Healthcare Headlines: October 2016

This timely digest of trending healthcare industry news is compiled by Kraus-Anderson’s Healthcare Construction Group. KA works closely with healthcare clients on a wide range of challenging goals, from remodels and additions to new construction. Staying informed, and helping our clients be informed, of healthcare industry developments helps us accomplish our goal of providing maximum value for the client, so that they in turn can maximize their programs.

TRIA Orthopaedic Jobsite Partners with OSHA for Safety Initiative
The TRIA Orthopaedic Center project team has signed a CHASE Minnesota Level 3 jobsite safety compliance agreement in partnership with OSHA. Level 3 is the peak level of participation, designed for industry leaders with a very comprehensive safety and health program.   KA is managing construction of the TRIA project, a three-story, 84,000 s.f. outpatient orthopaedic center scheduled to open next year at CityPlace in Woodbury. The new facility will provide walk-in clinic, an ambulatory surgery center, a full scope orthopaedic clinic, and onsite rehabilitation services such as physical therapy and hand therapy.

Brookings Health System MOB Opens

Construction of the 24,000 s.f. Brookings Health System Medical Plaza opened October 10.  The medical office building opening marks the first leg of Brookings Health System’s hospital expansion and renovation project in Brookings, South Dakota.
KA continues as construction manager on the health care campus-wide expansion and renovation, to include an east expansion on two levels which will include new imaging and same-day surgery, central sterilization and mechanical; new medical/surgical and obstetrics unit, pharmacy and quality/infection control departments; as well as renovations in the lobby and front entrance and throughout the existing hospital facility.

ICD-10 one year later: The drama is over, the rewards yet to materialize

It was called “The Y2K of coding.” Despite the dire predictions, a year after the conversion of the healthcare industry claim stream into the more stringent ICD-10 diagnostic and procedural codes, claims flows are running normally and Armageddon hasn’t arrived. However, neither have the touted benefits.

MACRA rule expands exemptions, flexibility

Nearly one-third of physicians could be exempted from Medicare’s new merit-based incentive payment system under a final rule issued by the CMS for implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reathorization Act (MACRA).

Providers say commercial payers are unwilling to share risk
Tired of waiting for commercial insurers to adapt to value-based payment agreements with integrated delivery systems and clinical networks, C-suite executives are turning to provider-owned health plans, according to a recent survey.

Scottish Rite Clinic Opens in Duluth  

The new state of the art facility more than doubles the number of children that can be served each week. The space has eight therapy rooms, two autism suites, and an audiology wing; with space to accommodate the child’s whole family. Kraus-Anderson was construction manager for the project.
Watch news report

Raising the Bar on Healthcare

Gundersen Health System has been named 2016 Environmental Services Department of the Year by the Association for the Healthcare Environment.  The award provides national recognition for significant contributions made by an environmental services department to the overall patient experience and achieving a health care organization’s mission. KA completed construction of the six-story, 400,000 s.f. Gundersen Health System Legacy Building in LaCrosse, WI in 2014.