PWH announces John Sasen Scholarship recipient
PWH (Alexandria, VA) announced the recipient of the John Sasen Scholarship, Rebecca Gecan, Account Manager for KBK Communications (Lemont, IL). Talented, creative, organized, dependable, and hard-working are just a few words that described Rebecca in her nomination. Congratulations, Rebecca, on your well-deserved scholarship. Several women were considered for this award that honors someone in the healthcare industry that is an inspiring individual, demonstrates leadership and is an ambassador to the industry. The scholarship is awarded to one woman each year and includes a one-year PWH membership as well as attendance to the HIDA (Alexandria, VA) Executive Conference.
Henry Schein announces finalists for inaugural Henry Schein Cares Medal
Henry Schein Inc (Melville, NY) announced the nine finalists for the inaugural Henry Schein Cares Medal, an award that will be given annually to organizations that demonstrate excellence in expanding access to care for the underserved. Nine organizations were selected by an independent panel of judges as finalists across three categories: oral health, animal health, and medical health. From those nine, three will receive the Henry Schein Cares Medal, representing one medalist for each category. The medalists, also selected by the panel, will be announced later this year. The nine finalists will each receive $10,000 worth of product from Henry Schein Inc. Each of the three medalists will receive an additional $15,000 in cash from the Henry Schein Cares Foundation Inc to support their charitable work. The medalists will be announced at the company’s national sales meeting for each respective business unit. In no particular order, the finalists for the medical category, are as follows:
– Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation (Alhambra, CA)
– Hands Up for Haiti Inc (Mount Kisco, NY)
– Smile Rescue Fund for Kids Inc (Setauket, NY)
Vizient completes acquisition of MedAssets’ SCM and Sg2 businesses
Vizient Inc (Irving, TX) completed the acquisition of MedAssets’ (Alpharetta, GA) Spend and Clinical Resource Management (SCM) segment, including Sg2, from Pamplona Capital Management LP (New York, NY). The combined organization will deliver increased scale in intelligence, data assets and purchasing to address supply, clinical and operational improvements, according to a release. The announcement builds on the 2015 decision to bring VHA, UHC, and Novation together to form Vizient, the nation’s largest member-owned healthcare company. Vizient plans to bring the MedAssets’ SCM business under the Vizient brand identity by the end of 2016. There are no immediate plans to rebrand Sg2.
Almost 700 rural hospitals reported as vulnerable to closure
A report from iVantage Health Analytics (Portland, ME), found that 673 rural hospitals, representing more than 33 percent of U.S. rural hospitals located across 42 states, are vulnerable to closure, with 210 being the most vulnerable and 463 being at risk. Closures are driven by loss of market share, lower patient volumes, declines in quality and outcomes, and decreases in reimbursements. Southern states generally have higher rates of vulnerability and 63 percent of hospitals vulnerable to closure are in states that have opted not to expand Medicaid. More than 60 rural hospitals have closed since 2010.