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As many of you know, the Texas Hospital Association and HealthShare/THA will soon be moving downtown, close to the state capitol and into new office space designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all our operations and services. The building, located at 1108 Lavaca Street, is expected to be complete in late spring, with our projected move taking place in early May.
Our new quarters feature up-to-date technology to enhance our meeting and networking capabilities; a rooftop terrace for social events, networking functions and fundraisers; and quick and easy access to Legislative and regulatory offices. For our customers, clients, and companies, HealthShare/THA’s office will be easier to find and access, with adequate space for meeting and conducting business. One of our goals is to make it easy for you to get the service and attention you need from us, and we believe this move will contribute to that.
We’ll be keeping you posted on the move and any other changes ahead. Our website, email addresses and phone numbers will remain the same. As always, we welcome your comments and feedback at any time. I encourage you to plan on dropping by the new office once we are settled in.
Brian Stevens
Interim President/CEO & Vice President, Marketing
NEWS
HealthShare/THA is pleased to announce that Vicki Dale has joined us as regional executive for the North Texas area. Look for more details about Vicki in next month’s issue. Also, John Checkley has joined THA as senior vice president, member relations. John has many years of association experience, and was most recently a trainer and consultant for The University of Texas -Austin.
PROFILES
Docs Opt Out
Thirty-eight percent of the 34,601 physicians active in patient care in Texas are age 50 or older. The aging of the physician population raises the very real worry of a worsening shortage in our health care system. Merritt, Hawkins & Associates, which tracks the career plans of older physicians through its Survey of Physicians 50 to 65 years old, recently released the findings from the 2007 survey. According to the survey, 14 percent of older physicians plan to retire in the next one to three years, another seven percent plan to move to a medical job in a non-clinical setting, and three percent plan to find a job in a non-medical setting. That adds up to about a quarter of these physicians opting out of patient care during the next three years. Another 12 percent plan to work part-time, eight percent to significantly reduce their workload, and four percent to work locum tenens. Even if only a portion of these physicians actually follow through, Texas stands to lose close to 1,000 physicians, according to MHA. Combined with enhanced demand for medical services, this loss could be acutely felt. A copy of the 2007 Survey of Physicians 50 to 65 years old is available at merritthawkins.com or 800/876-0500 or call us at 800/252-9404.
New Website
Press Ganey Partners in Improvement, a long-time HealthShare/THA endorsed company, has completely redesigned its website, based on customer feedback and the growing need for improvement resources. The new site has best practices, networking opportunities, news, and resources in a clear, easy-to-use format. Download resources and documentation critical to creating sustainable change in your facility, look through research and analysis pages broken out by stakeholder and facility type, and read current and past issues of Satisfaction Monitor and the latest information on Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS). A “Hot Topics” feature provides an inside look at what your health care peers find most interesting and valuable. Check out pressganey.com today, or call Tracy Wilson at 800/816-9504 for more information.
Nurse-Friendly (TM) Designees
The Texas Nurses Association recently announced nine facilities as Nurse-Friendly, a three-year designation that signifies a hospital has the 12 essential elements of the ideal nursing practice environment, as defined by nurses and research, that allow nurses to practice safe, quality patient care and pursue a level of professional development and career satisfaction that will keep them in nursing. A total of 49 Texas facilities have achieved this designation to date. The latest recipients are Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, College Station Medical Center, Guadalupe Regional Medical Center in Seguin, Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Lake Pointe Medical Center in Rowlett, Medical Center of Lewisville, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital, St. David’s Georgetown Hospital, and The Menninger Clinic in Houston. Congratulations!
SPOTLIGHT
Texas Hospital Association’s annual report for 2006-2007, A New Day, is now available. This document discusses issues and efforts from the most recent legislative session, the Association’s media relations activities, regulatory issues, services such as Price Point and emergency preparedness, and more. It outlines THA publications and education services, as well as all THA subsidiaries, including HealthShare/THA. The document can be downloaded in pdf format from the THA website, texashospitalsonline.org.
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If you have any questions on companies you have read here or other endorsed services please call us at 800/252-9404.
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