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About
I have been writing about health care policy and business issues for trade publications since 2005. Trained as a business reporter, I was a staff writer for American City Business Journals for 11 years and, before that, for daily newspapers in Missouri and Texas.
I also worked at Midwest Research Institute, an independent not-for-profit research organization, as a research analyst and corporate communications manager.
My bachelor’s degree in journalism was awarded by the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. I have two master's degrees—English and public administration—from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
I would love to hear from you. If you would like to send a message please contact me at lola at lola butcher dot com or use the form below.
Clips
HealthLeaders"Misguided Transparency?"
Everybody in healthcare is all for transparency-until the window-washers pull into the driveway. That's when transparency about healthcare quality becomes a complicated conundrum, in some cases prompting its advocates to argue against it.
Oncology Times"Health Plans Think They Have Upper Hand"
"We asked a bunch of payers, 'Have you made any progress in working with physicians to moderate or rationalize drug use?'" says Tom Baker, senior vice president at the Zitter Group. "And one medical director said, 'Well, we've gotten them to stop administering drugs in the funeral home.'"
Managed Care"Evidence-Based Medicine Is Not Enough"
Even as demand for evidence-based medicine reaches a crescendo, a chorus of calls for comparative-effectiveness research is emerging to overwhelm it. Payers, politicians, and policymakers agree that the "E" of EBM needs work.
Biotechnology Healthcare"The Changing HIV/AIDS Landscape"
Biotechnology, a superhero for treating some autoimmune conditions and cancers, has yet to fully brandish its cape in the face of an arch-villain named HIV/AIDS. But in laboratories around the world, scientists are working on biologic approaches to treating and preventing this devastating scourge.
The Business of Caring"Quality Reporting: Reducing the Nurse Burden"
The nurse was slumped in her chair, obviously tired, with a daunting stack of charts piled in front of her. As she passed by, Lillee Smith Gilenas, the chief nursing officer for VHA Inc., offered the nurse a word of encouragement about her long workday-only to learn that the nurse was not officially on duty.
Patient Friendly Billing"Is There Money to Be Made in Wellness?"
Many hospitals are finding opportunities in the consumer-oriented wellness market. In doing so, these hospitals are generating new revenue streams and, perhaps equally important, developing close relationships with employers in their market.
Clients
- Biotechnology Healthcare
- HealthLeaders
- Healthcare Financial Management Association
- Managed Care
- Oncology Times
- Physician Executive
- Today's Hospitalist
- References available on request
Awards
- Heart of America Society of Professional Journalists General Reporting Gold Award
- Heart of America SPJ Awards, Best Beat Coverage and Best General Reporting
- Society of Business Editors and Writers, Best-in-the-Business Award (national award for Kansas City Business Journal staff)
- IABC-Kansas City awards (Bronze Quill for speech-writing, Award of Distinction and Honorable Mention for publications)
- PRSA Kansas City PRISM award, writing
- Stanley Fisher Award for Outstanding MPA Student
- APEX Awards for Publication Excellence, Award for Excellence, News Magapapers & Newspapers
- Pi Alpha Alpha, National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration
- Society for Technical Communication awards
- Details available on request