Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1164972
50 HEALTHCARE NEWS Second Ben Taub patient found dead in bathroom By Mackenzie Bean A second patient was found dead in a bathroom at Houston-based Ben Taub Hospital after waiting for emergency care, according to the Houston Chronicle. The death occurred July 16, just three months after staff members found a 66-year-old patient unresponsive with no pulse in an emergency de- partment bathroom. Ben Taub reported the second death to CMS and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission July 19. "Incidents like this should never happen," George Masi, president and CEO of Houston-based Harris Health System, which operates Ben Taub, said in a statement to the Houston Chronicle. "It is our responsibility to learn from them, and to constantly make improvements in our processes to ensure Harris Health fulfills our mission of caring for those most in need. We are fully committed to that effort, whatever it takes." Mr. Masi said Ben Taub investigated the death and immediately imple- mented "additional risk reduction strategies" to ensure patient safety. Ben Taub remains under state and federal authority until it can correct all care deficiencies. Investigators are expected to return to the hospital later this summer to assess its progress. n Texas hospital closes By Ayla Ellison F inancial challenges forced Hamlin (Texas) Memorial Hospital to close July 31. Declining patient volume and dwindling reimbursement rates were among the factors that led to the hospital's closure, according to a July 2 announcement from the hospital's board of directors. "Over the past many years inpatient utilization has decreased to the point that there are many days that there is no one in the hospital," the hospital said. "After an in-depth study of all departments in the hospital, income vs. expenses, it became very evident that Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance reimbursements did not come close to cov- ering continually rising expenses. A declining tax base and tax payment delinquencies have also contributed to the financial hardships." Patricia Barnett, president of the hospital district's board of directors, thanked local citizens for their support in a letter published on the hospi- tal's Facebook page July 31. "With a heavy heart, I am writing this to you, the citizens of Hamlin Hos- pital District. Today marks the end of an era of healthcare for us. Our be- loved Hamlin Memorial Hospital will close its doors tonight at midnight," she wrote. "As I walked through the halls of our hospital for the last time today, so many memories flooded through my mind. I can say with all certainty that we did our job well, with love, dedication and pride for the patients that graced our doorways." Ms. Barnett said Hamlin Medical Clinic, a walk-in clinic, will remain open. n US News' Best Hospitals 2019-20 Honor Roll By Mackenzie Bean U.S. News & World Report released its Best Hospi- tals rankings for 2019-20 on July 30. To compile the 30th annual ranking, U.S. New com- pared more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide across 16 specialties and nine procedures and conditions. For the 2019-20 list, 165 hospitals were nationally ranked in at least one specialty, and 569 hospitals were ranked among the Best Regional Hospitals in a state or metro area. Fiy-seven hospitals received a high-performing rating in all nine procedures and conditions. Here are the top 21 hospitals named to U.S. News' 2019-20 Best Hospitals Honor Roll, including ties: 1. Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.) 2. Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston) 3. Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore) 4. Cleveland Clinic 5. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (New York City) 6. UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles) 7. UCSF Medical Center (San Francisco) 8. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles) 9. NYU Langone Hospitals (New York City) 10. Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago) 11. Michigan Medicine (Ann Arbor) 12. Stanford (Calif.) Hospital 13. Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston) 14. Mount Sinai Hospital (New York City) 15. UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside (Pittsburgh) 16. Keck Hospital of USC (Los Angeles) 17. UW Health (Madison) 18. Hospitals of the University of Pennsylva- nia-Penn Presbyterian (Philadelphia) 18. Mayo Clinic Phoenix 20. Houston Methodist Hospital 20. Yale New Haven (Conn.) Hospital n