CVS says ‘no’ to tobacco
Todd Feeback — Hale Center for Journalism CVS Caremark announced plans to remove tobacco products from more than 7,600 stores in the United States by Oct. 1. Through a press release announcing the decision Wednesday, the company estimated an annual loss of revenue at $2 billion. According to 2012 numbers, CVS had overall sales of…
Representatives from US Small Business Administration talk entrepreneurship at Kauffman Foundation
Kyle Geary — The Hale Center For Journalism Representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration visited Kansas City on January 22. Dr. Winslow Sargeant, chief counsel for advocacy, and Becky Greenwald, regional advocate for Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, participated in 1 Million Cups before attending a closed meeting with entrepreneurs. Sargeant holds a national…
Carondelet Health, HCA deal falls through
Regulatory hurdles have scuttled plans for Carondelet Health to sell its two area hospitals to HCA Midwest Health System. Carondelet Health said in a news release that the two sides discontinued talks after it became clear that the Federal Trade Commission would not issue a “timely, supportive decision.” Carondelet Health, which is part of St….
Handful of metro businesses now accepting bitcoin
Kyle Geary — The Hale Center For Journalism In the United States there is no gold standard for the dollar, so it is hard to discern true value. It is valuable because we all agree it is. This is called fiat currency. A new style of currency has recently emerged and has become increasingly popular…
KC Health Department boosting efforts in the Northland
The city of Kansas City, Mo., Health Department has taken an initial step in its effort to improve service north of the river, and city officials said the move could be a precursor to a combined health and transit hub at one of the Northland’s busiest intersections. In mid-January, according to Deputy Director Bert Malone,…
Funding for new patient building
The University of Kansas Hospital has secured some major philanthropic support for a new patient building at its Kansas City, Kan., campus. In a news release, the hospital said donors have pledged large gifts toward the new building. The hospital owns about 14 acres at the northwest corner of 39th Street and State Line Road,…
Sebelius pushes health exchanges
Alex Smith — KCUR Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urged the uninsured to enroll in the federal health exchange at a press conference in Kansas City, Mo., Monday morning. At the Full Employment Council near 18th and Vine, Sebelius touted the benefits of the health exchange for both the uninsured and for the…
Local student tackles concussion story for PBS NewsHour
Part of Kimberly Chexnayder’s interest in reporting on the topic of concussions is the fact that she suffered one herself while playing basketball. “I had had a concussion before, so the topic of concussions and the NFL and these recent lawsuits kind of peaked my interest,” said Chexnayder, who is a senior at Paseo Academy…
Mental health officials brief stakeholders on KCK facility
A new short-term mental health facility in Kansas City, Kan., will have the capacity to serve community needs and will not abandon patients after they are treated, the operators of the facility said at a Friday forum. There should always be adequate space in the facility because the focus of the treatment will be quick…
Profile: Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute CEO
Wayne Carter, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute, loves technology. His phone is constantly buzzing with updates and tweets, he wears a Fitbit 24/7 and he tests pioneering healthcare apps. He said these apps will change the way medicine is practiced in America. “It’s putting healthcare and the ability to…
New quality official announced for Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center
Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center, a health clinic based in Kansas City, Mo., said Thursday it has taken steps to boost its efficiency. Among the changes, according to a news release, is the naming of Linda Zimmerschied as CEO for quality and clinical services. She is currently director of quality. Other changes include strategies to…
Exploring the Animal Health Corridor: a primer to Kansas City’s big industry
Halfway between Manhattan, Kan., and Columbia, Mo., Kansas City is smack in the middle of what the Kansas City Area Development Council calls the Animal Health Corridor. According to the council, the Kansas City area is home to 220 animal health–related businesses and 20,000 industry-related jobs. This results in Kansas City being a major player…
Startups get new style
Kyle Geary — The Hale Center For Journalism Picture this: a man in his late twenties is wearing sneakers, jeans and a hoodie. This doesn’t sound like the typical executive uniform. Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, is infamous for his casual attire in the workplace and is part of a wave of…
Public hearing spotlights plans for unaccredited districts
The auditorium at Paseo Fine and Performing Arts Academy was nearly full of parents, teachers and community members Wednesday night for a public hearing hosted by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on plans to address unaccredited school districts in the state. Kansas City Public Schools is one of three districts currently…
CEO of Research Medical Center announced
HCA Midwest Health System announced Tuesday the appointment of Jacqueline R. DeSouza as CEO of Research Medical Center, a 490-bed hospital in Kansas City, Mo. Her appointment takes effect Feb. 10. She is currently CEO of Lee’s Summit Medical Center, another HCA Hospital. DeSouza succeeds Kevin Hicks, who left recently to become CEO of HCA’s…