HealthLeadersMedia.com - HealthLeaders Magazine

Hospital Employee Health Risk

Mon, 13 May 2013 04:02:00 GMT

Hospitals and health systems, as large employers, are feeling the burden of rising healthcare costs. In fact, hospital employee use of plan services is greater than that of the average U.S. employee. Hospital workers, on average, have higher utilization rates and carry a higher burden of chronic illness than employees in other market segments. These differences are only partially explained by age or gender. Hospital employee groups exhibit a skew toward a younger female population relative to the U.S. workforce; the average health system worker is two years younger than the average worker in the U.S. workforce. Truven Health Analytics™ researchers conclude that a health system with 16,000 eligible employees would save $1.5 million annually for each 1 percent reduction in health risk.

Hospital Performance

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 04:02:00 GMT

The Truven Health 100 Top Hospitals® outperform their peers by demonstrating balanced excellence?operating effectively across all functional areas of their organizations. The data demonstrates how patients' health and hospitals' bottom lines could be improved. Based on comparisons between the study winners and a peer group of similar high-volume hospitals that were not winners, the study found that if all hospitals performed at the level of this year's winners, more than 164,000 additional lives could be saved, nearly 82,000 additional patients could be complication-free, $6 billion could be saved, and the typical patient could be released from the hospital half a day sooner. This analysis is based on the Medicare patients included in this study. If the same standards were applied to all inpatients, the impact would be even greater.

Outpatient Trends

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 04:02:00 GMT

The combination of turbulence in the economy and changing models of care in the healthcare industry has had an impact over the past few years. As uncertainty wanes, there are some promising signs when it comes to outpatient trends, although there is notable variation based on specialty or procedure.

Consumer Sentiment

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 04:02:00 GMT

While there are some positive signs regarding consumers' ability to pay for and use healthcare services, there are variations based on demographic factors such as age, education, and income. In addition, some provider services are experiencing growth, such as physician office visits, while others are seeing declines, such as hospital admissions for elective procedures.

Cardiovascular Performance

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 04:02:00 GMT

Comparing the 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospital award winners for 2013 to a peer group of hospitals, Truven Health Analytics℠ found that if all cardiovascular providers performed at the level of the winners, nearly 8,600 additional lives and more than $1 billion could be saved. This is based on an analysis of Medicare patients; if the same standards were applied to all inpatients, the impact would be even greater.

Eldercare Decision-makers

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 04:02:00 GMT

Relatively few Americans (19%) are involved in making general healthcare decisions for the elderly. However, there is much greater involvement when it comes to assisting in specific aspects of eldercare. On average, 44% of Americans assist an elderly person in making insurance-related decisions, 49% help with homecare decisions, and 54% are involved in decisions regarding hospitalization. There is some variation based on factors such as age, education, and income.

Healthcare Reform

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 04:02:00 GMT

Similar proportions of Americans believe that key aspects of healthcare will either stay the same or get worse under healthcare reform, according to the Truven Health Analytics 2011 PULSE™ Healthcare Survey. Only about 17%, 15%, and 23%, respectively, expect improvement in quality, access to physicians, and overall health. Response variation based on age, education, or income is fairly minor. A significant majority (73%) expects that health insurance premiums will rise under healthcare reform.

Healthcare Attitudes

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 04:02:00 GMT

When it comes to elective procedures, consumer attitudes can vary considerably based on factors such as age, education, and income. Furthermore, the potential patient's willingness to pay out of pocket is influenced by the procedure itself. For example, while only 18% of Americans earning less than $25,000 would be willing to pay up to $600 for alternative medicine treatment, 41% of that group would be willing to pay up to $400 for an ultrafast CT scan. In each of the procedures measured for this report, willingness to pay rose along with level of education.

Hospital Performance

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 04:02:00 GMT

The hospitals that had the most consistent performance improvement are considered the benchmark hospitals, and while the peer group may sometimes post respectable results, the trend lines typically are not as strong. This is evident in metrics regarding fiscal performance (inpatient expense, operating margin) and clinical outcomes (mortality, complications, patient safety, and length of stay).

Hospital Margins

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 04:02:00 GMT

While hospitals have maintained a fairly steady hold on operating margin, they certainly have experienced challenges when it comes to meeting total margin expectations during the nation's economic slump. Based on data from Truven Health Analytics we can see that poor total margins have affected investment portfolios, and have led to reduced capital spending and aging and unrenovated hospital facilities.

Specialty Care Preferences

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 04:02:00 GMT

What matters to a patient when selecting a specialty care center? The Truven PULSE™ Healthcare Survey provides insight into the importance of factors such as the availability of clinical trials, access to information via the Internet, or the recommendation of a friend or family member. But the most important influences are a center's use of advanced technology and a referral by the patient's physician.

Physician Utilization

Sun, 13 May 2012 04:02:00 GMT

How often Americans visit the doctor varies based on a number of factors, including the type of physician. While about 87% reported seeing their primary care physician in the past year, only 79% reported visiting or taking a minor to a pediatrician, and only 33% made a trip to see an internist. Also, results of the 2010 Thomson Reuters PULSE™ Healthcare Survey show distinct differences in physician utilization based on demographic factors such as age, income, and education.

Inpatient Trends

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 04:02:00 GMT

A look at 2009 hospital inpatient data reveals some interesting trends. While the number of hospital stays increased from 34.7 million in 1997 to 39.4 million in 2009 (a 14% increase overall), the rate of hospitalizations remained unchanged: There were 1,278 hospital stays for every 10,000 persons in the United States in 1997 and 1,284 stays per 10,000 persons in 2009. Over that same period, the aggregate inflation-adjusted costs for hospitalizations?the actual costs of producing hospital services?increased 57%. Costs rose from $229.6 billion to $361.5 billion?an average annual increase of 3.9%. Also, both uninsured and Medicaid stays increased 42% between 1997 and 2009, a growth rate three times that of all stays.

Cancer Trends

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 04:02:00 GMT

Thomson Reuters regularly analyzes the 10-year rates of various kinds of cancer to track trends and changes. This study found dramatic, rapid increases for four kinds of cancer: thyroid, kidney, melanoma, and pancreas. Three kinds of cancer showed significant decreasing rates: colorectal, ovary, and uterine/cervical. Some rates remained relatively unchanged: breast, lung, and prostate. The rates represent the incidence of new cases per 100,000 of the U.S. population.

Women’s Health

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:02:00 GMT

Females accounted for nearly six in 10 hospital stays, according to Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project data for 2009. Females and males have similar hospital stays and costs, however, if childbirth is set aside. Males accounted for 42% of all hospital stays and 47% of the cost of all stays. Females accounted for 46% of nonmaternal hospitalizations and 48% of the cost. Female hospitalizations for pregnancy and childbirth accounted for 12% of hospitalizations but just 5% of the costs.

Catalytic Leadership

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:02:00 GMT

The healthcare provider industry is ever shifting. Rarely, however, does it truly change. A combination of economic pressure to reduce costs and healthcare reform efforts have led to a new recognition that the underlying volume-based business model of healthcare may finally have cracked, and along with it the style of leadership it created. HealthLeaders Media convened a panel of health system leaders to share their insights on how they plan to guide their health systems to meet a new way of doing business based on coordination and value. [Sponsored by Deloitte]

Cardiovascular Performance

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:02:00 GMT

Patients who seek treatment at one of the Thomson Reuters 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals have better outcomes: They are released from the hospital sooner and have lower 30-day mortality. And these hospitals manage clinical gains while keeping costs lower. The typical winning hospital spent approximately $4,000 less per bypass surgery patient and nearly $1,500 less per heart attack patient admitted.

Preventive Care

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:02:00 GMT

Despite CDC data that 33.8% of American adults are obese, and that pre-diabetes affects 35% of Americans age 20 and up, only 20% of Americans perceive themselves to be in fair or poor health, according to the Thomson Reuters 2010 PULSE™ Healthcare Survey; fully 80% of respondents assess themselves to be in good, very good, or excellent health. The survey also finds, however, that for most standard preventive care screenings, there is considerable room for improvement in participation rates.

Reform Readiness

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:02:00 GMT

Healthcare reform has become such an overused term that healthcare leaders are almost numbed by it. It encompasses many changes—from the way healthcare is paid for to how it's accessed—that it calls into question almost everything leaders think they know about how to best run a hospital, health system, or physician group practice. The term also references a multiyear change, so leaders are doing the best they can to break down strategies necessary to survive and thrive under new rules into more easily digestible steps. In October, we held a roundtable with some of the industry's top strategists to discuss the latest HealthLeaders Media survey findings on reform readiness and to come up with insights into how to frame and enact strategies that will ensure survival. [Sponsored by Optum.]

Mergers & Acquisitions: Ingredients for a Successful Union

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:05:00 GMT

With a growing number of mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures among healthcare organizations, leaders must recognize the effect of these agreements beyond financial support and growth opportunity. HealthLeaders Media recently convened a panel of experts to discuss how to evaluate joint ventures and partnerships. The insights our panelists share include understanding partnership options, performing a thorough due diligence process, and dealing with the breadth of the cultural changes. Following are highlights from that conversation. [Sponsored by LHP Hospital Group, LLC.]