Marin hospital district sues Sutter Health
A Marin County hospital district filed suit Thursday against Sutter Health, accusing the Sacramento-based health care system of “systematically and improperly” draining the community hospital’s coffers over the past four years.
Health bills hang in the balance as sesssion end nears
With an overhaul of the country’s health care system under way, California is moving briskly to put in place key parts of the landmark federal law – and in some cases expand the government’s authority over the health care industry.
Head of Anthem Blue Cross to step down
The chief executive officer of the embattled insurer Anthem Blue Cross announced today that she would be stepping down to help launch a coalition of groups aimed at transforming the state’s health care system.
Leslie Margolin, the President of Ant…
Kaiser, Sutter embrace social media communication
The post on Facebook warned of a scorcher this weekend. “Are you bikini not ready?” it asked, then directed those who “like” Sutter Health’s page – 1,791 fans at last count – to a blog offering advice about ingrown hairs, warm-weather rashes and other “swimsuit season spoilers.”
One of Sutter’s visitors, an employee of the health care giant, gave the post a thumbs up.
Sutter Health has given social media its own thumbs up, joining the growing list of health care providers blogging, tweeting, uploading YouTube videos and posting Facebook updates.
“We believe that social media networks are now the way patients and consumers are really getting information. They’re the new barbershops and water coolers,” said Dr. Toni Brayer, chief medical officer for Sutter Health’s West Bay region. Brayer blogs for the health care system and is a frequent commenter on Sutter’s Facebook pages.
Kaiser Permanente also has its own Facebook page, as well as scores of employees sending dispatches fluttering into the Twitter universe.
Kaiser created its Facebook page two summers ago, and is now liked by more than 7,200 users of the social media network.
“Our goal is to foster and encourage a healthy dialogue about our organization. Our Facebook page is one way to do that,” said Vince Golla, the digital media and syndication director for Kaiser’s national media and public relations team.
Yet Kaiser and Sutter are in the minority of hospitals nationwide to embrace social media. Many have taken a more cautious approach, concerned about complying with strict government rules protecting patient privacy.
“Hospitals are extremely cautious. We don’t want to do anything that would hurt patient privacy. … We’re almost paralyzed because of fear,” said Ed Bennett, director of Web strategy at the University of Maryland Medical Center, and one of the industry’s experts on social media.
He estimates that just one in six hospitals across the country has a presence in the growing number of online social media outlets.
Both Sutter and Kaiser have drafted extensive policies to guide employees in the use of social media. The UC Davis Medical Center is just rolling out its own policies.
Kaiser’s written policy “makes clear that all of the rules that apply to Kaiser Permanente employees also apply to social media – respecting one another and protecting patient confidentiality,” said Golla, Kaiser’s digital media director.
Even hospitals that operate Facebook sites themselves are reluctant to offer unfettered access to the social networking site within their facilities. At Sutter, for instance, computers used by employees block access to Facebook and other social media sites. Brayer said the concern is that employees would get distracted from doing their jobs.
By and large, the tenor of comments on hospital sites has been markedly less vitriolic than that of many blogs – and newspaper websites.
Kaiser’s sites are monitored, but judiciously, Golla said. “We encourage discussions that are on topic,” he said, “and the range of comments we remove, I think, are pretty narrow.”
Left in place under a post about volunteerism, for example, were off-topic comments about Kaiser’s “sharply escalating profits.” Another comment left by “Herbie Love-bug” seemed to criticize the health care giant about the high cost of premiums.
Obviously, divulging patient data is taboo – whether at a cocktail party or around online watercooler sites such as Facebook.
Many items posted on fan sites are innocuous – such as advice on the use of sunscreen and other skin care.
“At Sutter Health, what we’re really trying to be is a resource for people,” said Brayer. “We don’t use our sites to put out our point of view on something controversial – not on health care reform or union negotiations.”
Hospitals often use negative comments to improve customer service by engaging the customer in a conversation about problems, said Gary Zavoral, a Sutter spokesman.
“If somebody posts something negative – well, we’re not scared of it,” Zavoral said. “We’re always trying to improve.”
Field Poll: Majority of Californians back federal health care law
A majority of Californians say they support the new federal health care law but view it as just the first step toward fixing the country’s much-criticized health care system, according to a Field Poll released today.
These sentiments run counter to those expressed nationally. Other recent polls have found a lukewarm, if not hostile, reception to the $940 billion legislation aimed at widening access to health care for the country’s millions of uninsured.
But in California, voters support the law 52 percent to 38 percent, according to the poll conducted in April, just weeks after President Barack Obama signed the health bill.
“By and large, voters in California think it will make things better,” said the Field Poll’s director, Mark DiCamillo. “But there’s still some mixed sentiments, and it’s not a completely rosy picture.”
One in three Californians, for example, said they want the law repealed – even before many of its provisions can be implemented.
And 58 percent said more changes are needed to fix what they perceive as a broken health care system.
Amber Hall, an uninsured 41-year-old mother of two from the farm town of Hickman near Modesto, welcomed the new law but said she doesn’t know if it goes far enough to overhaul a system that hasn’t been able to help her.
“We’re better off if more people can get coverage when they’re sick and need it,” she said. “We’ll live in a healthier society overall.”
She agreed with the majority of Californians that the federal law is just a first step.
“It’s the first time anything like this has been done,” said Hall, who took part in the poll.
Others believe it’s a step the country never should have taken.
A poll released Wednesday by CNN/Opinion Research Corp. suggests that 56 percent of Americans oppose the federal health care law, while 43 percent support it.
Opponents argue that the legislation does little to control the rising cost of health care and places new burdens on taxpayers and businesses.
“It’s going to cost us a lot of money in the long run,” said Bernidette Martin, a 72-year-old Rocklin resident who thinks the law should be repealed.
The law might be well-intentioned, Martin said, but she doesn’t care much for what she calls “socialized medicine.”
“Its aim is to help the poor,” she said. “I’m a bit old-fashioned. You work for what you get.”
The Field Poll found that Democrats and minorities were more strongly in support of the law. Republicans markedly disapproved.
Regardless of their views, however, only about a quarter of the Californians surveyed in the Field Poll thought the changes would directly benefit them or their families. In fact, many said they fear their taxes will go up and they may end up paying more for health insurance coverage. They also believe that the law will hurt health insurers, doctors, businesses and the affluent.
Poll participants said they think the new law will benefit the poor, the uninsured, children and young adults.
The poll surveyed 1,522 registered voters in California from April 7-27. The margin of error is 2.8 percent.