient Comfort and Well-Being

Anders Drechsler Jensen from Guldmann Inc., a solution provider company at the marcus evans National Healthcare CNO Summit Spring 2012, on the importance of patient comfort in the hospital setting.�

Interview with: Anders Drechsler Jensen, President & CEO, Guldmann Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Healthcare facilities must become more efficient and mobilize patients quicker,” says Anders Drechsler Jensen, President & CEO, Guldmann Inc. The sooner a patient sits up and moves around safely after surgery, the better for their recovery, he adds.

From a solution provider company at the marcus evans National Healthcare CNO Summit Spring 2012, taking place in Hollywood, Florida, April 26-27, Jensen discusses improving nursing safety and the patient experience.

How can patient comfort be enhanced?

Patients are often in situations that must be handled respectfully, such as with bathing and going to the bathroom. In the past, patients have complained that being lifted in and out of bed by six people continuously is painful and humiliating. Healthcare Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs) must listen to these patients and improve their comfort through equipment that makes them feel protected.

How can healthcare CNOs improve the overall well-being of patients?

Healthcare facilities must become more efficient and mobilize patients quicker. The sooner a patient sits up and moves around safely post-surgery, the less likely they are to get bed sores and ulcers.

With new regulations in place, insurance companies will no longer pay for illnesses that a patient receives in the hospital setting. Facilities must move patients through initial treatments of care rapidly, so that they can move on to the outpatient setting or homecare.

In your opinion, why is the nurse’s job tough?

The workforce of caregivers, nurses and nursing aids is a group of professionals who are getting older and unfortunately not enough nurses are coming out of nursing schools. Facilities are challenged with a workforce that is becoming more and more fragile every year.

Nursing is a tough profession, not just physically, but dealing with fellow human beings who are sick can be emotionally draining. Data shows that the average nurse lifts 1.8 tones during a regular workday; the danger of being a nurse is immense. Healthcare executives can add all of the technology that they want, but if they do not get the human factor in for caring for people, and a cultural change about working safe, it is a lost cause.

How can nurse safety be improved?

It is not acceptable to ask a 150-pound nurse to move a 300-pound man. This would not be accepted in any other profession. Nurses will always have a caring mentality, but when they step in front of a falling patient who is twice their size, it could end their career. CNOs must provide nurses with the proper equipment to do their jobs safely, and any training that might be required to operate them

A culture change must happen to increase the safety of patients and nurses.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the National Healthcare CNO Summit Spring 2012

This unique forum will take place at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida, April 26-27, 2012. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on the healthcare reform, nursing in the era of meaningful use and improving patient care.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – healthcare sector portal

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About Guldmann Inc.

Guldmann is a 32 years young company with a clear goal to continue to be the number one provider of cutting edge technology for Safe Patient Handling. We have more Acute Care facilities across the US with our Ceiling lifts installed than any other company – providing more Time to Care!

www.guldmann.com

About marcus evans Summits

Medical Summits Series

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Keeping Ahead in the Medical Device Sector

Donald DeLauder, the chairman at the marcus evans Medical Device Manufacturing Summit Spring 2012 and Medical Device R&D Summit Spring 2012, on prospering in the complex medical device manufacturing industry.�

Interview with: Donald DeLauder, Executive Director – Corporate Innovation, Bayer Radiology and Interventional, a business of Bayer Healthcare.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Medical device industry executives often develop products that are deemed safe and effective by the FDA, but that do not sell as they are not reimbursable,” says Donald DeLauder, Executive Director – Corporate Innovation, Bayer Radiology and Interventional. They must spend more time on developing their products, he adds.

The chairman at the upcoming marcus evans Medical Device Manufacturing Summit Spring 2012 and Medical Device R&D Summit Spring 2012, DeLauder shares his views on product development and the complex regulatory environment.

How can executives in this industry ensure that their products are reimbursable?

Medical device industry executives often develop products that are deemed safe and effective by the FDA, but that do not sell as they are not reimbursable. This means that companies are spending time and money on developing products that go nowhere. It is crucial to take the time to get the data right and understand the reimbursement path. Although they aim to get to market faster, there is much more to it than simply developing the technology.

Unfortunately, very little has been done in terms of improving the research and development (R&D) process. Product data management tools, for example, help organize information, but they have also allowed processes to become more complex and inefficient.

What are the regulatory concerns that medical device industry executives are currently facing? How can they be prepared for what lies ahead?

Over the past 20 years, the industry has evolved immensely; however, there are complex challenges with regulations. Gaining 510(k) approvals is becoming a difficult task, and is driving companies away from the US market.

The industry is troubled with the difficult economic environment, and very few venture capitalists are investing in early stage opportunities. There is not enough capital to fund the increased requirements in the regulatory space for early stage companies. It is a tough environment, and medical device executives must spend time trying to improve R&D, launch, and commercialization processes.

With globalization being a major trend in the industry, what does it take to prosper in today’s competitive marketplace?

The US market is facing intense competition from countries that are producing sophisticated medical devices at lower costs, and of the same, or at least sufficient, quality. Although emerging markets are not typically direct competition, they do hold large opportunities due to the phenomenal growth rates of up to 15 per cent, which is tremendous compared to the US, Europe and Japan.

Organizations must change their mindset and become more connective. If they want to be successful in emerging markets, they probably have to do it by developing products in those markets.

What is your outlook for the future?

Medical device industry executives will begin to see more interaction between devices, which provide opportunities and complicates development and approval. Generally, digital technologies keep getting faster and cheaper, and from a mechanical perspective there will be more miniaturization.

Manufacturers must stay focused on the clinical environment and their customers’ needs. It is crucial for them to spend more time in the clinical environment, learning rather than selling, as devices have got to become more effective for better patient outcomes.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event websites below:

Medical Device Manufacturing Summit Spring 2012

Medical Device R&D Summit Spring 2012

marcus evans group – manufacturing sector portal

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

National Healthcare Summits

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Making Connected Health a Reality

Jim Post from Alere Inc., a solution provider company at the marcus evans National Healthcare CNO Summit Spring 2012, on connected health mechanisms.

Interview with: Jim Post, President – North America, Alere Inc.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“It is likely that in the next five to ten years, all diagnostic data will be delivered through a connected health mechanism,” says Jim Post, President – North America, Alere Inc. Such a mechanism will enable physicians to deliver better patient care. Patients will be able to live richer, healthier lives, and payers will benefit from the cost savings that derive from better health outcomes, he adds.

From a solution provider company at the marcus evans National Healthcare CNO Summit Spring 2012, Post discusses the extent to which connected technologies have impacted the diagnostics industry and how data-driven care will help to improve health outcomes.

What are the forces driving steep increases in healthcare costs, and how has the diagnostics industry responded to this trend?

In 1980, approximately 15 per cent of the population was obese, while today that is more than 35 per cent. Tied to obesity are a host of chronic conditions, like congestive heart failure, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardio-renal syndrome, which if managed improperly, can be very debilitating and costly.

Moreover, the primary care system in the US is relatively underdeveloped. Patients with diabetes, COPD, or heart failure do not need to be treated in the hospital, the most expensive site of care. These individuals require frequent monitoring, and that is something the primary care system should administer, since it can be done more effectively and less expensively. But, what happens is that people do not check in with their general practitioners until a more serious issue occurs, and, at that point, they often need to be admitted to the hospital.

As Accountable Care Organizations emerge and as reimbursement models shift from fee-for-service to some form of capitation, healthcare professionals will be incentivized to encourage individuals to manage their health from home. In order for this transition to be successful, healthcare providers will require immediate access to reliable data. At Alere, our mission is to empower individuals with diagnostic solutions that will enable them to take charge of their health at home, all the while giving care providers access to accurate data that facilitates better decision making.

How does the idea of “connected health” fit into the picture you just described?

Ultimately, the output from one of our tests should in some way inform a patient’s treatment protocol. Now, what that means can vary. In some cases, there may be no need to change an individual’s therapy while, in others, an adjustment may be required. Additionally, a diagnostic result may show that a patient is in the midst of a serious event and indicate that he or she requires more critical care. Connected health systems ensure that the right decisions are made much sooner than has previously been possible.

When we look ahead to 2020, how will patient care differ from what we have today? What role will “connected health” play in that transformation?

Chronic conditions are certainly not going to disappear. Data suggests that the population with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases will continue to grow through 2020. With that said, the individuals diagnosed with these conditions will be much more involved in managing their own care than they are today.

Theoretically, by 2020 individuals will not only be able to monitor one condition, but four or five of them from a single drop of blood, and all from within their home. Moreover, results will feed into a broader connected health network accessible to all care providers, which will help ensure that patients, no matter where they appear, are thoroughly assessed, trigger provider interventions where necessary, enable the development of more informed treatment strategies, and promote therapy compliance.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the National Healthcare CNO Summit Spring 2012

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – healthcare sector portal

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About Alere Inc.

By developing new capabilities in near-patient diagnosis, monitoring and health management, Alere enables individuals to take charge of improving their health and quality of life at home. Alere’s global leading products and services, as well as its new product development efforts, focus on cardiology, infectious disease, toxicology, diabetes, oncology and women’s health. Alere is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

For more information regarding Alere please visit: www.alere.com

About marcus evans Summits

Long-Term Care Summit

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Setting a Clear Mission Statement to Ensure a LTC Facility’s Success

Andrew Carle, a speaker at the marcus evans Long-Term Care CXO Summit Spring 2012, on boosting organizational performance. �

Interview with: Andrew Carle, Executive-in-Residence, Program in Senior Housing Administration, George Mason University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Many organizations today do not utilize their mission, vision and values statements as they should, according to Andrew Carle, Executive-in-Residence, Program in Senior Housing Administration, George Mason University. As a result, employees may be working at cross purposes to the organization’s actual strategy, says Carle.

A speaker at the upcoming marcus evans Long-Term Care CXO Summit Spring 2012, Carle discusses how long-term care (LTC) and nursing facilities can strengthen organizational performance.

George Mason University students have evaluated the mission statements of over 200 organizations. How have they done this and what were the key findings related to the LTC industry?

We have applied what we call the “Clarity” and “Carried Out” tests to the mission statements of everything from Senior Housing, to Government agencies, to Fortune 500 companies. What we have learned is that the overwhelming majority are not using their mission statement to drive overall strategy, which is supposed to be its purpose. From that the students also learn how to accomplish this use, as well as how to write a statement employees can understand and apply in their daily work.

In many organizations, we also notice that the mission, vision and value statements are mixed up, when they should be three distinct statements. So we teach students specifically how they are different, and how to write statements for each purpose.

What impact does this have on the performance of the organization and its employees?

Having a clear mission statement, let alone values and vision statements, puts everyone on the same page, working towards the same goals. But they have to make sense and be easily understood. The best organizations use their mission statement as foundational to everything they do – not just post it on the bulletin board because it looks nice. This is especially important in Senior Housing where the people (employees) are essentially the product.

As the number of people over the age of 65 increases, what issues will this present and how can facilities prepare for it?

We are facing critical shortages in available long term care/senior care workers. But by 2030, when the last of the Boomers retires, there will be 35 million more jobs in the US than people to fill them, so the problem is only going to get worse. We know that having a clear mission and purpose leads to happier employees and lower turnover. So a good mission statement can ultimately mean the difference between competitive advantage or no competitive advantage on this issue.

What opportunities can LTC facilities capitalize on today to enhance their mission?

Technology is presenting the healthcare industry with the opportunity to enhance mission by making existing staff more productive.

There is also value in developing niche communities that target a particular segment of the population. With 78 million Boomers, there are enough people to build communities that serve the interests of a variety of different groups, cultures, and interests..

If technology can help with staff shortage, how will facilities ensure they remain patient-centered?

Technology can help residents feel less dependent on staff and more able to enjoy the activities and other benefits of living in the community. So technology can improve overall resident satisfaction as well as employee satisfaction.

Any final thoughts?

Value your employees; regardless of technology or niche, at the end of the day they really are your product. Anything you can do to help them not only see but be active participates in your overall mission is good business strategy.

Contact: Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian, Press Manager, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Long-Term Care CXO Summit Spring 2012

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – healthcare sector portal

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

Long-Term Care Summit

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Eliminating Inefficiencies in Long-Term Care Facilities

Dr Robert Marriott of Advantage Wound Care, a solution provider at the marcus evans Long-Term Care CXO Summit Spring 2012, on eliminating inefficiencies by providing surgical care at the bedside. �

Interview with: Dr Robert Marriott, Owner & Chief Executive Officer, Advantage Wound Care (AWC)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Healthcare reforms are pushing patients out of hospitals, thereby increasing the acuity of patients in nursing facilities, according to Dr Robert Marriott, Owner & Chief Executive Officer, Advantage Wound Care (AWC). To continue to be financially viable, they must find a way to provide a higher level of care without adding to their costs. The best way to do this is by getting doctors into their facilities more consistently, he adds.

From a solution provider company at the upcoming marcus evans Long-Term Care CXO Summit Spring 2012, Dr Marriott discusses how long-term care facilities can eliminate inefficiencies and reduce re-admissions by providing better bedside post-surgical care.

How are the healthcare reforms impacting long-term care facilities?

The industry is pushing patients out of hospitals sooner, while government regulation is pushing them out of assisted living facilities. Greater acuity patients are entering nursing facilities, requiring more specialized care from the nursing and physician community. Facilities can no longer have one registered nurse (RN) and a doctor coming by once a month to sign orders. At the same time, LTC compensation for many of the standard services is decreasing. To be financially viable, they need to develop more efficient and effective ways to treat this new patient population.

What are the inefficiencies in how they treat this patient population at the moment?

The current process is incredibly inefficient. Many facilities are sending patients from the nursing home to a hospital, wound care treatment center or a doctor’s office in an ambulance. Besides the cost of transportation, the hospital fees and the logistical hassles of organizing appointments and consultations, nurses must then reconcile orders and treatments with their capabilities and staff skills, which do not necessarily match.

Bringing the surgeon directly into the facility eliminates all of this. The surgeon can communicate with nursing staff directly, and plan the patient’s care with the nursing capabilities in mind. The end result is more consistent and coordinated care, with all the facets of the patient’s care brought into a single care plan.

What ensures success in bedside surgical wound care?

The technical aspects of wound care are the easiest to manage through routine, hands-on care provided by highly skilled clinicians. More challenging than the wound care procedures is the coordination with the nursing home and making sure that orders are within capabilities. Doctor to doctor conversations eliminate the need for a patient to go to a hospital for a small incision opening. Having a surgeon taking care of this saves the nursing facility time, money and energy, as the nurse will not have to decide where the wound should be treated.

Is this a step in the direction of more patient-centered care?

Patient-centered care needs to involve closer communication with all of the parties involved, including the primary care doctor and consulting providers. Nursing homes have to get doctors into their facilities more consistently, to give patients more individualized assessments. Right now, primary care physicians often provide feedback over the phone, but phone consultation is a poor substitute for a doctor’s presence and physical exam. Getting the physician or physician consultants into the home is almost a cure-all for many of the issues ailing facilities today.

Contact: Sarin Kouyoumdjian-Gurunlian, Press Manager, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 313
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the Long-Term Care CXO Summit Spring 2012

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – healthcare sector portal

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About Advantage Wound Care

Started in 2007 by Dr. Robert Marriott, our surgical practice has grown from a handful of client nursing facilities in Southern California to over 250 across the U.S. today. With more than 35 surgeons caring for close to 1,000 patients in Long Term Care facilities and at home, we are one of the premier wound care providers in the nation.

For more information: www.advantagewoundcare.org

About marcus evans Summits

National Healthcare Summits

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Mountain States Health Alliance: Changing Healthcare Delivery

Marvin Eichorn, a speaker at the marcus evans National Healthcare CFO Summit Spring 2012, on changing the business model of healthcare.

Interview with: Marvin Eichorn, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Mountain States Health Alliance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Times will only get harder for healthcare Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) when they will begin operating in a Fee-For-Service (FFS) environment, as all services will be paid for separately, says Marvin Eichorn, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Mountain States Health Alliance. “To create an affordable healthcare system, we must work together to change healthcare delivery,” he adds.

A speaker at the upcoming marcus evans National Healthcare CFO Summit Spring 2012, taking place in Hollywood, Florida, April 26-28, Eichorn discusses what healthcare professionals can do to ensure efficiency and move towards an improved healthcare system.

How can healthcare CFOs effectively balance the quality of care and costs in today’s economic environment?

We are looking at having to operate in an FFS environment which will be difficult as all services will become unbundled and paid for separately. Healthcare CFOs must work towards changing healthcare delivery in the long-term; in the meantime, there are several other efforts that they can undertake to ensure efficiency.

Hospitals are focused on reducing and eliminating as much as they can, but that is not the solution. By consolidating in specific areas, we have had phenomenal success in reducing our supplies expense by eight per cent. By implementing real-time software, CFOs can better understand staffing on an hour-by-hour basis and reduce excess staffing where the volume does not support it.

There are major efforts underway by the US government and commercial payers to change the business model of healthcare, which will hopefully bend the cost curve. All healthcare professionals understand that something must be done to lower costs because the current system is unsustainable.

What payment models will help maximize reimbursement for services provided?

There are two payment models that could potentially increase revenue: the shared-savings and the global/partial capitation models.

The federal government is trying to achieve a shared-savings model that supports and rewards those who improve care and lower costs. If a healthcare provider reduces total healthcare spending for its patients below the level that the payer expects, the provider will be rewarded with a portion of the savings. The result is that the payer will be spending less than usual and the provider will receive more revenue than usual.

Capitation involves a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) paying a fixed sum per person for a certain period of time, typically one year. If that plan is managed well and there is money left over at the end of the year, then the HMO will profit. If not, they will have to deal with a loss.

What long-term strategies could you share with healthcare CFOs?

Develop a broad set of skills and continue to work to enhance and develop those even further, because there has never been a more challenging time in the healthcare industry.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the National Healthcare CFO Summit Spring 2012

This unique forum will take place at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood, Florida, April 26-28, 2012. Offering much more than any conference, exhibition or trade show, this exclusive meeting will bring together esteemed industry thought leaders and solution providers to a highly focused and interactive networking event. The Summit includes presentations on strategies for improving the revenue cycle, preparing for healthcare reform, and being in a position to be able to take advantage of the impending changes in the healthcare system.

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – finance/insurance sector portal

The Finance Network – marcus evans Summits group delivers peer-to-peer information on strategic matters, professional trends and breakthrough innovations.

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits

National Healthcare Summits

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Improving Communication in Nursing

Michael Rothman of Rothman Healthcare Corporation, a solution provider company at the upcoming marcus evans National Healthcare CNO Summit Spring 2012, on improving information flows between nurses and physicians in the healthcare sector.�

Interview with: Michael Rothman, Chief Executive Officer, Rothman Healthcare Corporation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Hospitals can deliver a higher quality of care when nurses and physicians work together as partners,” says Michael Rothman, Chief Executive Officer, Rothman Healthcare Corporation. A nurse’s assessment of a patient’s condition is often overlooked by physicians, when instead it could be leveraged, he adds.

From a solution provider company at the upcoming marcus evans National Healthcare CNO Summit Spring 2012, in Hollywood, Florida, April 26-27, Rothman discusses the immense contribution that nurses make to patient care.

Why must physicians look beyond patients’ vital signs when assessing their condition?

Often times, a person’s health starts going downhill, but their vital signs remain within acceptable limits. Nurses frequently notice this deterioration when a patient loses his appetite, becomes confused, has trouble walking or builds up fluid in his extremities, however many physicians overlook the nurse’s assessment and instead focus on vital signs and lab results.

The Rothman Index provides a single score that is calculated for each patient using observations that nurses enter into their Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. With this quantification of patient condition, nurses have more confidence in speaking up and telling physicians what is going on. In general, communication between nurses and doctors is poor; it must be enhanced to improve the quality of patient care.

How is the score for each patient calculated?

We look at measurements that are commonly available at hospitals, such as vital signs, lab tests and nursing assessments. Nurses go through a very structured evaluation process to asses the patient’s condition and then fill out the assessment in an EHR system. We then calculate the overall measure of the condition, and assess it from 0 – 100. This provides an absolute number and shows if the patient is getting better or worse overtime.

This is also one of the pieces of information used when making discharge decisions. If the patient has a score of 60 today, but was 70 yesterday, his or her condition is heading into the wrong direction. The graph helps nurses and doctors understand the patient’s acuity level, and if it is getting better or worse.

Why should there be better communication between nurses and physicians?

About half of a hospital’s operating budget goes to nursing, and if that hospital has an EHR system in place, half of the nurse’s time is spent on a computer, entering information and documenting. Unfortunately, nobody takes advantage of this information that is entered, at significant costs to the hospital.

Physicians often overlook nursing data, a measure of longitudinal information about a patient’s condition. Hospitals must condense this data so that it is easily absorbed when making rounds, in order to leverage the efforts of nurses for the benefit of the patient.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

About the National Healthcare CNO Summit Spring 2012

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event website

marcus evans group – healthcare sector portal

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About Rothman Healthcare Corporation

Rothman Healthcare Corporation is committed to improving the quality and efficacy of patient care with innovative, patient-centric software that enables healthcare professionals to easily access critical and actionable patient health data. The Rothman Index generates a graph of patient condition that allows for greater continuity and quality of care while reducing costs.

www.rothmanhealthcare.com

About marcus evans Summits

Medical Summits Series

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Globalization in the Medical Device Sector

Thomas M. Loarie, a speaker at the marcus evans Medical Device Manufacturing Summit Spring 2012 and Medical Device R&D Summit Spring 2012, on prospering in the competitive medical device sector.�

Interview with: Thomas M. Loarie, Executive Chairman, Mercator – MedSystems

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“US medical device manufacturers have been able to shorten time to market by re-locating clinical research to non-US markets like Europe and Australia, and now to emerging markets, such as South America and Asia,” says Thomas M. Loarie, Executive Chairman, Mercator – MedSystems. The globalization of the medical device industry has created a great deal of competition, making it difficult for organizations to keep up, he adds.

A speaker at the upcoming marcus evans Medical Device Manufacturing Summit Spring 2012 and Medical Device R&D Summit Spring 2012, Loarie discusses why companies are re-locating clinical research and manufacturing.

What does it take to prosper in today’s competitive marketplace?

The medical device manufacturing and research and development (R&D) sectors are extremely complex. Young companies are facing financial challenges, as there has been a reduction in capital available for early stage companies.

In addition, there are product development issues with the FDA. While many medical device executives speak of the need for predictability and transparency, capital and time to market are their key concerns.

US manufacturers have been able to shorten time to market by re-locating clinical research to Europe and Australia and now are shifting to emerging markets, such as South America and Asia. The globalization that has come from this has created immense competition. The Chinese government has stated that it wants to be the world leader in medical technology by 2020, and is providing incentives and has pricing protection polices that are making it difficult for companies outside of China to price competitively. We will begin to see innovative and affordable products coming out of Asia that will be a major threat to US companies.

Why are companies choosing to manufacture devices offshore?

Companies with labor intensive processes are always looking for production workers that are paid at lower rates, in countries such as Mexico and Costa Rica. Ireland, however, is bidding for US high-skilled manufacturing and is providing tax incentives for automation processes that require engineering support. It is becoming more and more attractive to manufacture offshore, as the FDA is imposing heavy taxes on medical products.

Are medical devices becoming more portable?

The Healthcare Reform Act is placing a strong focus on Accountable Care Organizations, forcing doctors, clinics and physicians to work together, as a continuum in patient care, as they will share the financial risks and rewards of each patient. Patients are moving out of assisted care and back into the home setting, which will lead to a need for smaller and more efficient devices.

Looking forward, pharmacies and drug stores will become major access points in healthcare with regards to blood tests and shots. Organizations will start making wireless and small devices for drug stores to use, putting the viability of large laboratories in jeopardy.

What is your outlook on the future? What should medical device executives prepare for?

Medical device manufacturers must pay more attention to the Healthcare Reform Act, as there are major plans underway for re-structuring the system. A single healthcare bill can make or break an organization.

Contact: Stacey Melvin, Journalist, marcus evans, Summits Division

Tel: + 357 22 849 400
Email: press@marcusevanscy.com

For more information please send an email to info@marcusevanscy.com or visit the event websites below:

Medical Device Manufacturing Summit Spring 2012

Medical Device R&D Summit Spring 2012

marcus evans group – manufacturing sector portal

Please note that the Summit is a closed business event and the number of participants strictly limited.

About marcus evans Summits