Prepared but Distressed

12/18/2012

The state of Connecticut, sadly in the news since the terrible shooting tragedy on Friday, December 14, has 34 hospitals serving patients on a daily basis. Danbury Hospital, a Level II Trauma Center, is 12 miles from Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut where these unthinkable crimes took place. Around 10 a.m., physicians in its emergency room were notified … Read More

DFWHC announces 2013 Board of Trustees

12/17/2012

IRVING, TX – The Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) has announced its Board of Trustees for 2013. The Board of Trustees consists of the following individuals: • Chair Rick Merrill, President/CEO, Cook Children’s Health Care System • Past Chair Jay Fox, President, Baylor Medical Center of Waxahachie • Chair-Elect Daniela “Dany” Decell, CEO, HCA’s Las Colinas Medical Center • Trustee … Read More

Dec.13 event to cover Crisis Management

11/28/2012

The Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council invites you to attend the upcoming “Hot Topic” educational meeting “Crisis Management: How to manage and mitigate your legal issues in the hospital.” Sponsored by Wilson Elser, LLP, the event is Dec. 13 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the Hay T. Clark Auditorium at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Linda Stimmel, attorney at … Read More

Fall Interlocutor is now available

11/21/2012

The fall edition of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council’s (DFWHC) magazine Interlocutor was released to membership this week. This issue highlights Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) receiving the Health Care Champion Award at DFWHC offices October 26. The award was jointly presented by the American Hospital Association, the Texas Hospital Association and DFWHC. There’s also a recap of DFWHC’s October 18 … Read More

The 83rd Texas Legislative Session

11/16/2012

The 83rd Texas Legislative Session for Texas convenes at noon on January 8, 2013. We thank our legislators for their public service to the State of Texas and hope for a constructive, collaborative bipartisan session regarding our state issues. Many priorities relating to the budget, public education, transportation, labor and workforce and the state’s environment will be discussed and reviewed. … Read More

Charting the Course for a Healthy Future

10/30/2012

Obesity is one of the most challenging health crises the United States has ever faced. Two-thirds of adults and nearly one-third of our nation’s children and adolescents are currently obese or overweight, putting them at increased risk for more than 20 major diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some forms of cancer. But the effects of obesity … Read More

AHA, THA and DFWHC present Rep. Sessions with healthcare award

10/26/2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marie Watteau, AHA, 202-626-2351 Lance Lunsford, THA, 512-465-1052 Chris Wilson, DFWHC, 972-719-4900 Irving, Texas (October 26, 2012) – The American Hospital Association (AHA), the Texas Hospital Association (THA) and the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) today presented Rep. Pete Sessions, (R-Texas) the AHA Health Care Champion Award for his outstanding contributions to health care public policy. … Read More

Can we build good wings?

10/25/2012

Ray Bradbury once said “living at risk is jumping off the cliff and building your wings on the way down.” Admittedly, he was referring to a sense of adventure and embracing boldness in life. His quote might also describe the financial cliff we are facing at the beginning of 2013. This cliff includes tax increases due to the expiration of … Read More

Patient safety indicators require a comprehensive approach

10/15/2012

The North Texas hospitals support sharing data regarding hospital performance with the public in a transparent manner as long as the information is complete, accurate and limitations are fully disclosed. An example of the complexity related to data analysis is the computer error revealed recently impacting the financial penalties against hospitals on Medicare readmissions within 30 days. The Centers for … Read More

Love interviewed by CBS Evening News

10/02/2012

With part of the Affordable Care Act going into effect, the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council’s President and CEO Steve Love offered his insight for CBS Evening News Monday evening, October 1. Love was interviewed for Anna Werner‘s segment involving Medicare reimbursement penalties. As detailed, hospitals now face big fines if too many patients have to be readmitted because of complications. … Read More