More Signs of Organized Resistance? - Proposed Legislation for More Hospital Leadership Accountability

This year we note the beginning of action against the power of large health care organizations lead by hired executives and cronies who seem to put their self-interest and self-enrichment ahead of patients' and the people's health.  In 2013 we noted no confidence votes by medical school faculty (here), and university faculty (here) against academic leaders perceived as putting their power and wealth ahead of core values, actions by a state governor (here) and a big city mayor (here) against local health care systems perceived as putting their executives' enrichment ahead of their services to patients, and a union labor action (here) against a health care system perceived as putting executive enrichment ahead of adequate health insurance for low level employees.  We have posted about numerous examples of hospital (and other health care organization) executives receiving compensation far out of proportion to any realistic measure of their organizations' performance or positive effects on patients' or the public's health, and seemingly skimmed off the top of these organizations' budgets.

Now Modern Healthcare has reported about a bill in the California legislature aimed at supposedly not for profit hospitals that put money ahead of patients:

Officials with the California Nurses Association say the proposed law—AB 975—is an attempt to bring more accountability to money-making hospitals that use tax exemptions to turn tidy profits and give hefty salaries to executives.

Furthermore,

 Charles Idelson, spokesman for the California Nurses Association, said many profitable tax-exempt hospitals have lost the public's trust in recent years by making profits their top mission and paying salaries that allow executives to buy yachts while 'chipping away' at less-profitable services for women, children, the poor and mentally ill.

'What this bill does is, it really is an effort to increase transparency and make hospitals more accountable to the communities that they purport to serve,' Idelson said. 'Hospitals that are meeting their charity care obligation should welcome this process and understand that it is an opportunity to rebuild some of the public trust that they have lost through their other policies and practices.'

Hospital Leaders Deploy Talking Points, Including Logical Fallacies 

Perhaps predictably, hospital executives are not so happy:

'This is less about good public policy than it is about politics,' said Michael Hunn, chief executive for southern California hospitals at Providence Health & Services, which has five hospitals in the state. 'I would hate to see a political agenda further harm those that are marginalized in society,' Hunn said. 'No matter what the legislative and political process is, we need to keep in mind the human beings that it is our responsibility to care for.'

Note that Providence Health & Services is the ostensibly non-profit Catholic hospital system accused of putting paying executives multi-million dollar compensation ahead of giving low level employees minimally adequate health insurance as we posted here.  According to the organization's latest 990 form, Mr Hunn got $1,576,978 total compensation in 2011.  So one wonders which human beings he is feeling most responsible for?  Note also that the unsubstantiated allusion to a "political agenda," appears to be an appeal to ridicule, "a fallacy in which ridicule or mockery is substituted for evidence in an 'argument.'"  We have noted before how public relations flacks working for top executives of health care organizations seem to be very good at using such logical fallacies.  The argument Mr Hunn made seems essentially identical to an argument used against a lawsuit to end the tax exemption of a huge Pennsylvania hospital system that has apparently angered the communities which it is supposed to serve while paying its executives millions (look here).

In addition, 

Jan Emerson-Shea, spokesman for the California Hospital Association, said the bill's union backers were hiding their real agenda with 'red herring' issues like highly compensated executives and the superficial dissonance of not-for-profit organizations with healthy margins.

''Not-for-profit hospital' doesn't mean that you don't make a profit--all hospitals need to make a profit to keep the doors open,' Emerson-Shea said

Of course, that last assertion is not true.  Non-profit organizations need to avoid sustaining repeated losses to keep their doors open, but do not need to make any surplus to do so.  And the issue was not whether hospitals make small surpluses, but whether they behave like for-profit corporations, especially in regard to how well they pay hired executives.  So while protesting "red herrings," one spokesperson for hospitals, presumably for hospitals' hired executives, seemed to be arguing that the only alternative to a very large surplus and a very large reserve is a deficit.  By ignoring another obvious alternative, having a small surplus and a small reserve, this argument thus is derived from the logical fallacy known as the false dilemma.  The spokesperson also seemed to be arguing that a deficit inevitably leads to bankruptcy.  Of course prolonged deficits might lead to bankruptcy, but a single deficit would not necessarily do so.  Thus we see the logical fallacy known as the slippery slope. Note further that the argument used by the California executive here was again essentially identical to an argument used against a lawsuit to end the tax exemption of a huge Pennsylvania hospital system that has apparently angered the communities which it is supposed to serve while paying its executives millions.  So it looks like once again the hired executives and their public relations operatives have their talking points in line.   (See this post, from which our argument about the logical fallacies employed first in Pennsylvania came.)

Summary

It really is beginning to look like there is some sort of trend, albeit still small, towards organized resistance against the hired executives and cronies who have made themselves rich from large health care organizations, putting their self-interest and enrichment apparently before taking care of patients and serving the public's health.  As we have said ad infinitum....

Health care organizations need leaders that uphold the core values of health care, and focus on and are accountable for the mission, not on secondary responsibilities that conflict with these values and their mission, and not on self-enrichment. Leaders ought to be rewarded reasonably, but not lavishly, for doing what ultimately improves patient care, or when applicable, good education and good research. On the other hand, those who authorize, direct and implement bad behavior ought to suffer negative consequences sufficient to deter future bad behavior.

If we do not fix the severe problems affecting the leadership and governance of health care, and do not increase accountability, integrity and transparency of health care leadership and governance, we will be as much to blame as the leaders when the system collapses.

10 Hewan yang menjadi 'Artis" di kalangan Manusia

     Hewan dengan perilaku dan tingkah lakunya yang unik adalah hal yang sangat menarik perhatian manusia.. tak heran jika beberapa hewan bahkan menjadi artis yang sangat terkenal dikalangan manusia karena beberapa hal, seperti yang berikut ini..

1. Hachiko

     Ia terus dikenang sebagai lambang kesetiaan anjing terhadap majikan. Setelah majikannya meninggal, Hachiko terus menunggu majikannya yang tidak kunjung pulang di Stasiun Shibuya, Tokyo.

     Julukan baginya adalah Hachikō Anjing yang Setia. Patung Hachiko di depan Stasiun Shibuya telah menjadi salah satu marka tanah di Shibuya. Sewaktu membuat janji untuk bertemu di Shibuya, orang sering berjanji untuk bertemu di depan patung Hachiko.

2. Laika

      Adalah seekor anjing Rusia yang menjadi binatang pertama yang mengorbit Bumi serta makhluk hidup pertama yang tewas pada saat mengorbit. Pada masa itu, teknologi untuk mengorbit belum dikembangkan, sehingga tidak ada harapan untuk bertahan hidup. Hanya sedikit dampak penerbangan luar angkasa pada makhluk hidup yang diketahui sewaktu misi Laika dilakukan. Beberapa ilmuwan percaya bahwa manusia tidak akan mampu bertahan pada peluncuran maupun kondisi di luar angkasa, sehingga diadakan penerbangan untuk makhluk hidup bukan manusia sebagai awal penerbangan untuk manusia. Ia dipilih sebagai penumpang pesawat ruang angkasa Soviet Sputnik II yang diluncurkan ke luar angkasa pada 3 November 1957.

3. Muezza

     Muezza adalah kucing kesayangan dari Nabi Muhammad. Berdasarkan suatu riwayat, Nabi Muhammad terbangun mendengar suara Azan. Nabi Muhammad mempersiapkan diri dan berpakaian. Namun, Nabi Muhammad menemukan Muezza tidur beralaskan jubah beliau. Dibandingkan mengganggu tidur Muezza, Nabi Muhammad kemudian memotong sebagian jubahnya, meninggalkan Muezza tetap tidur; ketika Nabi Muhammad kembali dari salat, Nabi Muhammad menerima penghormatan dari Muezza sebagai tanda terima kasih. Kemudian Nabi Muhammad mengelus kucing kesayangannya sebanyak tiga kali. 

4. Paul si Gurita

     Adalah seekor gurita yang tinggal di sebuah akuarium di Sea Life Centres, Oberhausen, Jerman. Gurita ini mulai terkenal karena ia berhasil menebak seluruh pertandingan sepak bolakhususnya untuk Timnas Jerman di Piala Dunia FIFA 2010. Sejak Timnas Jerman kalah dari Spanyol, nama Paul semakin dikenal masyarakat dunia karena tebakannya selalu tepat. Namun, Paul pernah salah menebak pada pertandingan Final Euro 2008 antara Spanyol melawan Jerman. Paul memilih Jerman, namun akhirnya Spanyol memenanginya. Selain itu, pada babak penyisihan grup antara Jerman melawan Kroasia, ia memilih Jerman, namun hasilnya Kroasia memenangi pertandingan dengan skor 2-1.

5. Pigasus

 

     Pigasus adalah seekor babi yang merupakan kandidat Presiden Amerika Serikat (diajukan sebagai sindiran.. hahaha) dari Partai Pemuda Internasional (Yippie) dalam pilpres AS 1968 (yang dimenangkan oleh Richard Nixon). Nama babi ini merupakan pelesetan dari Pegasus, seekor kuda bersayap dalam Mitologi Yunani. Pencalonannya dipimpin oleh Abbie Hoffman dan Jerry Rubin, dan diumumkan selama protes massal saat Konvensi Nasional Partai Demokrat (AS) 1968 di Chicago, Amerika Serikat. Selanjutnya Pigasus juga ditampilkan dalam sebuah pawai di New York City. Setelah pilpres 1968, Pigasus bergabung dengan kelompok Hog Farm.

6. Domba Dolly

     Dolly  adalah mamalia pertama yang berhasil dikloning dari sel dewasa. Dia "lahir" di Institut Roslin, Skotlandia dan tinggal di sana hingga kematiannya pada usia 6 tahun. Kelahirannya diumumkan pada 22 Februari 1997.

     Penelitian membeberkan bahwa ketika Dolly lahir, ternyata dia usianya sudah beberapa tahun, sama dengan usia donor sel yang diperolehnya.

7. Alex si Bayan

     Adalah Bayan Abu-abu Afrika berusia tiga puluh tahun (1977-2007) yang merupakan bahan eksperimen psikolog hewan Irene Pepperberg, yang pada awalnya dilaksanakan di Universitas Arizona dan kemudian di Universitas Harvard dan Universitas Brandeis. Pepperberg membeli Alex di toko hewan peliharaan reguler saat masih berusia satu tahun. Nama Alex merupakan akronim dari Avian LearningEXperiment (Eksperimen Pendidikan Unggas). Dia juga menjelaskan bahwa Alex memiliki kecerdasan seperti pada manusia berusia lima tahun  dan tidak dapat mencapai potensinya secara penuh hingga dia mati.

8. Injaz

     Injaz adalah unta betina kloning pertama di dunia. Dr. Nisar Ahmad Wani di Pusat Reproduksi Unta di Dubai, Uni Emirat Arab, mengumumkan pada tanggal 14 April 2009 bahwa unta yang dikloning lahir dari proses gestasi selama 378 hari. Proyek kloning ini mendapat dukungan finansial dari Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Perdana Menteri dan Wakil Presiden Uni Emirat Arab dan emir Dubai. Sebelumnya terdapat beberapa usaha dari Uni Emirat Arab untuk mengkloning unta yang tidak berhasil.

9. Michael

     Michael adalah seekor gorila jantan pertama yang bisa "berbicara". Kosa kata yang dikuasainya berjumlah lebih dari 600 isyarat dalam American Sign Language. Ia diajari bahasa isyarat oleh Koko, seekor gorila betina. Dr Francine Patterson dan staf-staf lain dari Stanford University. Michael yang merupakan gorila yatim piatu, menghabiskan sebagian besar masa hidupnya di Woodside, California. Di sana, ia menjadi selebriti lokal dan pelukis yang cukup terkenal, yang melukis dalam gaya impresionisme menggunakan warna-warna cerah.

10. Ham

     Ham atau dikenal dengan nama Ham si simpanse, adalah hominid (kera) pertama yang ada di luar angkasa. Ham adalah singkatan untuk laboratorium yang mempersiapkannya untuk misi bersejarah ini, Holloman Aerospace Medical Center, yang terletak di New Mexico. Ham diluncurkan dari Bumi pada tanggal 31 Januari 1961 menggunakan kapsul Project Mercury MR-2. Ia mati pada tanggal 19 Januari 1983 dan dikuburkan di New Mexico Museum of Space History, Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Sumber: http://id.wikipedia.org/

Liverpool Raih Rekor Kemenangan ke-1800 di Liga Inggris

You'll Never Walk Alone - Liverpool Raih Rekor Kemenangan ke-1800 di Liga Inggris Meski performa Liverpool kurang ciamik di ajang Liga Premier Inggris (EPL) musim 2012/2013, bukan berarti menghentikan langkah klub besutan Brendan Rodgers ini untuk menorehkan prestasi.

Pada hari Minggu (31/3) lalu, klub berjuluk the Reds tersebut kembali mengukir rekor yang tidak pernah dimiliki klub lain sebelumnya yakni kemenangan ke-1800 di Liga Primer Inggris. Raihan rekor itu dicetak saat sang kapten Steven Gerrard dan kolega berhasil mengalahkan Aston Villa dengan skor 2-1 di kandang lawan, Villa Park.

Liverpool sempat tertinggal lebih dulu setelah Christian Benteke berhasil menjebol gawang Pepe Reina. Kemudian klub yang didirikan pada 15 Maret 1892 itu berhasil bangkit dan menyamakan kedudukan lewat Jordan Henderson. 

Steven Gerrard, bahkan mampu membawa Liverpool berbalik unggul lewat tendangan penaltinya. Kemenangan ke-1800 kali tersebut diperoleh Liverpool sejak meramaikan divisi teratas Liga Inggris masih bernama Football League First Division mulai musim 1888/1889).

Saat itu, Liverpool sukses meraih gelar Football League First Division untuk pertama kalinya pada musim 1900/1901. Kemudian pada musim 1992/1993, Football League First Division resmi berganti nama menjadi Premier Lague. 

Meski nama liga berganti tak lantas mempengaruhi prestasi Liverpool. Juara lima kali Piala Liga Champions Eropa ini terus mencatatkan kemenangan demi kemenangan di kasta tertinggi Liga Inggris itu dan akhirnya kemenangan itu jatuh di angka ke-1800. 

Seperti dikutip  dari laman resmi Liverpool, rekor kemenangan itu benar-benar terasa berkesan bagi skuad Liverpool. The Kop berhasil melewati klub elite Inggris lainnya Arsenal yang harus puas di urutan kedua dengan raihan 1751 kemenangan dan Everton di urutan ketiga dengan 1745 kemenangan.

Sumber

Are Animal Crackers Paleo?

Every child loves animal crackers, those sweet and crunchy animal-shaped biscuits.  But are they compatible with a Paleo diet?  Some people might think they already know the answer, but consider this: our ancestors evolved on the African savanna, eating the plants and animals found there.  Inside each box of animal crackers is an assortment of tiny savanna creatures such as giraffes and elephants.

To get to the bottom of this, I interviewed Robert Pearson, CEO of Animal Cracker Products Inc., who explained to me how these crackers are made.

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