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And You Thought the Level of Government Agency and Business Recklessness in the Hawaii Fire was Obscene!
BOSTON: As a former FDA COO and Harvard faculty member, I taught and practiced health and healthcare risk management for over 40 years. But never have I been so worried for our nation and its businesses, jobs, and people. So, I am ringing a bell.
Since the beginning of my career, I have dedicated myself to one overwhelming concern: Risk management HC services and products and their use to benefit the life and safety of a single person to all of humankind—and prevent their misuse from destroying life or the safety of us all. For the past four years, I have specialized in the risk management of infectious disease spread—the last frontier of medicine.
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As Executive Chairman of my new company, Safely2Prosperity, it’s my immediate job to monitor the crucial and horrible Israel-Hamas-War-related events constantly. As it is the full-time job of the company's CEO, Former Lockheed Martin senior executive Dr. Haden Land.
If you don’t yet get the risk management point, how many ways must Dr. Land and I say it to you, our respected reader, before you get it? The Israel-Hamas War presents a significantly enhanced risk of a bio sneak attack on Israel, the US, and one or more of their allies. And possibly, if things go badly enough, a full-blown bio war.
Never let it be so.
Of what to be aware? What are the details?
If the current conventional weapons war is not managed correctly, things might get out of control to the extent that one or both of our fears might be realized. If this risk materializes to one degree or another—and if our government agencies and businesses are not adequately prepared—the damage to life and property (and our culture and way of life) could be devastating and catastrophic—perhaps irrevocably.
Dr. Land and I keep blowing the whistle, but only some hear it—and then listen to what it means for them, their enterprises, their employees, and their families.
You might recall that during the first wave of COVID-19, the US economy was damaged in the range of $14T (and on top of that, 1.1M deaths of people worth countless trillions of dollars if we quantified their highly discounted financial value as courts often crudely and cruelly do).
Both numbers are astronomically large. But you hear little in the press about them anymore. We wonder why. Fatigue? Fear? Pain? Guilt? (After all, it was mostly the “disposables over 60” who died.) Too upsetting to look anymore?). We can’t stop reminding them that everyone who died was someone’s son or daughter. And many were aunts or uncles, and parents or siblings. They were not disposables.
And all but certain businesses deemed “critical enterprises” were shut down for lengthy periods. Many companies lost employees to their competitors and failed to recruit appropriate replacements, even temporary ones. And many businesses in specific industries, such as the meat-packing industry, forever closed their doors.
Things might be worse for the next significant wave of COVID-19, especially when combined with substantial waves of the Flu and RSV. If the three diseases were disguised as nature-made and spread by human or mechanical agents of Hamas and its allies, things might become five- to ten-fold worse.
Why might Hamas use a weapon of mass destruction?
Hamas and its allies have already shown they care little about the rules of war. When they performed a sneak attack to kill a thousand unarmed Israelis and Americans, they made this abundantly clear.
Nothing in the moral, ethical, religious, or legal code of Hamas and its allies would inhibit or prohibit them from using a weapon of mass destruction. Some commentators say they lack “ethical and moral sanity.” And these evil groups “believe only in pure barbarism and brutality.”
We do not go that far. We hope many of their troops are redeemable. And we do not condemn those Palestinians who entirely reject Hamas and its hatred of the Jewish people—and its desire to wipe Jews off the face of the earth through organized genocide.
Why not nuclear?
The strong likelihood of quick and massive retaliation is the critical deterrent here. Atomic weapons are typically more powerful immediately, near-term, and long-term. Chernobyl’s still destroyed land is strong evidence of this.
But they are detectable in seconds and retaliated against in minutes. And a more massive retaliation can be launched against sponsors and proxy in just a few minutes more. No modern nation, absent insanity, will use them or authorize their proxy to use them. Hamas and her allies are passionate but far from insane.
On the contrary, they have stated and written repeatedly that they are committed to the mass destruction of Israel and the US. They intend to stop nothing short of a complete genocide. They are committed people who mean what they say and will do it if they can.
So, if desperate, cornered, and about to be destroyed, why wouldn’t Hamas and its allies (or Hamas alone and without authorization from its sponsors) look to and pull the trigger on a weapon of mass destruction if it was the right weapon? Perhaps for them, this weapon would be a massive attack of infectious disease—spread through one method and means or another.
Likely, they would not. But they might. And there now is an enhanced risk that they would. And we must all be aware of this risk, and especially our agency and business leaders must make sure we are adequately prepared.
Why do Americans have such little concern?
Because the Middle East is so far away and on the other side of two oceans (one in each direction), and because people living in the Middle East have been warring on and off for centuries without changing much, Americans do not yet get that they are the direct (not just indirect) target of Hamas and her allies’ rath.
It has not been easy to wake them up to this fact. But for their sake, and the world’s sake, they better wake up soon to this fact and what to do about it.
We have written over 100 articles or posts on different aspects of this risk. But only after the sneak attack by Hamas on Israel have we “gone ballistic” with our concerns. The level of risk increases daily. And if other mid-Eastern countries join the war, the rate of increase will escalate.
If you go massive, what are the further details on why not go nuclear? Why is bio so much more preferred?
In a “Wall Street Journal” article referenced below, the author opined, like us, that for many reasons described below, the next world war (there is always a next world war) will be a bio war, not a nuclear war.
We take this thought to another level. We believe a regional war conducted by a desperate enemy, such as Hamas, with or without the permission of its nation-state sponsors, could lead to a bio sneak attack by our enemy when they are “cornered.”
Suppose Hamas and her allies decide to use a weapon of mass destruction, possibly including a “dirty bomb” (a mixture of explosives, such as dynamite, and radioactive powder or pellets capable of spreading radioactive material for a short distance), which might be the only nuclear weapon to which they might have access. Why would they instead use a bio sneak attack, not a nuclear one?
The seven pros and cons of nuclear vs bio
There are at least seven reasons why they likely would prefer to use a bioweapon. We list here a. few of the reasons making nuclear weapons a poor choice. After this, we list the reasons making bio-weapons a far better choice.
1. Launching a nuclear weapon is a readily detectable event. (This factor is essential in knowing almost immediately the “when and how” of launch with a high degree of certainty.)
2. It is measurable in minutes, not weeks. (This factor is vital in knowing almost immediately the “what and where” of the point of landing and the likely size, direction, and level of spread with a high degree of certainty.)
3. The geographic source of the launch is readily detectable. (This factor is valuable in pinpointing the terrorist group and/or nation-state responsible for the launch and identifying the best target for massive retaliation for the first launch and deterrence from further launches.)
4. The spread of nuclear particles or fallout is readily detectable on-site at the target post-explosion and distribution. (Even the spread of only a small number of particles can be detected hundreds of miles from the bomb’s blast crater, whether the missile, bomb, or parcel is shot, dropped, or placed.)
5. It is detectable in minutes, not weeks. (The flash, sound, and jar of a large nuclear weapon explosion can be detected manually almost instantly from many miles away. If a large weapon is used, even nuclear detectors located a hundred miles from the bomb’s blast zone will sound an alarm in minutes and might be detected hundreds of miles away by countries downwind of the explosion.)
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Anenta, one of the UK’s leading healthcare waste management service providers, has appointed Karen King, former Department Head of Estates at the University of Cambridge, as Head of its newly formed Facilities Management (FM) division. King joins the business which supports over 20,000 public and private sector sites throughout England, including GPs, Pharmacies and hospitals.
King, who was previously responsible for the University of Cambridge Department of Physics portfolio of buildings – including the new world-class Ray Dolby Centre – will develop Anenta FM Services leading its delivery of soft and hard FM services to new and existing customers.
Launching first in London and then Cambridgeshire, before rolling out nationally, Anenta FM Services is committed to working with local specialist companies to deliver a faster response, better local knowledge, greater flexibility, and more competitive pricing. This approach is designed to deliver a more sustainable solution that minimises environmental impact while keeping more money in the local economy.
Anenta's specialist FM team will help it stand out in the sector by identifying and removing unnecessary services that customers frequently pay for as part of dated, legacy contracts.
Utilising its proprietary technology, bespoke FM solutions, expertise in best practice, compliance and statutory requirements, Anenta FM services aims to shake up the market. This will be delivered by improving service levels and identifying savings that can be returned to clients.
As part of this approach, Anenta FM services will implement contracts where whole-life costs are factored in, including mobilisation, planned preventative maintenance, reactive repairs and lifecycle savings.
Providing greater transparency and delivering reduced business disruption, this approach will ensure customer equipment lasts longer, resulting in fewer breakdowns or expensive emergency repairs. It also means that business-critical equipment will be replaced at the right time, avoiding the likelihood of catastrophic failure.
Hard FM services provided by Anenta FM Services will include electrical, mechanical, plumbing and heating maintenance, along with fire safety, emergency lighting and gas servicing. Its soft FM offering will encompass cleaning, waste management, grounds maintenance, pest control, window cleaning, furniture purchase, office moves and health and safety, aligning services with the needs of the building.
Commenting on her appointment, Karen King, new Head of Anenta’s Facilities Management division, said: “We aim to make an immediate impact by doing things differently at Anenta. Our focus will be on delivering transparent solutions that factor in whole-life costs as well as necessary work and maintenance. Unlike competitors that tender for contracts based on lowest headline prices, which fail to factor in real world costs, we’ll deliver tenders based on true lifetime value.
“By working with specialist local businesses overseen by our team of FM management experts, we believe we can build better solutions, improving levels of service, and lowering customer costs compared to the big national players.”
William Cunningham-Davis, Anenta’s Director of Development & Partnerships, added: “Karen brings with her many years of industry expertise and knowledge allowing us to build an FM solution that's both agile and highly effective. Combined with our technology and sector know-how – which has already saved our clients over £13m, plus a further £35m through efficiency improvements – we believe we can shake up the sector and give customers a better and more comprehensive service.”
An industry expert, Karen King has served on the Premises and Facilities Management Editorial Advisory Board for five years and is part of the judging panel for the PFM awards.
For more information about Anenta FM Services email karen.king@anenta.com , or call Karen King direct on 07861390821. Visit https://www.anentawaste.com/sectors/facilities-management-estates-services/ for full details. ...Read more
When I first entered leadership in radiology, being a successful imaging director was largely about being a strong clinical and operational leader. You needed to understand your modalities, manage your staff, maintain your equipment, control your budget, meet regulatory requirements, and make sure patients moved efficiently through the department.
Those responsibilities have not gone away. If anything, they have become more complex. What has changed is everything that has been added to them.
Today’s imaging director is still responsible for the clinical operation. But the role now reaches into information technology, workforce strategy, capital planning, construction, finance, regulatory compliance, patient access, data analytics and increasingly, artificial intelligence. Decisions that once may have involved selecting a piece of imaging equipment can now require months of planning involving IT infrastructure, interfaces, cybersecurity, construction, service agreements, software licensing, data storage and integration with other hospital systems.
Staffing is a good example of that evolution. Earlier in my career, staffing was not nearly the challenge it is today. There were more technologists available and competition for staff was significantly different. Today, particularly since COVID-19, we face technologist shortages while also adapting to a workforce looking for schedules that better fit their lives—four 10-hour shifts, three 12-hour shifts, Baylor shifts and other alternatives.
Technology has undergone an equally dramatic transformation. Imaging services is now one of the most technology-dependent areas of the hospital. Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is only the beginning. Quality-control applications, analytics, advanced processing, AI, interfaces, servers, data storage and integration with the electronic medical record have become part of our daily environment.
That means an imaging director no longer has the luxury of saying, “That’s an IT issue.” We do not have to be IT engineers, but we need to understand enough to ask the right questions. How will the system interface with PACS and the EMR? Where will the application reside? Who provides the server? How much storage will be required? What happens during downtime? What are the ongoing licensing and support costs?
Even adding a single new imaging service demonstrates how involved the role has become.
Consider implementing amyloid brain PET/CT imaging for Alzheimer’s disease evaluation. On the surface, it may sound as simple as developing a protocol and adding a new exam to the schedule.
In reality, the imaging director has to understand the entire process from beginning to end. Do we have access to the appropriate radiopharmaceutical, and what purchasing or vendor agreements are required? Do we have the necessary software to process the study, and does that software need to be purchased, installed, interfaced, or integrated into the existing imaging environment? Are the technologists trained to perform and process the examination? Are the radiologists prepared to interpret it? How will the exam be built in the EMR and billing systems? Are the appropriate charges established, and do we understand the requirements necessary to obtain reimbursement?
“Successful imaging leadership still comes down to people—supporting our teams, making thoughtful decisions and never losing sight of the patient at the center of it all.”
A new service is not truly ready simply because we can acquire the images. We have to make sure we can perform it, process it, interpret it, charge for it, and get reimbursed for it. Missing any one of those pieces can mean investing significant time and money into a service that cannot function as intended. That is why today’s imaging director needs enough knowledge of technology, clinical operations, contracts, IT infrastructure, physician workflows and revenue cycle to see how all the pieces fit together.
That understanding matters financially as well. I have inherited projects where significant expenses were overlooked during the initial planning. Few things are more difficult than returning to hospital leadership for additional funding after a project was approved based on what everyone believed was a complete cost. Understanding the technology behind the project has therefore become part of responsible financial leadership.
A recent hospital acquisition demonstrated just how broad the imaging director’s role has become on an even larger scale. Our organization assumed responsibility for a small rural hospital and began transitioning it into an urgent care and diagnostic center. From an imaging perspective, that meant much more than assuming responsibility for another department. We had to transition employees into our processes and policies, establish new sites and cost centers within the EMR, upgrade software and storage, migrate imaging studies into PACS, review contracts and integrate the operation into a larger health system.
The technology was only part of the challenge. Bringing employees into a new organization requires leadership. You cannot simply walk in and say, “This is how we do it now.” You need to understand their processes, recognize what they may already be doing well and determine whether some of their practices could improve the larger organization. Most importantly, people need to feel that they are becoming part of the team rather than simply being absorbed by it.
Capital planning requires the same long-term perspective. I work from a five-year plan based on equipment age, functionality, emerging technology and potential new service lines that could benefit the communities we serve. Imaging equipment represents some of the largest capital investments a hospital makes, and replacing aging equipment can compete directly with opportunities to introduce new services. Even the best plan must remain flexible because an unexpected equipment failure can quickly take priority over planned capital spending.
Patient access is another responsibility that extends well beyond scanner availability. Scheduling may be a patient’s first meaningful interaction with imaging services. Every imaging examination has different preparation requirements, clinical considerations, arrival times and expectations. Giving scheduling teams the knowledge and tools to communicate those differences correctly can directly influence the patient’s first impression of their imaging experience.
Leading multiple locations adds yet another dimension. A director cannot be everywhere, which makes developing strong managers and supervisors essential. Those leaders need the ability to handle local issues while also knowing when something needs to be elevated. It also makes succession planning critical. If we advance in our own careers, we should not leave behind a department that was dependent upon us to succeed. Part of leadership is developing the people who can lead after us.
Despite all of this complexity, my most important leadership lesson is to lead with a servant’s heart. Be willing to help. Treat people with respect. Make sure they know you have their back, and help them understand not only what decisions are being made, but why. When employees understand productivity, expenses, supply stewardship and how organizational performance affects the resources available to their department, they become partners in improvement rather than simply employees following instructions.
Looking ahead, I expect enterprise imaging, automation and artificial intelligence to make the role even more complex. Radiologist shortages and greater reliance on teleradiology are already changing workflows. Technologies capable of identifying higher-risk studies and prioritizing radiologist worklists may become increasingly important in improving turnaround times and getting critical studies interpreted sooner.
A successful imaging director today has to be more than a clinical and operational leader. At different moments, we are asked to think like a COO, CIO, construction manager, financial analyst, technology strategist and workforce strategist.
The role has become more complicated, more technical and more strategic. But at its core, successful imaging leadership still comes down to people—supporting our teams, making thoughtful decisions and never losing sight of the patient at the center of it all. ...Read more
Healthcare audit providers operate between clinical judgment and financial accountability, yet many review processes still struggle to connect the information required for accurate payment decisions. Medical accounts may contain contractual requirements, authorization records and clinical details that need to be assessed together. The difficulty for healthcare organizations is finding audit support that can examine individual transactions while maintaining consistent review standards across large volumes of activity.
Provider selection depends heavily on how audit workflows handle documentation and traceability. A review process that only identifies billing discrepancies may overlook whether the service aligns with clinical requirements or payer rules. Executives should examine whether a provider can maintain a clear record from account submission through review, including how exceptions are handled when automated checks cannot resolve a case. Reliable audit documentation helps organizations understand why a decision was made rather than only seeing the final outcome.
Technology also shapes the value of healthcare audit services, but automation alone does not determine effectiveness. Systems need to apply relevant rules while allowing specialized reviewers to assess cases that require clinical interpretation. The balance between automated validation and professional review affects how quickly organizations can process accounts without reducing the quality of decisions. Buyers should look for platforms that allow rules to be adjusted to contractual requirements, regulatory changes and payer-specific processes.
Another consideration involves the range of healthcare transactions covered by the provider. Medical auditing may extend beyond invoice review into areas such as authorization controls, prescription assessment or recovery processes. A broader view can help organizations identify patterns that affect spending and care decisions, provided the audit model remains tied to documented evidence rather than general assumptions.
Data access is equally important when reviewing external audit support. Dashboards and reporting tools should help teams follow pending decisions, identify recurring review issues and understand where delays occur. The ability to connect audit findings with process information gives healthcare organizations a clearer view of payment activity and supports more consistent management decisions.
“Delta A Salud’s platform registers medical accounts for traceability and applies configurable validation rules before professional review and payment decisions are completed.”
Procurement teams also need to assess how audit providers adapt to different healthcare environments. Requirements can vary across insurers, healthcare institutions and public entities, creating pressure for review methods that accommodate different rules without losing consistency. A provider’s ability to configure workflows, maintain review records and integrate professional judgment into the process can influence whether the service remains useful beyond a single audit engagement.
The strongest evaluations focus on how audit information moves from detection to resolution. Providers that connect clinical assessment, payment review and reporting functions can help organizations examine decisions through a complete record rather than isolated findings. That approach matters when healthcare transactions involve multiple stakeholders and require documentation that can support later reviews.
Delta A Salud provides healthcare audit services that combine electronic account review with rules-based validation and specialist assessment by clinical reviewers. Its platform registers medical accounts for traceability and applies configurable validation rules before professional review and payment decisions are completed. The company also uses software-supported audit processes for medical accounts, authorizations and related healthcare reviews, connecting structured data with professional analysis. These capabilities make Delta A Salud a relevant option for organizations evaluating audit providers that require documented review processes and configurable controls. ...Read more
The complexity of healthcare benefits has led to the importance of clear communication becoming a business priority for companies offering health benefits, wellness programs, and other similar services. The digital marketing process presents an organized way of communicating about the benefits, targeting specific audiences, and supporting the whole process of engagement for members.
Companies do not need to communicate through general means but should rather target relevant information through digital means. This method will ensure increased visibility while at the same time establishing consistency between the offerings of benefits and the beneficiaries of such benefits.
How Can Digital Marketing Improve Benefits Communication?
The first step towards effective marketing of healthcare benefits is identifying the requirements of the audience and delivering the information at the right time. Search engines, websites, emails, educational material, and social media can be used by the organization to make sure that they are offering the relevant benefit information to their target audience. By providing easy-to-understand information about who qualifies for what, and how the services and programs can be availed, confusion on the part of the users can be eliminated.
Personalization would help in taking communication about the advantages of healthcare further in terms of relevancy. The process of segmentation would enable marketers to segment their audiences depending on things like employee type, level of interest in the insurance plans, life-cycle, or previous experiences. Marketers don’t need to send out the same communication material to all their audience, but rather segment them depending on their needs.
Why Does Digital Strategy Matter for LongTerm Growth?
An effective digital marketing plan can benefit the healthcare organization in more ways than one. Effective content that is consistently delivered will build trust by simplifying complicated information. Content that is designed specifically to rank high in search results will help the organization get noticed when people are actively seeking healthcare benefits. Email and automated communications are ways in which the organization can stay in contact for a long period of time.
The benefit of measurements is significant. It provides performance metrics including web traffic, interaction with content, email communications, conversions, and the behaviors of the audiences. With such measurements, marketing managers can assess their strategies and learn what should be changed. In addition to strategic considerations, measurements can help to make better decisions regarding investments in content and communication.
It also presents an opportunity for coordination of marketing efforts with those of admissions and customer services, among others. Where teams can exchange information and keep messages consistent, digital marketing strategies can help achieve the organizational objectives as well as provide a platform for continuous improvement in communication.
Digital marketing for healthcare benefits is now a vital part of contemporary business strategy. Companies that incorporate helpful information, knowledge about the audience, customization, and measurable digital activities will be able to increase the effectiveness of their marketing and achieve better communication at the same time. In light of continually growing demands for easy-touse and relevant information, an adequate digital strategy can help the providers of healthcare benefits foster better relationships with the audience. ...Read more
