Becker's Hospital Review

63 FINANCE CMO / CARE DELIVERY Flu lasts longer in larger cities, experts say By Harrison Cook T he duration of a flu season and the strain of flu virus respon- sible for infections vary based on a city's size and structure, accord- ing to a study published by Science. Here are four things to know: 1. Researchers analyzed data on ZIP codes in relation to reported flu cases for 603 U.S. cities from 2002-08. 2. Some ZIP codes experienced sharp peaks in flu cases or intense epidem- ics, while others had a longer and more diffused influenza season. 3. Flu cases in small cities occurred over a short period of time, suggest- ing less populated places experience a surge in intense cases that quickly die out. Larger cities saw a longer duration of flu cases. Humidity did not affect flu transmission as much in larger cities. "e flu is able to spread under a wider envelop of climatic conditions in the metropolises, because of high- ly organized movement patterns that put people into such close proximity that the specific humidity starts to matter less," Benjamin Dalziel, PhD, assistant professor in the department of integrative biology at Corval- lis-based Oregon State University, told STAT. "In metropolises, flu is able to eke out a living because there's more highly organized close contact." 4. e findings of the study suggest a universal approach to flu season does not work, according to STAT. "Small centers should improve their ability to handle surge capacity, while larger cities should find new ways to reduce flu transmission," Jacco Wall- inga, an expert on infectious diseases modeling at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands, told STAT. n 70% of physicians unwilling to recommend their profession, survey finds By Kelly Gooch G iven the recent changes to health- care, many physicians are unwilling to recommend the medical pro- fession to their children and other family members, according to a report from The Doctors Co., a physician-owned medical malpractice insurer. The report is based on a survey of more than 3,400 U.S. physicians, conduct- ed between December 2017 and April 2018. Respondents include primary care physicians, surgical specialists, inpatient medical specialists and diagnosticians. Here are four findings: 1. Seventy percent of respondents said they are unwilling to recommend the medical profession to their children or other family members. Only 26 percent said they were likely to do so. 2. Fifty-four percent of respondents said changes in healthcare, such as the pres- sures of declining reimbursement, in- creased administrative duties and indus- try consolidation, are likely to spur them to retire over the next five years. 3. Forty-eight percent of respondents who said they will likely retire over the next five years are women, and 56 per- cent are men. Forty-seven percent are ages 51 to 60; 71 percent are ages 61-70. 4. Many respondents view adoption of EHRs and value-based payment models as obstacles to quality patient care. Fif- ty-four percent said they believe EHRs have negatively affected the physi- cian-patient relationship, and 61 percent said they believe EHRs negatively affect efficiency and productivity. Additionally, nearly half of respondents (49 percent) said they believe value-based care and reimbursement will negatively affect pa- tient care. n Tenet's Detroit Medical Center strikes deal with 300-member physician group By Ayla Ellison D etroit Medical Center, part of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, has reached a five-year agreement with Troy, Mich.-based Wayne State University Physician Group, which includes more than 300 physicians. The agreement, which is longer than the previous two agreements between DMC and WSUPG, includes performance-based metrics that include various care and quality indicators. The agreement also establishes a joint operating committee, represent- ing leaders from both organizations, which will provide oversight on decision-making and clinical program strategies. Under the agreement, WSUPG physicians will continue to provide clinical care for select services to patients at Detroit Medical Center. The physicians will also fill some medical leadership roles at the hospital. "The new agreement with WSUPG solidifies DMC's family of physicians, joining out- standing doctors in the DMC Medical Group as well as community physicians who provide care at DMC," Detroit Medical Center CEO Tony Tedeschi, MD, said in a news release. "[This] announcement also shows what's possible when two organizations work together for a common good: stronger care for the community." A 13-member team that included physicians representing DMC, WSUPG and Wayne State University School of Medicine negotiated the agreement. The finalized deal came after DMC and WSUPG reached an agreement in principle in late August. At that time, the parties said they were committed to finalizing the deal by late September. n

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