Paul Govern

Continuity of care initiative focuses on patients exiting clinical trials

The Vanderbilt Breast Center is piloting new measures to ensure continuity of care and timely insurance preauthorization as patients come off grant-sponsored clinical trial protocols and begin or resume standard care.

Patel lands health care informatics award

Neal Patel, M.D., MPH, professor of Clinical Pediatrics and chief medical information officer for inpatient services at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is the first-place recipient of the 2013 Healthcare Informatics/AMDIS IT Innovation Advocate Award, recognizing leaders who have helped move the health care industry forward through their innovations.

Surgical Pathology takes Pioneer Program to heart

Surgical pathologists are often asked to evaluate tissue samples mid-procedure. These intraoperative consultations entail rapid processing and microscopic evaluation to distinguish diseased tissue from healthy tissue, thus helping guide the surgeon’s hands.

Roundtable explores employers’ health care expectations

As the United States grapples with a combination of unsustainable growth in health care costs and comparatively lackluster overall population health, Vanderbilt and other leading employers in the region are seeking to improve the value of health care services for their health plan beneficiaries.

Huizinga to lead VMG Quality and Patient Safety

Smith to lead Vanderbilt Network Services

April 25, 2013

New computer speeds clinical data collection

Tucked in a data center in the basement of Vanderbilt University Hospital, a new computer the size of a large armoire, called a data warehouse appliance, is delivering a new order of speed to Vanderbilt clinical scientists as they search, filter, analyze and annotate the de-identified medical records of approximately 2 million patients.

By Paul Govern

March 18, 2013

Award winners embody caring, dedication

The latest Credo Award and Five Pillar Leader Award winners were announced at this week’s Spring Clinical Enterprise Leadership Assembly at Langford Auditorium.

By Paul Govern

March 14, 2013

VUMC testing new payment system for Medicare patients

Over the next three years, Medicare will test a new payment arrangement that rewards participating hospitals when Medicare patients require fewer inpatient and post-discharge services, but extracts financial penalties when patients require more of these services.

By Paul Govern

March 14, 2013

Morath to oversee quality efforts for California Hospital Association

Having served since 2009 as Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s chief quality and safety officer, Julie Morath, MSN, is leaving to become senior vice president for the California Hospital Association, where she will have oversight for hospital and health system quality and safety strategy and alignment. She will also be appointed CEO of the new California Hospital Quality Institute.

By Paul Govern

March 14, 2013

Balser outlines efforts to address shifting economy

An overview of financial pressures created by the federal budget sequester and other legislation now facing Vanderbilt University Medical Center and academic health centers across the country was presented March 12 at two leadership forums — the Spring Clinical Enterprise Leadership Assembly held that morning at Langford Auditorium, and a faculty meeting focused on impact on the research community the same afternoon in Light Hall.

By Paul Govern

March 7, 2013

Diagnostic management efforts thrive on teamwork

As choices mount for patient testing and treatment, diagnostic management has arisen at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to address two closely related questions that clinicians must ask themselves more and more often: have I ordered the right tests for this patient; and, taken together, what do these test results imply for the best treatment of this patient?

By Paul Govern