Houston Methodist Hospital Receives Record-Breaking $101M Donation
“Houston Methodist Hospital received a $101 million donation from Rusty and Paula Walter — the largest philanthropic gift in the hospital’s 98-year history, according to the Houston Chronicle. The donation, announced Thursday [October 12], will advance the hospitals neuroscience research efforts.” Becker’s Hospital Review reports. “About a quarter of the donation will go toward hiring nearly 40 additional physician researchers and the remainder of the donation will help translate scientific discoveries into treatments and create an innovation fund to help spur new research ideas. Mr. Walter, who owns the Walter Oil & Gas Corp. in Houston, suffered a stroke four years ago and sought treatment to at Houston Methodist Hospital to curb the damage to his brain.”
Baptist Health, Bethesda Health Merger Finalized
“The hospital company known as Bethesda Health, whose roots as a Palm Beach County area healthcare provider date to 1947, is now officially merged into Baptist Health, according to a news release by Baptist Health,” reports Sun Sentinel. “Announced two years ago pending a 24-month transition period, the merger took effect Sunday. It increases the size of Coral Gables-based Baptist Health to 10 hospitals, more than 40 physician practices and about 50 outpatient facilities. Bethesda Health operates two hospitals in Boynton Beach — the 401-bed Bethesda Hospital East and 80-bed Bethesda Hospital West.”
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Named Among Greenest Hospitals in America
“Recognized for embracing initiatives to reduce the environmental footprint in our communities, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital has been named one of the 60 greenest hospitals in America by Becker’s Hospital Review,” according to the Chicago Tribune. “Advocate Lutheran General Hospital was the first LEED Gold certified hospital building in Midwest. The hospital continues their commitment to sustainability through waste diversion and recycling, and donation of supplies and equipment. Advocate Health Care also received the Practice Greenhealth System for Change Award in 2017, the ninth consecutive year the system has been recognized for achieving environmental solutions in the health care sector and creating better, safer, greener workplaces and communities.”
Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health in Final Stages of Assessing ‘Alignment’
“Officials of Catholic Health Initiatives, parent company of CHI Health in Nebraska and western Iowa, said the health system is in the ‘final stages of the due diligence process’ to assess a potential ‘alignment’ with San Francisco-based Dignity Health,” the Omaha World-Herald reports. “CHI, the nation’s third-largest nonprofit health system, operates 101 hospitals and has operations 17 states. Dignity Health has 39 hospitals in California, Arizona and Nevada, and more than 400 other sites across 22 states.”
Q&A: Centura Health CEO Peter Banko Looks Ahead to the Healthcare System’s Future
New Centura Health CEO Peter Banko recently spoke with Modern Healthcare Managing Editor Matthew Weinstock. Banko envisions broadening partnerships with physicians and payers, especially as the system looks to lower costs for consumers. The interview covers his leadership style, his plans for the organization, and his thoughts on the Affordable Health Care Act debate in Washington, D.C. To read the entire interview, visit Modern Healthcare’s website here.
