AHA launches center for health innovation
The American Hospital Association (AHA) introduced a center for health innovation to provide hospitals with resources and support as they respond to changes in the healthcare landscape. The center of health innovation will initially focus on developing market intelligence, innovation competitions, cybersecurity services, and “innovation boot camps.” Through the center, the AHA will offer hospitals insights into best practices to address emerging areas of healthcare, such as new payment, delivery and performance improvement models. The center will also test new ideas that improve outcomes and increase the affordability of healthcare services.
Intalere Chief Commercial Officer Steve Kiewiet recognized as AHRMM Fellow for Supply Chain Achievements
Intalere announced Chief Commercial Officer Stephen Kiewiet was recently awarded the Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management (AHRMM) Fellow designation for 2018. The designation of AHRMM Fellow (FAHRMM) recognizes current AHRMM members for reaching the highest level of education and achievement in both the Association and in the supply chain field. Kiewiet’s fellow paper focused on implementing radio-frequency identification (RFID) in the medical device supply chain. Kiewiet joined Intalere this year as Chief Commercial Officer, where he is responsible for ensuring the integrated commercial success of the organization through business and market share growth with direct oversight of the Sales, Marketing and Customer Service departments. Prior to joining Intalere, Kiewiet served as Vice President, Supply Chain with BJC Healthcare in St. Louis, providing multi-site operations management with a $30 million budget, more than $1 billion in supply spend and 210 full time employees at 15 hospitals. He played an instrumental role in positioning the company as an industry leader in driving supply chain visibility, including implementing one of the industry’s first health system based medical device self-distribution models, which delivered more than $2 million in annual savings.
HCA Healthcare chairman and CEO to retire, new CEO named
HCA Healthcare announced Sam Hazen, the company’s president and COO, will succeed R. Milton Johnson as CEO on January 1, 2019. Hazen will also serve as a member of the board of directors. Hazen has been with the company for almost 36 years. Johnson will retire as CEO, effective December 31, 2018. He will continue as chairman of the board of directors through the company’s 2019 annual shareholders’ meeting on April 26, 2019 and at the company’s 2019 annual shareholders’ meeting, Johnson will retire from the board of directors. On that same date, the board of directors plans to appoint Thomas F. Frist III, a current board member, to be chairman of the board of directors.
Walgreens to sell EpiPen alternative amid shortage
Walgreens, in partnership with Kaleo, will be the first retail pharmacy to offer Auvi-Q, an alternative to EpiPen. Walgreens will stock Auvi-Q, an epinephrine auto-injector manufactured by Kaleo, which was previously only available through Kaleo’s mail delivery program. The list price for Auvi-Q is steep at $4,500; however, a spokesperson for the company said eligible patients with commercial insurance, including those with high deductible health plans or whose insurers don’t cover it, can get Auvi-Q for free. Those who pay cash at the pharmacy counter will be charged $360 for two auto-injectors, according to the New York Times.