- Iowa: Mercy Health Network has tapped Bob Ritz to serve as CEO, beginning July 1. Ritz, who has served as president of Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines since 2013, will succeed David Vellinga, who intends to retire this year (Becker's Hospital Review, 5/3).
- New York: Surgeons at Stony Brook University Hospital last week announced that they successfully operated on the first known case of triplets born with craniosynostosis, a birth defect in which the bones in an infant's skull fuse too quickly. If untreated, the condition can threaten vision and brain growth. Surgeons in January performed endoscopic operations on all three boys over the course of two days. The triplets, who are now at home with their family, will have to wear corrective helmets for a few months to ensure their skulls form correctly, but they are otherwise completely recovered (Howard, CBS News, 5/2; Hein, Fox News, 5/1; Pawlowski, Today, 5/1).
- South Dakota: The Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday approved a measure that prohibits people from smoking cigarettes in outdoor areas where non-smokers are likely to congregate. Specifically, the measure prohibits smoking outside of city-owned facilities run by third parties, although designated smoking areas are permitted so long as they are at least 25 feet from a public entrance. The ban also imposes certain restrictions on smoking at public parks, clubhouses, outdoor patios, and the city's two public golf courses (AP/Sacramento Bee, 5/3).
12 things CEOs need to know in 2017
The continued growth of the consumer-driven health care market threatens the durability of patient-provider relationships—and, at the same time, the push toward population health management and risk-based payment is greater than ever.
Hospitals and health systems must adopt a two-pronged strategy to respond to these pressures and serve both public payers and the private sector.
At the core of that strategy? A formula of accessible, reliable, and affordable care that wins consumer preferences and drives loyalty over time. Below, we share 12 key insights for senior executives working to create a consumer-focused health system.