Healthcare Industry & Professions
On this page you'll find articles and information about the healthcare industry and hospitals, as well as updates on the healthcare professions to which HPAE members belong.
Bayonne Medical Center Has Highest Billing Rates in the Nation
May 13, 2013
Bayonne Medical Center charges the highest billing rates in the U.S. for a variety of medical services as part of its "out of network" business model.
Financial Transparency Bill for For-Profit Hospitals Reintroduced
May 6, 2013
State Senator Loretta Weinberg reintroduced a bill, S-2736, that requires for-profit hospitals to provide financial data and other information to the New Jersey Department of Health to ensure the transparency of their operations.
Read a Press Release on the Reintroduction of the Bill
Planning for the New Healthcare Workforce in New Jersey
April 9, 2013
The New Jersey Department of Health, Rutgers University, and healthcare industry officials are assessing how changes in the healthcare system will affect needed job skills in the healthcare workforce.
Plan to Allow For-Profit Investment in 2 New York Hospitals is Dropped
March 26, 2013
A proposal to allow for-profit investment in two hospitals in New York State has been dropped from the budget, an unexpected setback to a push to open health care systems to private investors for the first time.
Rutgers Report Reveals Different Patterns of Hospital Use Among Poorer Communities
March 21, 2013
New Jerseyans who live in different communities use hospitals at widely different rates, and those differences could pave the way to improving healthcare and reducing costs, according to a new report by Rutgers University researchers.
Nurse Fatigue is Widespread, May Lead to Negative Patient Outcomes
March 21, 2013
A survey conducted by HealthLeaders Media revealed that nurse fatigue is pervasive in the healthcare industry and may negatively impact quality care delivery, patient and employee satisfaction, and operational costs. Sixty-nine percent of healthcare professionals surveyed said that fatigue had caused them to feel concern over their ability to perform during work hours. Even more alarmingly, nearly 65 percent of participants reported they had almost made an error at work because of fatigue and more than 27 percent acknowledged that they had actually made an error resulting from fatigue.
Prime Healthcare's Bid to Buy north Jersey Hospitals Meets Resistance
March 10, 2013
The California-based for-profit company, Prime Healthcare Sevices, is facing serious opposition to its efforts to buy St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic and St. Michael's in Newark.
The High Cost of Health Care at Non-Profit Hospitals
February 26, 2013
Although for-profit hospitals have been legitimately criticized for prioritizing profits over quality care, an investigative report by Steve Bill in Time Magazine reveals the extent to which non-profit hospitals charge outrageous prices for services and supplies.
Why Do Male Nurses Earn More Money Than Female Nurses?
February 25, 2013
Males constitute only 10% of the nursing workforce, but the average male nurse earns 16% more than his female counterpart. Males benefit from being able to work full-time more than women, and opportunities for advancement in nursing are better for men.
Bundled-Payments for Hospital Care Introduced
February 5, 2013
On January 31, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the health care organizations selected to participate in the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative, an innovative new payment model. Under the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative, organizations will enter into payment arrangements that include financial and performance accountability for episodes of care. These models may lead to higher quality, more coordinated care at a lower cost to Medicare.
Report Finds Out of Network Billing Drives Up Costs
February 1, 2013
Out of network billing, a common practice of for-profit health companies, contributes to rising healthcare costs.
Prime Healthcare Defies NLRB
January 31, 2013
The California-based for-profit company, Prime Healthcare, has announced that they will refuse to abide by recent NLRB rulings that require the company to bargain with a union.
NJ Hospitals Faced Multiple Financial Pressures in 2011
January 8, 2013
Although New Jersey hospitals operated oveall in the "black" in 2011, a decline in investment earnings and an increase in pension contributions reduced net income.
"Medical Homes" May Be the Future of NJ Healthcare
January 7, 2013
"Medical homes" are becoming increasingly common. A medical home in Toms River, NJ has had a big impact on the delivery and cost of healthcare.
Developments in the NJ Healthcare Industry in 2013
January 2, 2013
As the Affordable Care Act continues to be implemented, there will be some significant changes in the New Jersey healthcare industry this year.
Hospitals Defend Physician Employment Model
December 12, 2012
In response to criticism of hospitals' increasing ownership of physician practices, hospitals are defending their employment model.
St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic Bought by For-Profit Company
November 29, 2012
Prime Healthcare Services of California, a for-profit healthcare company, has been chosen by the Board of Trustees of St. Mary's Hospital, as the new owner of the hospital. HPAE and community groups in Jersey City successfully blocked Prime Healthcare from acquiring Christ Hospital after publicizing inappropriate medical and billing practices vby the company,
HPAE Supports Lifting Restrictions on APRN Practice
November 29, 2012
HPAE is supporting a bill introduced by State Senator Joe Vitale, S2354, that would eliminate the requirement of a joint protocol with a physician for an advanced practice nurse to prescribe medication.
Leapfrog Group Issues Revised Report on Hospital Safety
November 28, 2012
The Leapfrog Group has issued a revised report card on patient safety at hospitals in New Jersey and other states.
Lessons of Hurricane Sandy for Hospitals & Health Providers in New Jersey
November 13, 2012
A report on a roundtable at Jersey Shore Medical Center on the lessons that can be learned by hospitals and health providers from the impact of Hurricane Sandy.
Longer Shifts for RNs Can Lead to Patient Dissatisfaction
November 12, 2012
Longer shifts make nurses more likely to experience burnout and job dissatisfaction and also make patients more likely to be dissatisfied with care, according to a study.
Why Layoffs Don't Benefit Hospitals in the Long Run
November 7, 2012
Hospital management often sees layoffs as a way to cut costs and improve efficiency. However, some researchers think that's a short-sighted view.
Impact of Hospital Mergers in New Jersey
October 15, 2012
Whether through merger, acquisition, or creating an alliance, many hospitals in New Jersey have become part of healthcare systems and the trend is continuing. What is the impact on patient care and employees?
Study Shows Nurses Have Accurate Assessments of Hospital Quality
October 9, 2012
A study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing shows that nurses make accurate assessments of patient care and quality indicators at hospitals.
Medicare Cuts Could Lead to Job Loss in New Jersey
September 19, 2012
New Jersey could lose more than 14,000 jobs next year and nearly 22,000 jobs by 2021 if a 2 percent cut in Medicare spending mandated by a 2011 federal budget bill goes into effect.
Readmission Penalties to Hit Two-Thirds of Hospitals
September 10, 2012
Two-thirds of hospitals will see penalties in the coming weeks for higher-than-average readmissions, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).
Big Profits for Massive Hospital Chain, HCA
August 14, 2012
An article in the New York Times explains how the nation-wide, for-profit hospital chain, HCA, has been earning large profits while many other hospitals have been suffering financially.
The big winners have been three private equity firms — including Bain Capital, co-founded by Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate — that bought HCA in late 2006.
Medicare to Penalize 2000+ Hospitals Over Excess Readmissions
August 13, 2012
Effective October 2012, hospitals that have excessive readmissions will lose reimbursement money from Medicare. The total monetary penalty to hospitals will be $280 million.
Nursing Schools Face Faculty Shortage
August 2, 2012
National Public Radio (NPR) has a news story on how Schools of Nursing are facing a severe faculty shortage.
Hospital "Score Card" Released: NJ Hospitals Rated
June 8, 2012
The Leapfrog Group has issued a report that rates the patient safety of New Jersey hospitals.
Read the "Grades" of New Jersey Hospitals
Read the Leapfrog Group's Analysis of the Grading System
Read an Article on the Leapfrog Group Report
Read a Press Release from NJ Senator Loretta Weinberg About the Low Scores of For-Profit Hospitals
Insurers and Hospitals Unite to Cut Costs
May 23, 2012
In response to medical costs rising above the rate of inflation, a New York Times article describes several efforts by hospitals and insurers to cut costs while preserving quality care.
