News

12/2/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Government/Law

Texas’ Balance Billing Legislation May Be Threatened by Loophole

Consumer advocates are worried that a proposed rule could undo the protections in Texas’ balance billing legislation. After a law was passed this summer to keep Texas patients out of arbitration between providers and insurers when there are surprise medical bills, some worry that a loophole in the legislation will be used to confuse patients and increase balance billing. Stacey Pogue, a senior policy analyst with the Center for Public Policy Priorities, says that the Texas Medical Board is proposing a rule to implement the law that would expand the use of a section of the law for patients who knowingly… Full Story

12/1/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Hospitals

The North Texas Hospitals that Most Value Nursing

In North Texas, 23 hospitals have received the Magnet Recognition, which awards health care organizations that value nursing talent. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program has honored 502 facilities with high standards for nursing excellence out of the 6,300 that were eligible. Higher nursing standards result in greater patient satisfaction, lower mortality risk, higher job satisfaction among nurses, and higher nurse retention. The Magnet Recognition Program can help organizations guide nursing practice, research, and measurement of outcomes and analyzes nursing leadership, coordination and collaboration across specialties, processes for improving the delivery of care. Organizations must reapply every four years. Just this… Full Story

12/1/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Awards

The Dallas 100 Healthcare Winners

Nine North Texas healthcare companies were recognized at this year’s SMU Cox Dallas 100 Awards, which ranks the top Dallas-based, privately held entrepreneurial companies based on percentage growth and absolute dollar growth over the past three years. SMU’s Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship and accounting firm BKD LLP sifted through hundreds of nominations to determine the winners, which represent $3.5 billion in sales in 2018. On average, the companies grew 82 percent from 2016 to 2018, creating 7,000 jobs along the way. Nine North Texas healthcare companies made the list, led by integrated healthcare solutions firm StratiFi Health, which was 21… Full Story

12/1/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Awards

Parkland and THR Named to List of Conservation-Friendly Companies

Parkland Health and Hospital System and Texas Health Resources have been named to the Texan by Nature 20, which recognizes 20 companies with Texas operations that show a commitment to conservation. Texan by Nature is a conservation nonprofit led by former First Lady Laura Bush. “At Texan by Nature, our firm belief is that our long term prosperity and health is dependent upon our natural resources. In launching the TxN 20, we aim to spotlight innovation in conservation and inspire more substantial efforts to create a new model of conservation for Texans and our shared future,” said Joni Carswell, CEO &… Full Story

11/25/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Hospitals

Moving Past the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” Era of Mental Health: Children’s Health’s “Beyond ABC” Report

Increasing access to mental health for children is the overall recommendation in Children’s Health’s biannual report, “Beyond ABC,” which takes a deep dive into the health, economic security, safety, and education of the children in Dallas County and the rest of North Texas. Communities Foundation of Texas hosted a panel to accompany the launch of the report, with discussion centering around increased access, higher insurance rates, and improved and expanded mental health services to the region’s children. “The strength of our community can be measured by how well we care for our youngest people,” Children’s Health President and CEO Christopher… Full Story

11/25/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Hospitals

Baylor Scott and White Out as Operator of Carrollton Hospital

Sana Healthcare has entered an agreement with Metrocrest Hospital Authority to operate MHA’s 216-bed acute care hospital in Carrollton, which was known as Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Carrollton since 2009. The agreement will go into effect on March 1, 2020. “Sana Healthcare shares our vision of maintaining and growing a true community hospital to serve one of the fastest growing areas of North Texas,” said Charles B. Heath, MHA Chief Executive Officer via release. “Sana executives bring decades of senior level experience to this opportunity and have a vision for utilizing and expanding services at the hospital.”… Full Story

11/25/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Senior Living

Grand Opening: The $140 Million Ventana by Buckner

Dallas only luxury high rise retirement community had its grand opening last week, celebrating the opening of the $140 million project from Dallas-based Buckner Retirement Services. “Already a strong culture of friendship and community has emerged in just a few short months since our first members moved in, and that was on full display today as we had a large turnout of members and their families attend today’s ceremony,” said Chuck Childress, executive director of Ventana by Buckner via release. The community consists of two twelve story towers and 189 independent living residences between 950 and 2,000 square feet. There… Full Story

11/25/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Senior Living

How do Texas Nursing Homes Stack Up?

Just six percent of North Texas nursing homes were top ranked in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care while only 2.7 percent among the 15,530 statewide facilities had received the top rating in both sectors, according to U.S. News and World Report. Among the 129 North Texas nursing homes in the ranking, 16 locations have scored at least a four out of a scale of five. A score of five is bestowed to nursing homes with exceptional ratings in multiple dimensions. Long-Term Care Ratings were added as a new measurement factor in the latest report. Data on staffing, pneumonia vaccination rates,… Full Story

11/25/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Real Estate

Plano Medical Pavilion Purchased by Healthcare Realty Trust

Healthcare Realty Trust has purchased the Plano Medical Pavilion, a 48,192 square-foot  medical office building on the campus of the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano. The newly constructed building was sold by Heady Investments and Gulf Corporation, and the deal was brokered by JLL. Healthcare Realty is a Nashville-based publicly-traded Real Estate Investment Trust that owns, manages, acquires and develops medical real estate across the country. The office building will share the campus with Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital Plano, Baylor Scoliosis Center and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, which include 332 beds in total. “The… Full Story

Jack Zigler 11/25/2019 Bookmark and Share Share Post
Physicians

Expert: Why Disc Replacement Might Be Right for Your Patient

One of the most innovative technologies in spine surgery within the past 20 years has been the ability to replace a damaged cervical or lumbar disc with an artificial joint instead of a fusion. Because cervical and lumbar disc replacements were considered “novel technologies” by the FDA, multicenter randomized studies were required for approval of each new device before commercialization.  These studies were performed under rigorous governmental oversight. The first lumbar disc replacement studies in the US began in 2000, and cervical disc replacement studies started in 2002. Interested patients had to meet strict inclusion and exclusion criteria before they… Full Story