Hospitals Discuss Balancing Reform Goals and Care Needs

Hospital executives meeting this week at the annual Health Forum and American Hospital Association Leadership Summit are discussing how to pursue health reform objectives while maintaining quality patient care, particularly for the growing Medicare population. Nathan Kaufman -- director of Kaufman Strategic Advisors -- said hospitals must "reinvent themselves" to meet these demands, in ways such as working more closely with physician groups, installing electronic health records and consolidating facilities.

• "Federal Mandates Key Topic as Hospital Executives Meet" (Lavelle, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7/23).