Health

HEALTH • Summer 2017 5 State approves UMass psych beds reduction UMass Memorial Health Care will convert roughly half of its psychiatric beds for medical/surgical use after it received approval from the state pub- lic health council on June 14 for a $30-million renovation plan. The Worcester hospital plans to convert the 13 beds in order to improve its medical/surgical capacity and emergency department boarding. When beds are full, UMass Memorial said it will shuttle patients to other area hospitals for services. State offi- cials, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, and community stake- holders have all spoken up against the move, saying shutting down psychiat- ric beds could hurt access to mental health services in the region. After Harrington stabbing, nurses call for better safety The Massachusetts Nurses Association called for more aggres- sive safety measures to protect work- ers at hospitals statewide after a patient alledgedly stabbed a nurse in the triage area of the emergency room at Harrington Hospital on June 14. The nurse was seriously injured and suspect Conor O'Reagan was scheduled to be arraigned on charges of aggravated assault and assault with intent to murder. The Legislature is considering a bill to require healthcare employers to per- form an annual safety risk assess- ment and develop programs that minimize the danger of workplace violence to employees and patients. Reliant plans move to Auburn Mall Reliant Medical Group plans to move into the former Macy's home goods store at the Auburn Mall by next summer, taking up a large vacancy at the mall after plans for a movie theater fell through, the Worcester-based physician group announced in June. With the move, Reliant will vacate its existing Auburn medical offices at 35 Millbury St. and at 94 Elm St. in Millbury. Reliant is slated to use at least 69,000 square feet at the mall and potentially more. { Health Care Briefs } Heywood Petersham outpatient treatment center opens The first phase of Heywood Healthcare's new dual-diagnosis unit in Petersham is up and running, and outpatient services are now available for adults with both mental health and substance abuse disorders, the system announced. The Dana Day Treatment Center at the Quabbin Retreat Project, is run by master's- level educated therapists and offers care coordination and family support in small group settings. Local trans- portation is available, and most insur- ance plans are accepted. eClinicalWorks to pay $155M in settlement Westborough electronic health records software vendor eClinical- Works and some of its employees will pay $155 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the company misrepresented its software's capabilities and paid $392,000 in kickbacks to certain influential customers in exchange for promotion. eClinicalWorks and three of its founders, including CEO Girish Navani, are responsible for paying the settlement, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. It is the largest False Claims Act recovery ever in the district of Vermont, said Eugenia Cowles, acting U.S. attorney for Vermont. The com- pany denied any wrongdoing. Harvard Pilgrim signs outcomes-based contracts with drug maker Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, with offices in Worcester, has signed two outcomes-based contracts with Great Britain drug developer AstraZeneca. The outcomes-based system means that Harvard Pilgrim will be charged based on value to the patient, not just on volume of medicine sold, accord- ing to a release from the company. The first contract is for Brilinta, which is used to lower a patient's chances of having another heart attack, or dying from one. The second is for Bydureon, which controls blood glucose levels in patients with Type-2 Diabetes. We offer: • Long-term and short-term care • Ancillary Services: dental, eye, podiatry provided at the nursing home • Respite and Hospice Care • PT/OT/ST Rehab services; 7 days a week • Full time Physician Assistant • Continuing Care Community: Assisted Living services and Independent Living cottages & apartments on the Briarwood Community campus "Healthcare Environment State of the Art" • Restaurant-style dining room • Bright and airy rooms • Activities; 7 days a week • Cable TV and telephones available in each room • Resident computer and free access to internet • Pet therapy through Tufts Veterinary Program Schedule a Tour Today! www.knollwoodnursingcenter.com 87 Briarwood Circle, Worcester, MA 01606 508-853-6910 Reliant approves Optum acquisition Reliant Medical Group doctors unanimously voted to be acquired by OptumHealth, a Minnesota-based division of national insurer UnitedHealth, in May. The announcement came after an off-site meeting in which 230 physician members voted on the deal. For-profit Optum can now proceed with plans to acquire Reliant, a nonprofit and one of the region's top 10 largest employers, with 2,500 employees. Reliant officials said the deal is an opportunity to leverage Optum's expertise in technology and the accountable care organization model, meant to make health care more effective and efficient. Terms of the sale had not been disclosed at press time. Reliant trustees voted to approve the deal in April. Acquisition by Optum will change the physician network's tax status, allowing it to generate revenue for the cities and towns where it owns real estate. Continued on Page 6 Dr. Tarek Elsawy, CEO of Worcester-based Reliant Medical Group P H O T O / N A T H A N F I S K E

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