COVID case counts losing some importance amid omicron
The explosive increase in U.S. coronavirus case counts is raising alarm, but some experts believe the focus should instead be on COVID-19 hospital admissions. And those aren’t climbing as fast.
Hospitals
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Facing criticism over high fees and profits, IU Health rolls out 5-year price freeze
Indiana University Health, which charges the highest hospital fees in the Indianapolis area and is sitting on nearly $9 billion in cash and investments, said it is freezing prices through 2025 to help get in line with national average prices.
Methodist Sports Medicine announces name change in wake of lawsuit
IU Health sued the physician group last month, claiming trademark infringement and unfair competition, after it learned Methodist Sports Group and Franciscan Health were teaming up on a new hospital.
Eskenazi Health patient sues after cyberattack data breach, asks for class action status
Terri Ruehl Young filed suit in Indiana Commercial Court in Marion County on Friday against the Indianapolis-based public hospital and health care provider.
Hospitals face big fines for frequent readmissions
For the 10th straight year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is using the pressure of lower reimbursements to get hospitals to improve their numbers and cut down on the revolving door of readmissions.
IU Health sues Methodist Sports Medicine, claiming trademark infringement
Indiana University Health, the parent of Methodist Hospital, wants the sports medicine group to drop “Methodist” from its name.
IU Health sees revenue and income climb as pandemic pushes hospitals near capacity
The results seem to show that the pandemic is continuing to push hospitals to the limit, as patients flock to emergency rooms and surgical suites for care.
Community Health must face Justice Department’s false claims lawsuit, judge rules
A federal judge in Indianapolis has tossed out Community Health Network’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit by the U.S. Justice Department that alleges the hospital system engaged in a fraudulent scheme to keep patient referrals in its network.
Advocates, lawmakers push hospitals to help more with bills
The Affordable Care Act requires not-for-profit hospitals to tell patients about financial help, but it leaves the details for how that gets done or the extent of the assistance largely up to them. Patient counselors see little consistency.
Hospitals spend millions in race to hire traveling nurses
Indiana University Health, the state’s largest hospital system, recently hired 700 traveling nurses to work in its 16 hospitals under 13-week contracts.
Riley Hospital’s new maternity tower strives for a smooth delivery
Riley Hospital for Children’s $142 million maternity tower is getting ready to make a big splash this fall in central Indiana’s highly competitive maternity-hospital market.
OrthoIndy planning $12.5M outpatient clinic expansion in Westfield
OrthoIndy is planning to expand its presence in Westfield by moving out of its current leased space and building a new $12.5 million facility all its own near State Road 32 and Austrian Pine Way. If approved, it could open to the public next summer.
Indiana deploys National Guard to help beleaguered hospitals
Dr. Kris Box, the state health commissioner, said the National Guard teams are going to hospitals that have “exhausted all other options to staff their beds.”
Study: Indiana ranks 19th for nursing work conditions and job opportunities
The state ranks far lower—33rd—for “work environment,” according to the study, conducted by Wallet Hub, a financial consumer website.
Indy Chamber eco-devo guru expects West 16th Street corridor to gain momentum
Portia Bailey-Bernard of the Indy Chamber says projects like the $60 million redevelopment of the Stutz business campus and the expansion of IU Health’s downtown campus will help reshape the northern portion of downtown.
U.S. hospitals hit with nurse staffing crisis amid COVID
The problem, health leaders say, is twofold: Nurses are quitting or retiring, exhausted or demoralized by the crisis. And many are leaving for lucrative temporary jobs with traveling-nurse agencies that can pay $5,000 or more a week.
Holcomb orders hospitals to report ambulance diversions, ending secretive practice
The order cites the recent strain on hospitals from the pandemic, and states they must report the number of hours each day they close their doors to ambulances bringing in new patients.
IU Health to suspend half of elective surgeries, procedures in response to COVID-19 surge
The state’s largest hospital system said the move was “needed to alleviate some of the enormous pressure our care teams are under and to reserve inpatient space for those who need it most.”
As COVID surges, Indiana Hospital Association urges Hoosiers to get vaccinated
The Indiana Hospital Association on Tuesday said the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations is putting a strain on the health care system. It said the situation could be avoided if Hoosiers would just get vaccinated.
IBJ Podcast: Why are emergency rooms sending ambulances to other hospitals?
On July 26, at least 10 hospitals across the Indianapolis area issued messages to ambulance drivers that their emergency rooms needed to limit incoming patients. Please try to find another destination, hospitals said. This is an extreme example of a phenomenon that has become much more common in recent months—ambulance diversions.