Training for patient safety

Hoping to repeat the success of an Australian patient safety training program for health care workers, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation has given $100,000 to launch a pilot site in Pittsburgh in the second half of 2007. Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, teamed with the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, will teach the curriculum, which is modeled on the National Patient Safety Education Project in Australia, to participants who in turn will serve as trainers at their own health-care agencies. In Pittsburgh, the curriculum will be offered through PRHI's Perfecting Patient Care University as an addition to the core, four-day curriculum.

Groups challenge power plant

Environmental groups have appealed a state board's approval of the air-quality permit for one of the largest waste coal power plants in the United States in the Greene County town of Nemacolin. Wellington Development LLC officials have said the $800 million plant would be fueled by 3.1 million tons of waste coal from piles at abandoned mines in Greene, Fayette and Washington counties. The Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board upheld the state's June 2005 approval of a plan to build the $1.3 billion power plant. The Group Against Smog and Pollution and the National Parks Conservation Association appealed to the state Commonwealth Court contending the plant's proposed emission controls will not meet the Clean Air Act requirements.

Oil prices rising

Oil prices rose slightly yesterday in response to U.S. government data showing crude inventories plunged last week. In its latest weekly report, the Department of Energy said crude-oil inventories declined 8.1 million barrels last week to 321 million barrels, dipping below year-ago levels of 323.3 million barrels. Light sweet crude for February delivery climbed 19 cents to close at $60.53 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

J.C. Penney fires executive

Department-store operator J.C. Penney Co. said yesterday that it fired its chief operating officer but gave no reason for the move. Catherine West, 47, who also held the title of executive vice president, had been COO since July. A two-sentence news release from Penney gave no explanation for Ms. West's firing.

Toyota likely to beat Ford

Ford Motor likely will see a large sales drop in December, while Toyota could gain enough to take over Ford's traditional role as the No. 2 auto company in the United States for the month, according to some industry analysts. Edmunds.com, a research Web site that tracks sales data from dealers, is predicting a stunning 19.6 percent drop in Ford sales compared with last December, while Bank of America analyst Ronald Tadross expects Ford's dip to be in the 10 percent to 12 percent range.