10 reasons to build an ownership culture

Ritz-Carlton, ING Direct and Build-A-Bear Workshop are among the companies that have gained a competitive edge by creating an internal culture of ownership. Leaders have to walk the talk and sometimes, they say, you have to fire the customer.

Rare disorders bring people together via the Web

For conditions you think even your doctor doesn’t know about, check out Rare Share, a new online community for those with rare disease.  The medical community connects people with rare conditions. The results – for Web traffic, at least – are impressive. Since its summer launch, monthly growth has held between 35 to 50 percent. There are now more than 700 communities for different conditions.

Obama White House to work with Congress on health reform

The Obama administration will work with Congress on major health care reform policy in an effort to avoid mistakes made by the Clintons when the White House crafted its own plan with little input from lawmakers, sources tell The Boston Globe. HHS nominee Tom Daschle already has begun private discussions with congressional leaders. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., says the only way health reform will happen is “to have both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue working hand-in-glove.”

Personalized medicine expected to grow in 2009

Professionals in the biotech field say that personalized medicine, which focuses on using genomics and other molecular sciences, will be huge in 2009. The field of proteomics, which examines proteins, has also grown and will continue to expand.

Changing hospice rules would increase participation

A study finds more people would use hospice services if insurers and Medicare removed a requirement that patients give up the option of aggressive treatment for their illnesses. Researchers say blacks were more likely than whites to want aggressive cancer therapies, even if there was a low chance for success.

URAC announces revised CM accreditation standards and measures

The revisions align with the principles put forward by the National Transitions of Care Coalition (NTOCC), on whose Advisory Task Force URAC serves. Although URAC’s case management standards already addressed care coordination, the revised standards elaborate significantly on the assessment process and tools available to case managers that are specific to transitions in care.