Industry Insight Reports

Reports are produced by the HealthLeaders Media Intelligence Unit, a team of reporters, researchers, and analysts powered by the HealthLeaders Media Council, select members of the HealthLeaders Media audience of more than 200,000 healthcare executives. To become a Council member, join here.

2012 Intelligence Reports

Volume, Flow, and Safety Issues in the ED

May 2012

As health systems try to improve their EDs, healthcare leaders are watching the financial framework with caution. About 80% say they expect their ED revenue margins will worsen as a result of healthcare reform and 78% say their reimbursement also will get worse. Those factors, coupled with an expected increase in the uninsured patient population, create a formula for uncertainty for administrators running an ED
 

The Unsettled State of the ACO

April 2012

Interest is significantly lower compared to the 2011 ACO survey when 64% of respondents said they planned to implement an ACO structure. This time around, the organizations interested in ACOs are setting a fast track. Some 11% were up and running in 2011, and another 57% are expected to come on board by 2014.
 

Service Lines Grow Amid Strategic Challenges

March 2012

Over the next two years, 50% of leaders expect to establish new service lines; 75% plan to expand existing service lines. This exclusive, original research and analysis offers key insight from top healthcare executives and clinical leaders on their service line strategies.

M&A: Hospitals Take Control

January 2012

Consolidation is top of mind for many senior healthcare leaders. More than 75% of organizations either exploring or having merger and acquisition deals under way. Is your organization prepared?

2011 Intelligence Reports

Reform's Impact: Staff and Service Cuts Expected

December 2011

Only 40% of healthcare senior executives surveyed believe the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will result in better access to healthcare services, despite the fact that many pundits insist that access will be the only element of healthcare that PPACA will improve.

Cost Containment: Overcoming Challenges

November 2011

The squeeze is on. Fifty-five percent of leaders say that even with cost containment initiatives, they need to pull an additional 4–10% out of their operating budgets; 23% need to pull an additional 11% to beyond 20%.

Physician Compensation: Shifting Incentives

October 2011

Changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, healthcare reform, and market competition are all driving change, not only in how hospitals and health systems approach patient care, but also in how physician compensation models are taking shape.

Physician Alignment: The Collaborative Care Disconnect

September 2011

Full employment trumps the long-dominant "volunteer medical staff" as the top medical staff model of hospitals and health systems in their dealings with physicians, by 76% to 62%, respectively. Employment doesn't equal engagement or alignment, however.

The New Patient Experience Imperative

August 2011

Focusing on patient experience has always been the right thing to do. But new government regulations and payment models mean hospitals must raise their game.

ICD-10 Puts Revenue at Risk

July 2011

With mounting mandates and competing priorities, many leaders have yet to focus on the ICD-10 directive. And no matter where they are in the ICD-10 planning stage, many leaders expect a substantial revenue hit.

Better Care and the Bottom Line

June 2011

Healthcare leaders say best practices are needed to overcome drivers of waste such as overutilized services and a lack of integration. Half (52%) put overutilization of services in their top three drivers of waste in the healthcare system.

The Drive to Patient Safety

May 2011

Improving patient safety is a significant driving force in healthcare. But lack of communication and uncertainty over leadership structures pose challenges. Nine out of 10 healthcare leaders rank patient safety among their top 5 priorities.

The Leap to Accountable Care Organizations

April 2011

While 91% of healthcare organizations do not have an ACO today, 64% are planning one, and 39% will launch one by the end of 2012.

2011 Capital Spend: EMR Dominates Hospital Budgets

March 2011

The challenging economic climate continues to force financial leaders to make cuts and get creative with budgets. Nearly half (48%) of healthcare leaders have delayed capital projects and 40% have eliminated some projects in 2011 due to the economic crisis.

2011 Industry Survey

February 2011

The priorities and concerns of healthcare leaders are revealed in 2011's comprehensive multi-part survey, our third annual HealthLeaders Media Industry Survey.

E-Health Systems: Opportunities and Obstacles

January 2011

In this report, 90% of healthcare leaders say they'll achieve meaningful use from the governmental push for electronic health systems by 2016. But in the meantime, leaders' assessments of the cost, functionality, and other aspects of the technology is mixed.

2010 Intelligence Reports

Healthcare Leaders on Reform Readiness

December 2010

As the healthcare industry prepares for fundamental change under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 60% of healthcare leaders say neither the quality nor the efficiency of healthcare at their organization will get any better under healthcare reform.

Hospital Mergers & Acquisitions: Opportunities and Challenges

November 2010

Brand-new research shows that 64% of healthcare leaders expect an increase in M&A activity between acute care hospitals and both diagnostic imaging and ambulatory surgery centers. As the transaction tide continues to rise, discover key insights to help keep you afloat.

Patient Experience: Help Wanted

October 2010

While 72% of senior healthcare leaders say that patient experience has been more of a priority in the past year, only 1 of 8 CEOs has primary responsibility for it. With this kind of paradox revealed, our 2010 survey delves into the realm of patient experience and its challenges, including why healthcare leaders report lack of success in achieving the kind of patient experience they need to provide.

Physician Alignment in an Era of Change

September 2010

Hospitals are looking to employ more physicians and buy more medical groups; at the same time, hospitals are receiving an increase in inquiries from physician groups for employment. But this marriage is not without trepidation. Elements of payment reform are expected to put considerable strain on hospital-physician relations.