Government data released for the first time last week showed that hospitals across the nation bill Medicare widely different amounts for the same procedures.

St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell, N.Y., charged $29,637 for patients who received a respiratory system diagnosis and remained on a ventilator more than 96 hours, while Stanford Hospital in Stanford Hospital, Calif., charged $929,119.

2. Saint Francis Earns Tenet Circle of Excellence - Saturday, May 11, 2013

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis said it has received Tenet’s 2013 Circle of Excellence Award.

The 519-bed Memphis hospital is one of nine Tenet Healthcare Corp.-owned hospitals recognized for superior quality care, service excellence and operational performance. Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare operates 49 hospitals and 124 outpatient centers in the U.S.

3. Saint Francis Memphis Earns Tenet Circle of Excellence - Monday, May 06, 2013

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis said it has received Tenet’s 2013 Circle of Excellence Award.

The 519-bed Memphis hospital is one of nine Tenet Healthcare Corp.-owned hospitals recognized for superior quality care, service excellence and operational performance. Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare operates 49 hospitals and 124 outpatient centers in the U.S.

4. Health Care Alignment Trend Accelerates - Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The trend for alignment between hospital systems and private physicians hit the Mid-South in mid-2010 and has gained momentum since.

The area’s three major hospital systems – Baptist Memorial Health Care, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and Saint Francis Healthcare – are padding their physician rosters with primary care doctors and specialists by acquiring practices in strategic locations throughout the Memphis market.

5. Saint Francis Introduces MAKO Knee Treatment - Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis this week becomes the first hospital in the city to offer the MAKOplasty partial knee resurfacing treatment.

The treatment uses a highly advanced, surgeon-controlled robotic arm system to correct early to mid-stage osteoarthritis that has not yet progressed to all three compartments of the knee. Saint Francis spent $1.5 million to acquire the new technology, and the first surgery is scheduled to take place Thursday, Nov. 15.

6. Memphis Companies Win Heart Association Honors - Friday, November 09, 2012

Sixteen Memphis-area businesses have been recognized by the American Heart Association’s Fit-Friendly Companies Program for promoting physical activity and health in the workplace.

Fit-Friendly Companies Program participants encourage such things as physical activity and healthy eating in a number of ways, including through such enhancements as on-site walking routes and healthy food options in cafeterias and vending machines.

7. Saint Francis Parent Reports Quarterly Growth - Thursday, November 08, 2012

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp. on Wednesday reported growth of more than $77 million, or 40 percent, in adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization compared to last year’s third quarter.

8. Improved Flight Path - Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Air medical transport service Hospital Wing has consolidated its operations under one roof with a $1.2 million renovation and expansion of its headquarters near Downtown Memphis.

“The Wing” – as the company is usually called – celebrated the completion of renovations at its Memphis base with an open house event, Tuesday, Oct. 2.

9. Hospitals Must Prepare for Shifting Model - Monday, September 24, 2012

A new model for health care in America is rapidly on its way, according to the chief medical officer of Saint Francis Healthcare. And many physicians are oblivious to it or in denial.

10. Daily News Seminar Looks at Health Care Reform Impact - Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Changes in the model and delivery of health care and its potential impact on businesses and their employees will take center stage Thursday, Sept. 20, at the latest seminar presented by The Daily News.

11. Industry Leaders Discuss Changing Health Care System - Monday, September 10, 2012

Some of Memphis’ most prominent health care leaders discussed the changing U.S. health care system during the Memphis Business Group on Health’s fourth annual conference Thursday, Sept. 6, at the Holiday Inn-University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave.

12. Business of Health Care Topic of Seminar - Friday, September 07, 2012

In terms of national policy discussion, the current changes in the model and delivery of health care remains among the most heated and complicated of topics.

And on Thursday, Sept. 20, a panel of local experts assembled by The Daily News will participate in an in-depth discussion about the health care industry, including challenges, opportunities and the outlook through 2013.

13. Senior Sector - Monday, August 20, 2012

The 76 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 were said to have remodeled society as they moved through it.

It was the baby boomer generation that drove the cultural shift to consumerism with SUVs and mini-vans. That demographic just turned 65 and real estate developers have taken notice.

14. Survey: 34 Pct. Of Physicians to Leave Medical Practice - Wednesday, August 08, 2012

A new nationwide survey of U.S. physicians shows that 34 percent say they will leave the practice of medicine in the next decade, just as millions of Americans newly insured under the Affordable Care Act will seek more access to medical care.

15. Saint Francis Hospital Receives Quality Designations - Thursday, July 19, 2012

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis has been designated a UnitedHealth Premium site for cardiac care, cardiac surgery, heart rhythm disorders, surgical spine and total joint replacement.

Hospitals must meet or exceed United Healthcare’s rigorous quality criteria, including program structure, patient care processes and clinical outcomes.

16. 'Complex Situation' - Monday, June 18, 2012

With the U.S. health care system busting at its seams, industry experts are concerned about how already overwhelmed practitioners will provide care for the more than 30 million Americans expected to be added to the insurance rolls under health care reform – pending the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act, expected later this month.

17. Saint Francis-Bartlett Names Clark CEO - Thursday, June 14, 2012

Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett, part of Tenet Healthcare Corp., has appointed Jeremy Clark as its new CEO.

18. Semmes-Murphey Turns 100, Looks to Next Century of Care - Monday, June 04, 2012

Semmes-Murphey Neurologic and Spine Institute this year celebrates a century of improving the quality of care for patients with neurological and spine disorders.

The Memphis-based institute, which today employs about 275 people – including about 40 doctors – was founded in 1912 by Dr. Eustace Semmes and Dr. Francis Murphey.

19. Medical Realignment - Monday, June 04, 2012

Private practice is fast becoming a thing of the past, as physicians groups across the country scramble to align with large health care systems in a move largely driven by national health care reform.

20. MBGH Announces Conference Speakers - Monday, May 28, 2012

Memphis Business Group on Health has announced the lineup for its annual conference, which will be held Sept. 6 at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave.

21. Seminar Looks At Health Care Law Impact - Monday, April 09, 2012

As the nation awaits the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision on the Affordable Care Act, local experts weighed in at The Daily News Health Care Reform Seminar, held Thursday, April 5, at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

22. Events - Tuesday, April 03, 2012

The Daily News will host its Health Care Reform seminar, part of the 2012 seminar series, Thursday, April 5, at 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, 1934 Poplar Ave. The seminar, which will include a keynote by Greg Anderson of Horne LLP and a panel discussion, will look at the impact of health care legislation and what can be expected through 2013. Cost is $25. Visit seminars.memphisdailynews.com for more information or to register.

23. Events - Monday, April 02, 2012

The Daily News will host its Health Care Reform seminar, part of the 2012 seminar series, Thursday, April 5, at 3:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, 1934 Poplar Ave. The seminar, which will include a keynote by Greg Anderson of Horne LLP and a panel discussion, will look at the impact of health care legislation and what can be expected through 2013. Cost is $25. Visit seminars.memphisdailynews.com for more information or to register.

24. Towering Questions - Monday, April 02, 2012

It’s been slightly more than two years since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, but when it comes to small businesses meeting its demands, confusion still abounds.

While some provisions of health care reform – such as expansion of coverage to adult children up to age 26, new coverage options for individuals with pre-existing conditions and eliminating lifetime caps on coverage – have been implemented, the government will continue to roll out provisions through 2014 and beyond.

25. TDN Seminar to Focus on Health Care Reform - Friday, March 23, 2012

Friday, March 23, marks the second anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act, whose complexities continue to leave many business owners confused.

Even many professionals who consult with small businesses regarding policies and employee benefits are struggling to keep up with the numerous changes being implemented by health care reform.

26. Meeting Needs - Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett is seeing record numbers of patients after unveiling its $34 million, 83,000-square-foot expansion earlier this month.

The hospital at 2986 Kate Bond Road, which opened in 2004 as a 100-bed facility, features a wide range of medical services, including emergency and intensive care, cardiology, oncology, vascular services, orthopedic and spine services, and a family birthing center.

27. Health Care Reform on Tap At Next TDN Seminar - Friday, March 09, 2012

The health care industry is a vital economic driver in Memphis, where hospitals, health care providers and biotechnology companies employ one out of every seven workers.

At the same time, many Memphians are uninsured and underinsured, posing a barrier to accessing care, and small-business owners continue to struggle with providing coverage due to the rising costs associated with health care.

28. Tenet Records Q4 Loss on Debt Retirement Charge - Wednesday, February 29, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – Tenet Healthcare Corp. on Tuesday reported a fourth quarter loss, as a $117-million debt refinancing charge outweighed the hospital operator's gains in revenue and patient admissions.

29. Improving Public Health Goal of New Initiative - Thursday, February 16, 2012

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell this week announced the launch of a new broad-based health care project designed to improve public health and reduce health care costs for county residents.

30. Inconclusive Prognosis - Wednesday, December 28, 2011

It was a mixed year of highs and lows for the Memphis area health care industry – which employs one out of seven workers locally – as the nation’s uncertain economy and changing health care system prompted hospital networks and biotech companies to realign, restructure and rethink the way they operate.

31. Tenet Q3 Profit Plunges Absent Big Tax Benefit - Wednesday, November 02, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, said its third-quarter profit plunged due to the lack of a hefty tax benefit it recorded last year, but revenue and admissions rose during the quarter.

32. Methodist Adds Another Private Practice - Wednesday, November 02, 2011

In alignment with the local and national trend of health care systems partnering with physicians groups, Eastmoreland Internal Medicine is the latest practice to join the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare family.

33. Medicaid Growth Impacts Tenet 2011 Profit Forecast - Tuesday, September 13, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – Tenet Healthcare expects 2011 earnings at the lower end of its previously announced guidance, the hospital operator said Monday, largely because of the growth in Medicaid admissions, which offer relatively low reimbursement.

34. Floyd has Helped Financial Federal Grow Since 1985 - Friday, August 12, 2011

Mary Floyd, executive vice president of Financial Federal, helped create the bank’s residential lending sector, which has been one of the bank’s primary services for 26 years.

35. CCHS to Open Family Medicine Center - Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Christ Community Health Services on Thursday, Aug. 11, will unveil the new University Family Medicine Center, a clinic in the heart of the Memphis Medical District that will serve medically underserved members of the community.

36. Tenet Healthcare Q2 Profit More Than Doubles - Wednesday, August 03, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – Tenet Healthcare Corp. on Tuesday said its second-quarter earnings more than doubled, as the hospital operator benefited from pricing improvements and saw several favorable trends.

37. Saint Francis Wins Marketing Awards - Thursday, July 14, 2011

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis and G-Design Advertising have been honored by the Aster Awards for marketing excellence in health care.

Saint Francis received three Gold Awards in the categories of Multilingual Advertising-Single, Service Line-Orthopedic Services and Patient Education.

38. Saint Francis Hospital Awarded for Excellence - Monday, July 04, 2011

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis was recognized by the Aster Awards for marketing excellence in health care last week.

The hospital received three Gold Awards in the categories of Multilingual Advertising-Single, Service Line-Orthopedics and Patient Education. The hospital was judged in a national competition among other hospitals with more than 500 beds.

39. Community Health Ends Effort to Buy Rival Tenet - Wednesday, May 11, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Community Health Systems Inc. has ended its effort to buy competitor Tenet Healthcare Corp. after Tenet rejected its latest $4 billion-plus offer.

40. Tenet Healthcare Q1 Profit Falls 17 Pct - Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. said Tuesday its first quarter earnings fell 17 percent largely due to increased income taxes that offset admissions gains.

41. Community Health Asks for Tenet Suit Dismissal - Thursday, April 21, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Hospital operator Community Health Systems Inc. said Tuesday it has asked a U.S. district court to dismiss a lawsuit accusing the company of systematically bilking Medicare.

42. Community Health Makes All-Cash Bid for Tenet - Monday, April 18, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Hospital operator Community Health Systems Inc. on Monday revised its $3 billion offer for rival Tenet Healthcare Corp. to an all-cash bid.

43. Tenet, Community Health Fight Gets Nasty - Tuesday, April 12, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Tenet Healthcare has charged rival hospital operator Community Health Systems with systematically bilking Medicare and the burgeoning legal fight sent shares of the entire sector plummeting Monday.

44. MLGW Unveils Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - Thursday, April 07, 2011

Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division officials Wednesday unveiled a set of 69 proposed sites for stations to charge electric vehicles.

The sites across Shelby County include seven Memphis public libraries as well as the Millington public library and seven MLGW facilities that would add the electric charging stations.

45. St. Francis Opens Primary Care Clinic - Monday, April 04, 2011

St. Francis Medical Partners unveiled its new location at 452 Perkins Extended Thursday during a ribbon-cutting event.

46. Year of Resilience - Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Despite a weakened economy, Memphis’ hospitals, health care companies and biotechnology sector remained strong throughout 2010.

The industry, which employs one out of seven workers in Memphis, expanded operations and invested more than a billion dollars in new construction and equipment.

47. Saint Francis Entity Acquires Memphis Medical Specialists - Monday, December 27, 2010

Saint Francis Medical Partners announced last week the acquisition of Memphis Medical Specialists PC, an internal medicine practice.

48. Community Health to Nominate Tenet Board Directors - Tuesday, December 21, 2010

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) — Community Health Systems Inc. said Monday it plans to nominate directors to Tenet Healthcare Corp.'s board at the hospital operator's 2011 annual meeting, as part of a push to take over its smaller rival.

49. Sunley Flies High as Pilot for Hospital Wing - Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Six months ago, Chopper 5 pilot Kirk Sunley left his job flying for Memphis news station WMC-TV.

He decided to devote his career to transporting critically ill or injured patients to regional hospitals as a line pilot for Hospital Wing, a Memphis-based nonprofit air medical transportation company.

50. Louisville Company Buys St. Peter Villa - Thursday, December 02, 2010

St. Peter Villa Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Memphis has been acquired by Signature HealthCARE of Louisville, Ky.

The 180-bed geriatric care facility at 141 N. McLean Blvd. in Midtown will be renamed Signature HealthCARE at St. Peter Villa.

51. Louisville Company Buys St. Peter Villa - Wednesday, December 01, 2010

St. Peter Villa Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Memphis has been acquired by Signature HealthCARE of Louisville, Ky.

The 180-bed geriatric care facility at 141 N. McLean Blvd. in Midtown will be renamed Signature HealthCARE at St. Peter Villa.

52. Healthy Industry - Monday, November 22, 2010

Throughout a prolonged recession and anemic recovery, hospitals and health care companies have given Memphis a powerful antidote to an ailing economy.

They have invested more than a billion dollars in new construction and equipment, expanded operations and kept tens of thousands of people working.

53. Lifeblood Elects Board Members - Monday, November 15, 2010

Lifeblood has elected new members to its board of directors.

New board members include Bill Appling, president of Watkins Uiberall Healthcare Consulting Group; Al Bright Jr., attorney at Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens and Cannada PLLC; Sam Cole, attorney; Dr. Lawrence Madlock, medical director at University Health Services; Jim Martin, retired from the Shelby County Division of Corrections; Kem Mullins, chief executive officer at St. Francis Hospital Bartlett; and Dr. Ted Strom, blood bank medical director and director of the hematology section, pathology and laboratory medicine services at the Memphis Veteran Affairs Medical Center.

54. Saint Francis-Bartlett Plans More Heart Procedures - Thursday, October 21, 2010

Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett is looking to do more than diagnostic testing at its cardiac catheterization lab.

When the hospital received state approval in 2005 for the $1.6 million lab, the Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency limited the scope of services to diagnostic procedures. On Wednesday, the hospital will go back to the state agency to ask that this condition be removed.

55. Tenet’s Local Hospitals Nab CIGNA Recognition - Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis and Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett are among 43 hospitals within Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp.’s network to receive “Center of Excellence” designations from CIGNA HealthCare.

56. Saint Francis Expansion Timeline, Contractor Revealed - Thursday, September 23, 2010

Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett broke ground Thursday morning for a $34 million expansion – the latest in a series of big hospital projects throughout the Mid-South.

The expansion, which is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2012, will allow the hospital to add 96 beds and 83,000 square feet. Saint Francis will also double its ICU capacity and surgical suites.

57. St. Francis Begins Bartlett Expansion - Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett will break ground Thursday morning for a multimillion-dollar expansion – the latest in a series of big hospital projects throughout the Mid-South.

The expansion will allow the hospital to add 96 beds and 83,000 square feet.

58. Saint Francis-Bartlett to Break Ground on $45.4M Project - Monday, September 20, 2010

Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett will break ground Thursday morning on a $45.4 million expansion that will allow the hospital to add 96 beds and another 83,000 square feet.

The Tennessee Health Services Development Agency approved a permit for the expansion in February 2009.

59. Infection Offensive - Monday, August 23, 2010

Tennessee has lifted a curtain of secrecy, exposing the successes and failures of Memphis hospitals in preventing bloodstream infections.

The likelihood of getting a central line-associated bloodstream infection at some area hospitals is double what it should be. Data compiled by the Tennessee Department of Health in a recent report show some hospitals have a standardized infection ratio (SIR) of 2.0 or more when the national guideline is 1.0.

60. Tenet Healthcare Reports Quarterly Profit - Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Tenet Healthcare Corp., the parent company of Saint Francis Hospital–Memphis and Saint Francis Hospital–Bartlett, said Tuesday that it earned $25 million during the second quarter.

61. Yeates Joins A2H As Project Manager - Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Arthur Yeates has joined Askew Hargraves Harcourt & Associates Inc. (A2H) as an architectural project manager.

62. Flintco Cos. Names Clawson Marketing Coordinator - Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Beth Clawson has been named marketing coordinator for the Memphis office of The Flintco Cos. Inc. Clawson joined Flintco after serving as director of the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk in Memphis.

63. Payne-Johnson Joins Arlington’s Baptist Memorial Medical - Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Dr. Ann Payne-Johnson, a family medicine physician at Baptist Memorial Medical Group, recently began practicing medicine at Baptist Memorial Medical Group Arlington Family Medicine.

Hometown: New Orleans, La.
Education: Residency, University of Tennessee Department of Family Medicine, Jackson, Tenn.; Spartan Health Sciences University School of Medicine; master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Southern Mississippi
Work Experience: Family medicine physician at BMMG, clinician at Saint Francis Hospital, aerobics instructor/fitness instructor (stopped when I was 5 months pregnant with my son)
Family: Married. Five-year-old son, Donovan, in kindergarten at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School; daughter, Ashley, 2.
Last book read: “Llama Llama Mad at Mama”
Music: Disco. Favorite song: “I Will Survive.”
Favorite movie: “Scarface” (“Avatar” is a close second)
Sports team: New Orleans Saints (Who Dat!!!)
Activities you enjoy outside of work: Farmville on Facebook, gadgets, spending time with the kids
Who has had the greatest influence on you? My father, who was a musician and scientist.
Why did you pursue a career in medicine? I have always wanted to practice medicine.
What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishments? Becoming board certified.
What do you most enjoy about your work? The people I work with every day are phenomenal. Baptist is growing to continue to meet the community’s needs for primary care.

64. Hospitals Recognized for Quality Measures - Friday, April 30, 2010

The Memphis Business Group on Health Wednesday recognized area hospitals that have achieved “best odds of survival” for high-risk surgical procedures as measured by the 2009 Leapfrog Hospital Survey.

65. Memphis College of Art Files Permit for South Main Building Renovation - Tuesday, April 13, 2010

477 S. Main St.
Memphis, TN 38103
Permit Amount: $2.2 Million

Project Cost: $3 million
Permit Date: Applied April 2010
Completion: Fall 2010 (Phase I)
Owner: Memphis College of Art
Tenant: Memphis College of Art
Contractor: Montgomery Martin Contractors LLC
Architect: Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects

66. Saint Francis to Renovate Thompson Tower Floor - Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis at 5959 Park Ave. has filed an $850,000 building permit with the city-county Office of Construction Code Enforcement to renovate the fourth floor of its Thompson Tower.

67. Tenet’s Earnings Up, But Below Expectations - Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Tenet Healthcare Corp., which owns the Saint Francis hospitals in Memphis and Bartlett,

reported net income of $21 million during its fourth quarter, which ended Dec. 31.

68. Southern Heritage Classic Founder Receives Lifetime Achievement Award - Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Fred Jones has received the Arthur S. Holmon Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Memphis Black Student Association.

69. Saint Francis Donates Outerwear - Thursday, January 07, 2010

Employees of Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis have donated 245 gloves, scarves and hats to the Memphis City Schools Homeless Children and Youth Program.

The employees collected the clothing items during a holiday celebration, then presented them to Dolores Flagg, the coordinator of the program.

70. Saint Francis Makes Progress on Bartlett Expansion - Friday, November 06, 2009

Although construction cranes have yet to appear, Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett is moving forward – albeit behind the scenes – on a $45.4 million expansion that will double the number of hospital beds.

71. Tenet Healthcare Names Chief Medical Officer - Friday, October 02, 2009

DALLAS (AP) - Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. said Thursday that it has named a chief medical officer.

72. Tenet Raises Full-Year Outlook - Tuesday, September 15, 2009

DALLAS (AP) – Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. raised its estimates for 2009 on Monday, saying business in the third quarter has been stronger than expected. Tenet is the parent company of Saint Francis hospitals in Memphis and Bartlett.

73. Comprehensive Pharmacy Services Brings on Johnson as CFO - Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Brian Johnson has joined Comprehensive Pharmacy Services as chief financial officer.

Johnson previously worked as a public accountant at Ernst & Young. Prior to his time at Ernst & Young, he worked at U.S. Office Products and Accredo Health.

74. Tenet Raises 2009 Outlook But Expects Q2 Loss - Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. – parent company of Saint Francis Hospitals in Memphis and Bartlett – said Tuesday it expects to report a $15 million loss for the second quarter, as bad debt rose and private insurance admissions fell.

75. Memphis Music Foundation Elects Bell Chairman - Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Al Bell has been elected the new chairman of the Memphis Music Foundation.
Under Bell’s direction, the foundation will continue to provide education, strategic planning and promotional opportunities to the Memphis music industry.
Bell is the former chairman and owner of Stax Records and former president of Motown Records. Bell has worked with artists such as Booker T and the MG’s, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Albert King, Rufus Thomas, Isaac Hayes and Richard Pryor.

76. Data Rank Local Hospitals for Service - Monday, July 13, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Thursday updated the data on its Hospital Compare Web site, providing composite rankings for local hospitals.

The site, www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov, allows consumers to see how well hospitals perform in specific areas. It is important, however, to consider a hospital's mission or service specialties and look at footnotes.

For instance, Delta Medical Center compared poorly for measures to prevent blood clots before or after surgery, with doctors prescribing treatment only 62 percent of the time compared to much higher percentages for Baptist Memorial Hospital Memphis and Methodist University Hospital, but a notation points out that the latter two hospitals provided data from only a sample of cases.

Mary Hammons, chief executive officer of Delta Medical Center, said the hospital prefers to use all data rather than samples and pointed out that it ranked higher than some of its bigger competitors in other categories

In some instances, data for a trauma care center, such as The Regional Medical Center at Memphis, may be different from a general acute care hospital.

“We try to risk-adjust for the type of work and the care that hospitals do,” said Peter Ashkenaz, deputy director of the press office for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “We try to balance it out. The hospital will tell you that we don’t, but we try to catch it.”

Saint Francis-Bartlett had the best patient satisfaction rate. Seventy-five percent of patients said they would definitely recommend the hospital compared to 72 percent for Baptist Memorial Memphis and Baptist Desoto, 69 percent for Methodist University Hospital, 66 percent for Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis, 61 percent for Crittenden Memorial Hospital, 59 percent for Delta Medical Center and 54 percent for The MED.

Dr. Richard Drewry, chief medical officer at Baptist Memorial Hospital, said he was pleased with how the hospital ranked.

“At Baptist, quality is a constant process, and our scores are comparable with most other hospitals in the nation,” he said. “We are always looking for opportunities to enhance the care we give, and this data represents another measurement tool for us to benchmark and target areas to enhance our entire system.”

The Web site had more than 18 million page views last year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are against using any one process or outcome measure in making hospital choices and to seek information from multiple sources.

“The reality is if you’re in an ambulance on the way to the hospital, you’re not going to pull out your iPhone and figure out which hospital you want to go to,” Ashkenaz said. “You don’t necessarily have that choice, but it gives you or a family member the ability to ask questions of the hospital once you are there.

“If you’re having respiratory issues, do you want to go to a hospital that is consistently low in the quality of the services that they do for pneumonia or that re-admit a lot of patients who have pneumonia?”

The death rate at Methodist for pneumonia patients was worse than the national rate, to the surprise of some hospital officials.

"We were very surprised to see the scores ... on mortality since during the very same period of analysis our pneumonia scores on both Hospital Compare and Quality Check (were) above the national and state averages for all hospitals," Methodist chief quality officer Dr. Jerry Maliot said in a statement.

"In fact, Quality Check had rated Methodist's pneumonia performance for the period with a 'PLUS,' indicating, 'This organization's performance is above the performance of most Joint Commission Accredited organizations.'"

Marilynn S. Robinson, senior vice president at Saint Francis Healthcare, said the results at its hospitals reflect an ongoing initiative.

“The hospital has made improving patient quality a major focus and has taken systemic steps to monitor the progress the hospital is making in this area,” Robinson said. “The release of the Hospital Compare data is important because it provides valuable information to assist in this effort . . . Saint Francis Hospital has implemented several evidence-based medicine initiatives to track the progress we are making with regard to prevention and reporting measures, which have helped to keep our readmission and mortality rates at the national average.”

77. Tenet Healthcare Offers $450 Million in Notes - Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. – parent company of Saint Francis hospitals in Memphis and Bartlett – reported Monday it is privately offering $450 million in senior secured notes due to mature in 2019.

78. Tenet Will Buy Back Up to $1B in Notes - Monday, June 01, 2009

Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. reported Friday it started a tender offer to buy up to $1 billion of senior notes due in 2014.

79. Raynor Named VP of Marketing For Two Hilton Brands - Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Carla Raynor has been appointed vice president of marketing for Homewood Suites by Hilton and newly launched Home2 Suites by Hilton.

80. Tenet Healthcare Swings to Q1 Profit - Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Inc., the owner of Saint Francis Hospital in Memphis and Bartlett, reported Tuesday a first-quarter profit on a gain from a debt swap and higher overall revenue, despite a slight drop in same-hospital admissions caused by the weak economy.

81. Tenet Healthcare Sees First Quarter Profit - Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Hospital operator Tenet Healthcare Corp. went from a loss to a profit in the first quarter, partly on a gain from a debt exchange, the company reported in releasing preliminary results Tuesday.

82. Saint Francis Weight Loss Center Appoints Weaver Medical Director - Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Virginia Weaver has been appointed medical director of the Saint Francis Center for Surgical Weight Loss.

83. Tenet Healthcare Reports $33 Million Q4 Loss - Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Tenet Healthcare Corp. on Tuesday reported that it lost $33 million in fourth quarter 2008, which was an improvement from the same period a year ago, when the hospital operator had a $75 million loss.

84. State Approves Bartlett Hospital Expansion - Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The board for the Tennessee Health Services and Development Agency voted unanimously at its last meeting to allow Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett to go forward with a $45.4 million expansion.

The permit to nearly double the amount of hospital beds comes a little more than four years after the hospital opened in Bartlett. Saint Francis has not set a construction time frame, but the state certificate of need is good for five years.

85. Recession Causes Hospital Cutbacks - Friday, February 06, 2009

Saint Francis Hospital is cutting jobs because of the recession, and the Regional Medical Center at Memphis could follow suit.

Saint Francis, which is operated by Tenet Healthcare Corp., said Thursday it had laid off 40 employees and has eliminated another 50 vacant positions. Next week, the board for The MED, which is owned by Shelby County, is expected to vote on whether to give the management company that it contracts with authority to implement cost cutting measures that would also eliminate positions.

86. Tenet Healthcare Reports $63M Earnings - Friday, January 23, 2009

Tenet Healthcare Corp., which operates Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis, reported Thursday that it expects earnings to be about $63 million for 2008.

87. Saint Francis Hospital Receives CIGNA Designations - Friday, January 23, 2009

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis has been recognized with six designations from CIGNA Healthcare.

The quality designations are based on superior outcomes for treatment of 29 surgical procedures and medical conditions. The hospital received designations for angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft, colon surgery, gastric bypass, head and neck endarterectomy, and total knee replacement.

88. Hospital Lawyers Say Wage Suit A Union Ploy - Thursday, January 15, 2009

A lawsuit against Memphis hospitals over an alleged wage-fixing conspiracy is actually a union ploy to organize nurses, according to a court filing by the hospitals’ attorneys.

The filing is in response to a motion in U.S. District Court to make the case a class action lawsuit. Thousands of registered nurses could benefit, but hospitals could lose millions if the suit is successful.

89. City, State Nursing Home Ratings Low - Thursday, January 08, 2009

In its first effort to rate the nation’s nursing homes using a ranking system, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has rated Tennessee third worst in the nation for geriatric care, behind only Georgia and Louisiana.

90. Memphis Area Nursing Homes Receive Government Ratings - Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Four nursing homes either in Memphis or within 25 miles of the city received five stars under a new rating system that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released last week.

The best nursing homes, according to the rating, were Methodist Healthcare SNF, Allen Morgan Health and Rehabilitation Center, Ave Maria Home and Memphis Jewish Home.

91. Hospital Federation Spent $740K Lobbying in Q3 - Thursday, December 18, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Federation of American Hospitals, which represents for-profit hospital chains, spent $740,000 lobbying the federal government in the third quarter, according to a recent disclosure form.

92. Methodist Increases Church Health Center Support - Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare has agreed to double the amount of hospital beds available for the Church Health Center’s Memphis Plan users and also to deed property to the nonprofit organization.

93. Saint Francis Plans $110,000 in Grants - Thursday, December 11, 2008

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis Chief Executive Officer David Archer plans to present checks totaling more than $110,000 to 16 nonprofit organizations Friday. The hospital is providing the gifts in conjunction with the Tenet Healthcare Foundation.

94. Dillihunt Joins Southeast Community Capital - Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Craig Dillihunt has joined nonprofit financial institution Southeast Community Capital as assistant fund manager for the Memphis Business Opportunity Fund, a partnership between the city of Memphis, local banks and SCC.

95. Tenet Swings to Q3 Profit On Investment Sale Gain - Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Tenet Healthcare Corp. reported Tuesday it swung to a third-quarter profit on an investment sales gain, but the results fell shy of Wall Street expectations and the hospital operator cut its full-year outlook.

96. Hottel Appointed Dean At UT College of Dentistry - Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Dr. Timothy L. Hottel has been appointed dean for the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry.

Hottel currently serves as executive associate dean and chief financial officer, associate dean for academic and financial affairs, division chief for primary care, professor in the Department of Prosthodontics, and interim chair of the Department of Cariology and Restorative Dentistry at Nova Southeastern University in Ford Lauderdale, Fla.

97. St. Francis-Bartlett to Add Professional Building - Wednesday, October 08, 2008

With hopes of tapping into the growth at St. Francis Hospital-Bartlett, a local development firm in 2009 will build an $8 million, 60,000-square-foot medical office building on the hospital’s campus.

98. Renewed Medical Center Focus On Tap at Methodist - Tuesday, April 29, 2008

When a search committee at Methodist University Hospital started looking for a new CEO, they had a demanding wish list: someone with diverse experience to run a large, complex facility; an academic mindset to serve relationships with the community's universities; and - toughest of all - someone who could lure primary-care doctors back to the Downtown Medical Center.

99. Hospital Giants Lurch Toward Comprehensive Chart Filing Systems - Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Hospitals have been buying computers for 20 years, only to see their volumes of paper grow with every upgrade, while easy access to clinical information continues to be elusive.

But the two big Memphis-based health systems are staging a $130 million clash of the Titans, and this time they say they are getting it right: Methodist North just passed its latest milestone, switching on several new components of One Chart, a patient chart filing system.

100. Area Hospitals To Become Smoke-Free - Thursday, November 15, 2007

Today marks the 31st anniversary of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout campaign, and Memphis hospitals have been gearing up since August 2006 to go tobacco-free.

Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp., Delta Medical Center, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Saint Francis Hospital and the Regional Medical Center at Memphis are collaboratively launching smoke-free environments today.