Becker's Hospital Review

28 POPULATION HEALTH 28 CEO/STRATEGY Cleveland Clinic is advising United Airlines, whose CEO says 'airplanes don't have social distancing' By Molly Gamble W eeks aer tapping Cleveland Clin- ic to inform its social distancing protocols, United Airlines went back to booking flights to full capacity, ac- cording to a June 29 USA Today report. e Chicago-based airline touted a new partnership with Cleveland Clinic and Clo- rox May 20 aer a physician on a United flight tweeted a photo showing "every seat full on this 737." e tweet went viral earli- er that month. Under the partnership, titled "United CleanPlus," medical experts from Cleveland Clinic were reportedly advising the carrier on cleaning, safety and social dis- tancing protocols. Days aer Cleveland Clinic affiliated its repu- tation and expertise with United, the airline's new CEO, Scott Kirby, rejected the concept of social distancing while flying. "If you look at an airplane, airplanes don't have social distancing. Six feet — we're not going to be 6 feet apart," Mr. Kirby said during a May 28 conference. e CEO said the proximity of passengers on a flight does not affect their safety, "mid- dle seat or not." Rather, he said air filtration, air circulation, face coverings and clean- ing the plane "are the things that make an airplane safe." United is not alone in booking flights to ca- pacity. Spirit is doing the same, and American Airlines began doing so July 1. Southwest, Delta and JetBlue are blocking middle seats or restricting the number of seats for sale on each flight. Southwest has committed to doing it through Sept. 30, according to USA Today. With United planes back to capacity, passengers are back on Twitter detailing their experiences. "is is my flight on [@united], who doesn't practice social distancing and packs their planes. e air in the plane was blowing hot air and the temperature was like an incubator. Don't fly," one traveler tweeted June 23. n New Mexico hospital fires CEO after staff alleges mismanagement By Ayla Ellison T he board of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital in Gal- lup, N.M., fired its CEO June 11, about a month after a group of staff alleged mismanagement and approved a no confidence vote. In a June 11 news release, the hospital board said CEO David Cone- jo's termination was effective immediately, and CFO Mary Bevier was appointed as interim CEO, according to Searchlight New Mexi- co. Mr. Conejo will no longer be a member of the board. The changes came after an ad hoc group of providers sent a letter to the hospital board in May lodging several complaints against Mr. Conejo, including allegations of mismanagement that led to staffing shortages. After laying off nurses in March as a cost-cutting measure, the hospital was overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. In a memo to staff, the hospital board asked for unity in regaining the community's trust. "We wish to honor the dedication and sacrifices that all of the staff have made in this very difficult recent past, with not only the coro- navirus issues but the negative publicity that has caused some community members to lose confidence in the care at [Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services]," reads the memo from board chair Laura Hammons, according to Searchlight New Mexi- co. "We ask that all of us work to restore that trust, giving our best effort and helping our coworkers to do their best." n Trump administration won't release ACA replacement before Supreme Court ruling, Azar says By Ayla Ellison H HS Secretary Alex Azar said the Trump ad- ministration plans to wait until the Supreme Court rules on the legality of the ACA to re- lease a replacement plan for the healthcare law, ac- cording to Bloomberg Law. The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court June 25 to strike down the entire ACA, arguing the ACA's tax penalty for failing to purchase medical in- surance is unconstitutional; therefore, the entire ACA should be invalidated. The administration argues that the individual mandate became unconstitutional when Congress eliminated the tax penalty in 2017. The ruling in the case will determine whether an ACA replacement plan is released, Mr. Azar told NBC's "Meet the Press." "We'll work with Congress on a plan if the ACA is struck down," Mr. Azar said. "We'll see what the Su- preme Court rules." Oral arguments are scheduled for next term, and a decision in the case may not come until next year, according to The Washington Post. n

• Cover