In This Issue Retail Clinics as a Resource AtlantiCare sees retail clinics as one more way to touch patients, and an opportunity to learn about a new way of offering care. Read More... At the Heart of Change Executive Interview with Howard Kern, president and COO of Sentara Healthcare, an IDN with a 17,000-workforce and 87 sites of care. Read More... Here Today, CON Tomorrow? The development of physician-owned, limited service hospitals, or specialty hospitals, has become a hot-topic among not-for-profit healthcare providers, for-profit investors and physician groups, and government agencies. Read More... Straight from the Source It seems that group purchasing makes just about everybody’s blood boil — big manufacturers, small manufacturers, distributors, legislators. But how about materials managers and contracting professionals? If a recent survey is to be believed, they seem to think that everything’s fine with GPOs. Read More... Odd Man Out Two’s company, three’s a crowd. In a triangle whose points are the physician, the vendor and hospital administration, the “winner” is the one that controls two of them. Read More... Major Market Spotlight We review the Chicago, IL MSA, including geographical coverage, population demographics, top IDNs, major insurers, hospitals, Long Term Care / Skilled Nursing, GPOs, and news. Read More... Operating News We summarize 16 news articles regarding hospital operations. Read More...