Here are 30 healthcare industry updates from the past month to note:
Ambulatory services market to hit $2.5T by 2022
A Market Research Future report found the global ambulatory services market is set to hit nearly $2.45 trillion by 2022, increasing at a 4.7 percent compound annual growth rate. Increased healthcare infrastructure and more government initiatives aimed at providing affordable healthcare facilities are driving market growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
Average compensation for specialists in 2017
The "Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2017" found physicians' overall average compensation totals $294,000, with specialists having an average compensation of $316,000. Among all specialties, orthopedists topped the list at $489,000.
Envision Healthcare creates new physician services arm
Envision Healthcare Corp. introduced Envision Physician Services on April 18. Envision Physician Services combines the physician services divisions of EmCare and Sheridan Healthcare as a result of the Envision Healthcare and AmSurg merger in December 2016.
AmSurg turns 25
AmSurg is celebrating its 25th anniversary in April. Over the past quarter century, AmSurg has incorporated 260 surgery center locations in 35 states. More than 2,000 physicians partner with the company.
SurgCenter Development pushes proposal for $4.5M ASC in Michigan
Pismo Beach, Calif.-based SurgCenter Development is aiming to increase its ASC presence with a new $4.5 million surgery center in Zeeland, Mich. West Michigan Surgical Center would feature one operating room and two procedure rooms.
Northwest Ohio Orthopedics & Sports Medicine opening surgery center
Findlay-based Northwest Ohio Orthopedics & Sports Medicine received approval for a 13,332-square-foot surgery center.
Rigorous scope reprocessing not consistently effective
A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control examined flexible endoscope reprocessing effectiveness in 20 flexible endoscopes. All endoscopes had visible irregularities. Ninety-five percent of the scopes had fluid discoloration and debris in the channels.
Colorado ASC involved in $14.9M lawsuit over paralyzed patient
A judge ruled against The Surgery Center at Lone Tree (Colo.) in a $14.9 million verdict after a patient received an injection that allegedly paralyzed her from the waist down. For more on this story, click here.
Survey says 33% of providers using telehealth services
A HIMSS Analytics survey says approximately 75 percent of providers have virtual care incentives in place and 33 percent of providers use remote patient monitoring services.
CDC chief fears deadly Candida auris could spread
CDC Acting Director Anne Schuchat, MD, fears that deadly, superbug Candida auris poses a "catastrophic threat" to the general public. The fungus has killed approximately 61 people in the United States to date. It has an estimated 60 percent fatality rate.
Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems CEO speaks out against Green Mountain Surgery Center
Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems CEO and President Jeff Tieman wrote a commentary in the VT Digger detailing his opposition to the proposal to build an ASC in Colchester, Va. Mr. Tieman said the community does not need the ASC and cites a report a healthcare management firm conducted saying there is ample space available in the community to offer surgeries to residents for at least another 20 years.
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii opens ASC
Honolulu-based Kaiser Permanente Hawaii opened a 9,444-square-foot ASC at Mapunapuna Medical Office on April 18. The center has an operating room, a procedure room, five endoscopy suites and 16 preoperative/recovery bays.
Humana introduces value-based orthopedic care model in Indiana, Kentucky for total joint procedures
Humana is teaming with eight orthopedic groups in Indiana and Kentucky to introduce a value-based care model for total hip or knee replacements. Humana's model aims to improve joint replacement procedures' quality, outcomes and cost.
Physician Partners of America opens multispecialty ASC
Physician Partners of America held a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 15 for its Habana Ambulatory Surgery Center in Tampa, Fla. The ASC offers general surgery, interventional pain and orthopedic services.
UnitedHealth Q1 revenues total $48.7B
UnitedHealth total revenue soared to $48.7 billion during the first quarter fiscal year 2017, a 9.4 percent increase from the first quarter of fiscal year 2016. The company added 2.5 million members in the past 12 months, excluding its ACA individual offerings.
Physicians divided on Medicare ACOs' effectiveness in driving cost savings, quality care
A Health Affairs survey of physicians participating in Medicare ACOs claims only 50 percent found the models effective in lowering costs and providing high quality care. However, more than 66 percent strongly agreed their quality care payments were compatible with their personal practice style, as opposed to fee-for-service payment models.
Stryker opens 'OR of the Future' in customer experience center
Stryker's endoscopy division opened its customer experience center in San Jose, Calif. The customer experience center features the "Operating Room of the Future." The OR concept uses Microsoft's HoloLens, a self-contained holographic computer, to allow customers to experience a "Connected Hospital."
Price: Physicians should recommend new payment models: 5 points
As physician burnout rates continue to climb and physicians struggle to comply with CMS' many reporting requirements, HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, said physicians should recommend ideas for new Medicare payment models. Dr. Price urged physicians to provide recommendations during the first Physician-Focused Payment Model Technical Advisory Committee meeting.
Meridian Surgical Partners adds John Teas as SVP of business development
John Teas joined Meridian Surgical Partners' team as the senior vice president of business development, effective March 1. With his healthcare career spanning more than 20 years, Mr. Teas previously served as vice president of mergers and acquisitions for AmSurg.
Virtua's $1B medical campus with ASC one step closer to CON approval
The New Jersey State Health Planning Board voted to approve Evesham Township, N.J.-based Virtua's plans for a medical campus and hospital in Holly, N.J.
Nearly 22k US malaria-related hospitalizations reported in 14 years
A study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene found there were 22,029 malaria-related hospitalizations between 2000 and 2014. Of this figure, 182 were in-hospital deaths and there were 4,823 severe malaria cases.
Lee Health gets green light for $140M outpatient medical campus featuring surgery center
Florida-based Lee Health received board approval to build its new $140 million outpatient medical campus in Estero, Fla.
Sanford Health suing feds for $9M related to ACA program
Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health filed a lawsuit against the federal government, claiming officials owe Sanford approximately $9 million in risk-corridor payments.
Hospital for Special Surgery to open HSS ASC of Manhattan in June
New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery plans to open the HSS ASC of Manhattan in June. David S. Levine, MD, a foot and ankle surgeon at HSS, will be the surgery center's new medical director.
Aetna to leave Iowa ACA exchange
Aetna is withdrawing its individual health insurance plans from Iowa's ACA exchange in 2018. Aetna is the second payer to report it is exiting the state exchange. Earlier this week, Wellmark said it is ceasing selling individual plans next year due to the ACA's uncertain future.
Predictive models estimate $35B in lost Medicare physician services spending as result of MACRA
Santa Monica, Calif.-based RAND Corp. researchers predict Medicare spending on physician services could fall up to $35 billion with hospital service spending increase due to MACRA.
CMS predicts almost 3% increase in Medicare Advantage revenue
After finalizing its 2018 payment and policy updates for Medicare Health and Drug Plans, CMS expects payers could see a 2.95 percent increase in Medicare Advantage revenues.
The Joint Commission awards 3 John Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards
The Joint Commission awarded John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards to U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Deputy Undersecretary Carolyn Clancy, MD; the I-PASS Study Group and Wilmington, Del.-based Christiana Care Health System.
Minimally invasive biosensor successfully detects colitis in mice
Houston-based Rice University synthetic biologists developed ingestible gut bacteria capable of sensing colitis in mice. Researchers administer the biosensor as an oral liquid. Researchers tested it on two groups of mice: one healthy, one with colitis. The sensor detects thiosulfate and activates a fluorescent green protein visible with a flow cytometer.
Majority of Americans support ACA in new poll
A new Gallup poll found 55 percent of Americans approve of the ACA. It is the first time in seven years the law has had majority approval.