Paige Twenter

Through a new “Diamond Leadership” model, Houston Methodist aims to standardize its executive structure and create a single definition of quality across the organization.  The crown of the “diamond” is an assembly of each hospital’s CEO, chief nursing officer, chief quality officer and quality director. Each role is its own facet, and at the center […]

Effective Jan. 1, patients will be able to pay for concierge primary care models through tax-deductible health savings accounts due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.  The legislation, signed into law July 4, will allow people with high-deductible health plans and direct primary care arrangements to pay for these services through health savings accounts. […]

A national medication safety organization is advocating for pharmacies to eliminate prescription time guarantees.  According to the National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention, a majority of community pharmacies (62%) offer prescription time guarantees. The most common offering is 15 minutes to fill up to three prescriptions, with more “ambitious” promises being 10 […]

As more health systems suspend gender-affirming surgeries and hormone treatments for minors, the Federal Trade Commission is investigating whether gender-affirming care providers are violating consumer protection laws.  The FTC hosted a workshop July 9 concerning unfair or deceptive trade practices in gender-affirming care for minors, according to a July 28 news release. The organization opened […]

Dogwood Health Trust, the compliance monitor overseeing Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare’s purchase of Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health, said HCA might be in noncompliance with its acquisition agreement.  In a July 29 certified letter, Dogwood said it had identified three instances of potential noncompliance as part of HCA Healthcare’s 2019 acquisition of Mission Health. Specifically, the […]

Intermountain Health’s specialty pharmacy is partnering with Foundation Health to automate patient communications, according to a July 29 news release.  In an initial six-month program, Foundation Health’s PAIGE AI platform will automate secure messages and voice communications — including patient assessment calls, refill reminders, benefits verification and medication onboarding — for the health system. The […]

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and other members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee said July 29 they are investigating Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to fire all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee.  Acting as HHS secretary, Mr. Kennedy said June 9 the department was reconstituting the Advisory Committee for […]

According to a July report from HHS’ Office of Inspector General, hospitals failed to capture 49% of patient harm events because staff either did not consider them harmful or were not required to disclose them. The OIG established the first national rate of harm among hospitalized Medicare patients in a 2010 report, which found that […]

At its annual conference, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board recognized the inaugural group of pharmacy technician educators to gain certification in the field.  The PTCB launched the certification in March 2025, marking “the first national credential specifically designed for educators, instructors and trainers of pharmacy technicians,” according to a July 29 news release.  To gain […]

Health officials have reported 266 influenza-related pediatric deaths to the CDC for the 2024-25 season — the highest number of pediatric deaths in any non-H1N1 flu pandemic season since 2004. Ninety percent of these pediatric deaths were among children who were not fully vaccinated against influenza, according to a CDC report published July 25.  During […]