Erica Cerutti

Healthcare groups are condemning the FDA’s decision to issue narrow approvals for COVID-19 vaccines, saying the move will limit access for millions of Americans and raise the risk of severe outcomes ahead of respiratory virus season.  On Aug. 27, the FDA approved updated vaccines targeting newer strains of the virus…

The American Hospital Association sharply criticized a 340B rebate model pilot program from the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency of HSS, warning the model threatens to undermine three decades of success under the existing 340B drug pricing program.  In an Aug. 27 letter addressed to Thomas Engels, administrator…

Purchased services spending has increased across all departments in recent years and health systems are taking a closer look at the data to identify trends and opportunities to improve vendor contract management. Kaufman Hall gathered monthly spending data by department to break down recent trends and found big upticks in…

Nearly one-third of readmissions occur at a different hospital than the original site of care, which limits a hospital’s visibility after a patient’s discharge and increases costs, according to an August report from Vizient.  Vizient researchers analyzed an all-payer dataset and U.S. Medicare claims in 2023 by the hospitalwide, all-cause,…

Children’s Hospital Los Angeles shared plans Aug. 27 to reduce its workforce as part of a strategic realignment. In a news release, the pediatric academic medical center said the move is intended to “ensure long-term sustainability and mission alignment amid growing financial challenges.” The reduction affects about 439 positions across…

Becker’s has reported on 11 health systems that have named new chief revenue officers in 2025: 1. Paterson, N.J.-based St. Joseph’s Health named Mike Alwell vice president and chief revenue officer. He has been with the system for seven years and most recently served as vice president and CFO of…

Fairfax, Va.-based Inova Health System has established five chair positions within the Inova Schar Heart and Vascular program.  Funding for the positions was made possible by a $75 million gift from Dwight and Martha Schar, according to an Aug. 27 news release from Inova.  The five chair appointments are as…

Becker’s has reported on the following hospital and health system COO moves since March 11, including individuals who joined new organizations and those promoted to new roles. Note: This page was created March 25 and updated Aug. 28. Aug. 13-28 1. Tyler Hillis was named COO of Foley, Ala.-based Baldwin…

Tyler Hillis has been named COO of Foley, Ala.-based Baldwin Health, part of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems. Mr. Hillis brings more than 12 years of leadership experience with Chesterfield, Mo.-based Mercy, where he most recently served as COO of Mercy Hospital Ardmore in Oklahoma, according to an Aug. 1…

Health systems have been increasing IT spend over the last few years to unify EHRs, add artificial intelligence functionality and improve infrastructure and data management in preparation for future growth. Much of the spending is tied to outsourced contracts with vendor partners. Kaufman Hall examined the average monthly spending change…

Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health is calling for public health nurses to receive formal recognition as a distinct occupation from registered nurses. Published in Nursing Outlook, the study compared PHNs with other nurses by analyzing data from the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses from the Census Bureau…

Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreen has appointed Mike Motz as CEO, effective Aug. 28, as the company transitions into a private standalone organization. Mr. Motz previously served as CEO of Staples US Retail and was president of Shoppers Drug Mart, the largest pharmacy chain in Canada. He replaces Tim Wentworth, who will…

The following hospital and health system CEO departures, including retirements and leadership transitions, have been recently reported by Becker’s. Note: This page was created March 20 and updated Aug. 28. Aug. 14-25 1. Brian Sims exited his role as CEO of Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, Iowa, and was…

The FDA has approved Pfizer and BioNTech’s updated COVID-19 vaccine for adults 65 and older along with individuals ages 5-64 who are at increased risk of severe COVID-19.  The new formulation targets several SARS-CoV-2 sublineages, aligning with the FDA guidance to better match circulating strains expected during the 2025-2026 virus…

The rate of Medicare enrollees leaving acute care hospitals against medical advice increased 46% between 2006 and 2023, from 0.68% to 0.99% of discharges, according to a report from HHS’ Office of Inspector General.  The COVID-19 pandemic saw a spike of Medicare patients leaving hospitals against medical advice, with the…

A study led by Salt Lake City-based University of Utah analyzed nearly 150,000 hospitalized patients with critical injuries and found that a majority of these patients are not transferred to an appropriate site of care.  Transfers to higher-level care centers, such as level 1 or 2 trauma centers, is called…

In 2022, the American Nurses Credentialing Center unveiled the Magnet with Distinction program to recognize the world’s highest performing Magnet organizations. Since then, 40 hospitals in the U.S. and one in Saudi Arabia have achieved the designation.  The ANCC, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, awards hospitals Magnet designations based…

Normally by this time of year as fall approaches, the FDA has approved new formulas for COVID-19 shots and CDC recommendations on who should receive them have been finalized.  As this year’s respiratory virus season kicks into gear and COVID cases begin to tick up, guidance on who will have…

Ambiguity around medical equipment cleaning and handling is more than a compliance issue. It slows care, drives up costs and undermines staff confidence. During a recent discussion hosted by Becker’s Healthcare, Brooke Hossfeld, Infection Prevention Specialist at Sodexo Healthcare, and Scott Varnum, Vice President of Operations for Healthcare Technology Management…

White Plains, N.Y.-based Burke Rehabilitation Hospital recently earned a spot on U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of the top 50 rehabilitation hospitals in the U.S. Led by Executive Director Scott Edelman, the 150-bed inpatient facility is part of New York City-based Montefiore Health System and will open its 15th…

The AI wave in healthcare revenue cycle management (RCM) shows no signs of slowing down. Every week, new solutions promise automation, intelligence, and operational efficiency. But for CFOs, the real challenge isn’t in hearing the pitch — it’s in separating substance from hype. AI is not magic. It’s software. And…

After the Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that affirmative actions were unconstitutional, racial and ethnic diversity declined in medical school admissions and matriculations, according to research published Aug. 26 in JAMA.  Researchers from Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., University of California School of Medicine in Sacramento and…

Like you, I built my career in healthcare. For years, I played a critical role in transforming the U.S. subsidiary of a leading global medical device company into a significant growth driver. I worked hard, was committed to its mission (and still am), delivered exceptional results, and enjoyed life-changing personal…

Here are five new drug shortages and discontinuations, according to drug supply databases from the FDA and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.  Bumetanide injection: Several manufacturers, including Fresenius Kabi, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Novadoz Pharmaceuticals and Sagent Pharmaceuticals have reported a shortage of bumetanide injection, a cardiovascular drug used as a…