HealthLeadersMedia.com - Special Reports

Outsourcing ED and Hospital Medicine

Mon, 13 May 2013 04:02:00 GMT

Organizations look to partners that can help them navigate an uncertain future

With less than a year before most major provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act kick in, hospitals are still assessing the impact it will have on their facilities. And while administrators will be faced with tough operational decisions, more and more are leaving clinical details to hospital and emergency department medicine firms with the expertise and knowledge to help hospitals smoothly transition caregiving activities into the new era.

Counter Reimbursement Reductions With Revenue Cycle Improvements

Mon, 13 May 2013 04:02:00 GMT

Simple process changes can reap tremendous rewards for hospitals in the wake of healthcare reform.

Though considerable uncertainty still surrounds recent government healthcare reform, executives at Sierra Medical Center and Providence Memorial Hospital are taking a proactive approach to mitigate continued reductions in government payor reimbursements.

Executive Insight Report: Capital Finance and Industry Consolidation

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:16:00 GMT

The latest Executive Insight Report explores the results of a new HealthLeaders Media Buzz Survey on capital finance and industry consolidation The data reveal that many healthcare organizations are following similar strategies when it comes to acquisitions and affiliations. Far more organizations say they expect to acquire or partner than be bought. Similarly, expanding a geographic footprint is the predominant reason for healthcare groups’ M&A, partnership, or affiliation efforts. And, the majority of respondents said they are focusing on expanding in the primary care and physician practices. Obviously, not every healthcare organization can be an acquirer, and not every group should focus solely on expanding in primary care and physician practices. How can entities differentiate themselves if every healthcare organization in the industry is following the same strategy? As the industry continues to consolidate, the need for strategic and creative planning, partnering, and financing is essential for all healthcare organizations.

Capital Finance and Industry Consolidation Buzz Survey

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:02:00 GMT

In January of 2013, a survey on capital funding was sent to members of the HealthLeaders Media Council. Senior leaders from hospitals, health systems, physician organizations, and other groups were asked about their plans for M&A, partnership, or affiliation efforts. A total of 137 completed surveys are included in the analysis, which included 59 Senior Leaders. Results for Senior Leaders are broken out for comparative purposes.

Health Information Exchanges Buzz Survey

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:32:00 GMT

In January of 2013, a survey on health information exchanges was sent to members of the HealthLeaders Media Council. Healthcare Executives from hospitals, health systems, physician organizations, and other groups were asked about plans for implementing a health information exchange, potential vendors they would partner with, and the key benefits of a health information exchange. A total of 132 completed surveys are included in the analysis, which included 65 Senior Leaders.

Executive Insight Report: The Changing Structures of Capital Finance

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:29:00 GMT

This first Executive Insight Report brings you further insights into the results of a HealthLeaders Media Buzz Survey focused on capital funding. The analysis of this proprietary survey show that reform and the threat of sequestration of federal funding remain significant drivers of capital investment as providers prepare for their impacts. Healthcare organizations are prioritizing: investing more in information systems and IT infrastructure, and cutting back in some cases on things like facilities. The research also shows that there is no single dominant funding source. Providers are finding many different ways to put together their financing puzzle, depending on their capital priorities such as the borrowing need and related costs, interest rates, and debt maturities. This report provides more valuable data and detail.

Capital Funding Buzz Survey

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 10:19:00 GMT

In November of 2012, a survey on capital funding was sent to members of the HealthLeaders Media Council. Senior leaders from hospitals, health systems, physician organizations, and other groups were asked about priorities for capital investment, the key drivers of capital investment, and the primary sources of capital investment over the next 2-3 years. A total of 125 completed surveys are included in the analysis, which included 58 Senior Leaders. Results for Senior Leaders are broken out for comparative purposes.

Is Your Organization Incapacitated? Moving Towards A Process View Of Healthcare Capacity

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 04:02:00 GMT

Given the uncertainty and often conflicting viewpoints expressed in a recent survey on managing patient flow efficiencies or capacity management, healthcare leaders may be in for a bumpy ride as they prepare their organizations to meet the operational demands being driven by reform, regulation, and accountable care.

Want to focus on quality patient care? Behavioral assessments are the answer.

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:54:00 GMT

A key factor in UPMC East's revolutionary culture plan is to ensure members of the nursing staff — a third of the hospital's 550 staff members — are hired for more than just their technical skills. Getting to "the best care" requires healthcare organizations to identify the behaviors that exemplify their desired culture, select and hire candidates with these behaviors, and develop more personalized training programs for new and existing employees. To support this success model, the UPMC East team, including HR, hiring managers, and executives, used assessment software to evaluate behavioral skills among nurses and other employees.

Intelligent Decision Support

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 04:02:00 GMT

Where enterprise technologies leave off, clinical and financial data analytics step in.

For all its complexities, healthcare is an amazingly effective industry. Yet everyone will admit that change is necessary. With exceptions, healthcare today is still largely a fee-for-service business. The resulting inefficiencies are not only hard to ignore, they are also a detriment to clinical quality, according to The Dartmouth Atlas Project, an ongoing study of medical resource distribution in the United States. Researchers found that regions where Medicare spending is the highest actually produce the poorest outcomes.

Are EDs Ready for the Coming Tsunami of Elderly?

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 04:02:00 GMT

Fewer emergency departments (EDs) are treating a swelling wave of patients.

Organizational Leadership and Strategy Assessment

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:57:00 GMT

In March 2012 an online survey was sent to the HealthLeaders Media Council. More than 300 senior leaders from hospitals, health networks, physician organizations, and other groups were asked to assess their organization's leadership and strategy by indicating to what extent they agree or disagree with ten different statements. The following issues were explored: goals, communication, accountability, and performance.

Leaders Face Challenges Establishing Culture of Performance

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 04:02:00 GMT

Having clear strategies and consistent performance standards is key to a healthy and financially successful organization, but a disconcerting percentage of healthcare leaders feel their organizations fall down in both areas, according to a recent survey.

Healthcare leaders were asked to assess their organization's leadership and strategy by indicating to what extent they agree or disagree with 10 different statements. The areas addressed included goals, communication, accountability, and performance.

The survey, sponsored by GE Healthcare and carried out among members of the HealthLeaders Media Council, a group of top healthcare executives, showed that the vast majority of respondents (76%) believe their organization has a clear strategic vision. An even larger majority, 84%, believe their organization has engaged its employees in the execution of that vision. However, less than half of respondents think their organization operates as a meritocracy, with top performers getting recognition and rewards, and a mere 39% believe that their organization deals decisively with nonperforming employees.

Activating Patient-Centered Healthcare

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 04:02:00 GMT

Employee and Preemployment Assessments Ensure No Bad Apples Poison Your Next-Generation Care Environment

Readmissions Buzz Survey

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:38:00 GMT

The HealthLeaders Media Intelligence Unit surveyed senior healthcare leaders about readmissions and care transitions. The survey explores readmissions and care transition causes, investments, and responsibility within the healthcare organization.

Did HIPAA 5010 Prepare Healthcare for the Upcoming ICD-10 Conversion?

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 04:02:00 GMT

An interview with Doug Bilbrey, executive vice president, sales and marketing, SSI.

Healthcare’s Greatest Challenges and Opportunities

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 04:02:00 GMT

A chat with Jason Williams, Vice President of Data Analytics at RelayHealth.

Hospitalist and Emergency Department Outsourcing

Sun, 13 May 2012 04:02:00 GMT

The new era of coordinated care demands greater levels of teamwork and collaboration

Healthcare is in the midst of reform but not necessarily in response to any legislation. Rather, providers across the country—with a financial nudge from public and private payer organizations—have bought into the big picture of a healthcare delivery system where success is not measured by the number and value of billed procedures, but by a provider's ability to lower costs and improve quality. When healthcare constituents discuss this exciting outlook, one theme continues to rise to the surface: collaborative care.

Healthcare IT Buzz Survey

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:06:00 GMT

The HealthLeaders Media Intelligence Unit surveyed senior healthcare leaders to assess their views on their organization's IT operating budgets and capital spending and if they meet their current and future needs. The HealthLeaders Media Council comprises executives from healthcare provider organizations who collectively deliver the most unbiased industry intelligence available.

Flat Patient Volume Adds to Fiscal Concerns for 2012

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:04:00 GMT

CFO Exchange participants cite concerns about reimbursement declines, but also expect positive outcomes from consolidation and commercial payer collaboration.