As further evidence of belt-tightening at hospitals across the U.S., many are considering the increasingly popular position of SVP of marketing/patient safety/facilities. The position typically combines the creativity of marketers, the scientific measurement acumen of patient safety experts, and the HVAC experience of facilities managers. By finding one executive with all of these skill sets, hospitals can reduce salary costs significantly in the c-suite.

The new combo position is gaining in popularity across the country, with more than a dozen major hospitals and systems advertising in the leading industry publication, Hospital Job Mashup. Industry trend watcher and three-time Tony award winner runner-up Chris Kendall says the move toward the combo position is likely here to stay. Read the full story »

What’s the latest idea floating around Capitol Hill regarding healthcare reform? My inside sources say momentum is building for a complete overhaul of Medicare reimbursement policy. Building on the logic of fee-for-service, movers and shakers are considering a new twist: payment based on physician height.

The current system creates misaligned incentives, inflating healthcare costs without improving the health of America. But paying by the inch, now there’s a common sense approach. Clearly, the taller the doctor, the more efficient the care – that’s been known for years. So why not go ahead and make the change, if it’s so obvious? Like anything else, moving such legislation through Congress will take time, and all interested parties will want to be heard from. The North American Short Anesthesiologist League (NASAL) will surely weigh in, as will The Measuring Tape Union, Lifts Across America, and Physicians for Top Hats. Buckle yourself in, we’re in for a bumpy ride. Read the full story »