Feather River Hospital CEO Announces Retirement
The President and CEO of Feather River Hospital in Paradise, Calif., Kevin Erich, recently announced his retirement, effective at the end of 2015. Th executive has served at Feather River since 2011, but has been experiencing personal health complications and cites these challenges as the reason for his departure, Action News Now reports. A search is underway to find Erich’s successor to lead the Adventist Health facility.
Mercy Hospital Opens World’s First Virtual Care Center
Missouri’s Mercy Hospital has opened the world’s first virtual care center, housing nearly 300 physicians, nurses, researchers and support staff. The facility, will not contain traditional hospital beds, waiting rooms or even patients, however. It will instead house cameras and large computer monitors, allowing specialists to diagnose and monitor patients who don’t have immediate access to a hospital, such as those in remote rural areas or underserved inner cities, or even seniors needing at-home care. KMOV reports that an individual can now talk about symptoms with an on-call nurse and receive medical consultation from the comfort of their home. Mercy hopes to serve 3 million virtual patients within the next five years.
New Leaders Announced for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital
Adventist Today reports Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital has appointed two new executives to its leadership team — Scott Perryman, Administrator and Senior Vice President, and Dr. Richard E. Chinnock, Chief Medical Officer. Perryman most recently served as Vice President for Operations and Strategic Planning at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas. Chinnock has been physician-in-chief at LLUCH since August 2003. The hospital, licensed separately from the Adventist school’s primary healthcare institution Loma Linda University Medical Center, serves approximately 135,000 patients annually and houses 250 beds.
ACLU Files Lawsuit to Force Catholic Hospitals to Do Abortions
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a federal lawsuit against Trinity Health Corporation, one of the largest Catholic healthcare systems in the U.S., Oct. 1, over the provider’s refusal to perform abortions on women who suffered preterm, premature rupture of membranes. She argues that women are at risk for infection if emergency abortions are not provided under these circumstances, and Trinity is therefore not upholding the proper standard of care. In a statement regarding the suit, Trinity said the case “has no merit” and that they will seek dismissal, according to LifeNews.
Florida Hospital Association Recognizes Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and Florida Hospital Carrollwood at the Celebration of Achievement in Quality and Service Awards
Two member hospitals from the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) were honored at the organization’s annual Celebration of Achievement in Quality and Service awards. Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel received the Best Hospital Workplace award, recognized for its intentional development of an inspired workforce while promoting the physical, mental and spiritual health of its patients and community. Florida Hospital Carrollwood received the Leadership in Quality and Patient Safety award, highlighting its development of a quality team as well as the creation of a Patient Safety Council and Rapid Response Teams, according to a news release. The FHA comprises more than 200 hospitals and health systems across the state.
St. Joseph Mercy Oakland CEO Jack Weiner to Retire after 40 years in Healthcare
Jack Weiner, CEO of St. Joseph Mercy Oakland hospital in Pontiac, Mich., has announced his retirement, taking effect June 30, 2016. Crain’s Detroit Business, which describes Weiner as “colorful and outspoken,” reports the 67-year-old is a strong advocate for improvements in hospital patient safety through technology and was also vehemently opposed to McLaren Healthcare Corp’s desire to build a $300 million hospital 16 miles away. Weiner lead the institution through economic struggles and the recent opening of a $300 million campus improvement project and a high-tech patient tower. In 2005, hospital established the first Michigan Stroke Network under his tenure, using robots to connect stroke patients with specialists across the state, earning recognition from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. The search for St. Joseph’s new CEO is underway.
