The investment is expected to cost the health system $10.8 million, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from California, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
- California: Reddit is encouraging its users to combat the spread of misinformation about the coronavirus on the platform, and medical experts are stepping up to the plate, volunteering as moderators for coronavirus discussion threads. Emerson Ailidh Boggs, a Ph.D. candidate in infectious disease microbiology and a moderator of coronavirus subreddits, said, "Being in infectious disease myself, I view this as some sort of extension of my day job, even though I'm not getting paid for it" (Birnbaum/Mills Rodrigo, The Hill, 2/7).
- North Carolina: Atrium Health on Thursday announced plans to raise the minimum wage from $12.50 to $13.50 per hour for 10,000 workers in the Charlotte region. The change is expected to cost the system $10.8 million. The system also said it's planning an additional minimum wage increase in the region so that workers receive $15 per hour by 2021 (O'Brien, HealthLeaders Media, 2/6).
- Tennessee: Envision Healthcare on Wednesday announced that Chris Holden is stepping down as president and CEO of the physician staffing firm. Envision did not provide a reason for Holden's departure but said it is currently searching for a successor. In the interim, the company has created an office of the CEO that will be run by EVP and COO Karey Witty, CFO Teresa Sparks, and Chief Administrative Officer Dave Esler (Minemyer, FierceHealthcare, 2/6).