Becker's Hospital Review

October 2018 Issue of Beckers Hospital Review

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74 POPULATION HEALTH 74 CEO / STRATEGY Central Maine Healthcare CEO speaks out amid EHR woes, physician backlash By Alyssa Rege J eff Brickman, CEO of Lewiston-based Central Maine Healthcare, said a break- down in communication led staff at the system's three hospitals to openly oppose leadership and their decision-making, in- cluding the transition to a new EHR, accord- ing to the Bangor Daily News. Mr. Brickman told the Bangor Daily News he knew in March that conditions at CMHC had reached a critical point when staff openly re- sisted the systemwide EHR transition to Cern- er. Mr. Brickman said that while he believed the change was necessary to recoup some of the system's financial losses and help staff more easily share patient data, some physicians saw the extra time needed to work with the EHR as an intrusion on patient care, the report stated. "With the pace of change, there was a break- down in communications. We did not have the ability to clearly understand when [staff] were at the point where they needed help," he said. e Portland Press Herald reported earlier this month roughly 35 (or 27.1 percent) of the system's 300 physicians le CMHC during the past fiscal year, which ended in June. Staff at all three hospitals also issued votes of no confidence in Mr. Brickman in July, citing issues with his leadership style and staffing shortages that have increased patient loads and made it more difficult for physicians to meaningfully cater to their patients. e de- cision to transition to Cerner only added to their burden, according to the report. Under Mr. Brickman's leadership, the system is no longer oozing funds. He told the Ban- gor Daily News that monthly revenue averag- es about $40 million, with expenses of $39.1 million during the same time frame. ose figures are why CMHC's board supported Mr. Brickman following staffs' no-confidence votes and the resignations of at least three ex- ecutives during the past few months. "[Mr. Brickman's] background of improving access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, a commitment to local care and a history of thoughtful stewarding resources to ensure continued organizational success support- ed our decision to select Jeff Brickman [as CEO]," CMHC Board Chair Deborah Dun- lap Avasthi told the publication via email. "Jeff has introduced new strategic partner- ships and recruited high-caliber talent at all levels of our organization. e board is con- fident Jeff and the senior leadership team at CMH will continue to move the organization forward to best meet the unique needs of our Maine communities." Mr. Brickman said it was disheartening to see the system's fiscal troubles and staff discontent play out in the public eye, but such troubles are inevitable when rebuilding a hospital system. "You've got legacy programs in facilities and markets and now you're moving to a new vi- sion and model of healthcare and you have a cultural clash of the old and new. You have what we've just experienced, which is a level of concern and frustration, as we try to com- municate and connect the dots while we work from moving from our insolvent base to a new one that's more sustainable for the future in a way that will meet the needs of the state of Maine," he said. n Mount Sinai launches its own TV show in NY By Emily Rappleye N ew York City-based Mount Si- nai Health System is launch- ing its own television series on a local cable channel run by The City University of New York. Billed as a behind-the-scenes look at the health system, the series, "Mount Sinai Future You," will high- light Mount Sinai's contributions to science, medicine and new models of care. The show's scope is broad: One episode delves into how an artist's work was transformed after a brain tumor was removed; another looks at a cardiologist's research of ancient mummies. "The broadcast highlights innova- tions, from preventive medicine to treatments, that are leading to im- proved health outcomes, and ulti- mately, a more fulfilling life," Dorie Klissas, Mount Sinai Health System's vice president of marketing and com- munications, said in a news release. The show will air 30-minute epi- sodes the first week of the month on CUNY-TV, a noncommercial educational-access only channel. "Mount Sinai Future You" is pro- duced and edited by Nicci Hudson, a healthcare video producer. Shoot- ing and editing support is provided by videographer Justin Gunn, and the show is written and hosted by Matt Kozar, a former reporter from WCBS-TV and CBS News. Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clin- ic also launched its own TV show this year through a collaboration with NBC News. Its show "Health + Happiness with Mayo Clinic" launched April 7. n Healthcare job growth continues; hospitals added 8K jobs in August By Kelly Gooch H ealthcare added 33,200 jobs in Au- gust, with hospitals contributing 8,200 to that total, according to a jobs report released Sept. 7 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This marks an increase from the 16,700 jobs healthcare added in July and the 25,200 jobs the industry added in June. Within healthcare, ambulatory healthcare ser- vices showed the most employment growth in August, adding 21,100 jobs. Hospitals added 8,200 jobs — compared to the 6,800 they add- ed in July — while nursing and residential care facilities added 3,900 jobs. Overall, healthcare employment has increased by 301,000 over the year, according to the BLS. In total, the U.S. added 201,000 jobs in August. n

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