Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
S.C. Hospital To Pay Largest-Ever Settlement For Improper Treatment Of Emergency Psychiatric Patients
AnMed Health in South Carolina has agreed to pay the largest-ever settlement in a case brought under the federal law requiring hospitals to stabilize and treat patients in emergency situations. The not-for-profit, three-hospital AnMed system will pay nearly $1.3 million to settle federal allegations that in 2012 and 2013 it held patients with unstable psychiatric conditions in its emergency department without providing appropriate psychiatric treatment in 36 incidents. AnMed, based in Anderson, S.C., serves upstate South Carolina and northeast Georgia. (Meyer, 7/5)
Carmela Coyle, the longtime president and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association, is stepping down from the post in the fall to head the California Hospital Association. Coyle has served in her current position for nine years. The executive committee of the Maryland association said it will begin a national search for her replacement. (McDaniels, 7/6)
Charles "Chuck" Stokes has been appointed president and CEO of the Memorial Hermann Health System, two weeks after he was promoted to the interim job following an abrupt shake-up atop the largest hospital network in the Houston area. (Ackerman, 7/6)
Charles Stokes is no longer the "interim" president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System, after the board on Thursday officially named him to the top job. He replaces Dr. Benjamin Chu, who abruptly retired two weeks ago to pursue a role crafting health and public policy. (Weinstock, 7/6)
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday launched an investigation into a hospital鈥檚 handling of a man who sought psychiatric care just days before he fatally ambushed a New York Police Department officer sitting in a mobile command post. 鈥淯nder tragic circumstances such as these, it is critical to ensure all proper procedures and safeguards were taken,鈥 Cuomo said Thursday in a statement. (7/6)