3 ways healthcare providers should vet potential private equity partners
As their medical practices returned to near-normal operations recently, more than two years after COVID-19 restrictions were first imposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some practice owners found themselves taking stock of their livelihoods and future prospects. The pandemic caused many of them — including physician groups and health systems —…
How health systems can support underserved patients through in-home care
Finding a way to deliver high-touch care to vulnerable and underserved patients using the patient’s home as the primary point of care has become a strategic priority for providers. The strategic shift to a focus on in-home care for these populations stems from increasing pressure on health systems to lower the cost of care for populations they serve while solving for the challenges presented by social determinants of health.
Why owning a health plan is a good provider strategy
The trend toward increased ownership of health plans by health systems shows no signs of slowing as health systems are increasingly recognizing the importance of having their primary focus be on health and health outcomes rather than on the number of visits or procedures. A health system leader describes the advantages of health plan ownership and strategic considerations for pursuing this approach.
New IDS merger aims to improve value and access for its communities
A case study of a merger of two health systems in the Pacific Northwest exemplifies a shift in focus among health system mergers toward creating transformative partnerships aimed at improving value and overall cost effectiveness. The authors recount steps that the new merged integrated delivery system (IDS) has taken to realize the merger’s primary goals.
How Mercyhealth applied automation to fine-tune revenue cycle management
Mercyhealth, a health system based in Rockford, Illinois, was prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic to transform its revenue management processes and pivot to an automated approach that would enable leadership to track effectiveness of staff working at home.
To achieve effective nurse staffing, you need CFO-CNO alignment
To respond effectively to ongoing disruptions in the nursing workforce, which have been exacerbated by COVID-19, health system finance and nursing leaders need to come together to find a new financial, clinical and operational approach to improving performance.
Why health systems may find an acute care at home strategy attractive
The potential for improved outcomes is just one important reason to consider pursuing an acute care at home strategy. Even in the absence of payment, health systems may ultimately find pursuit of such a strategy beneficial.
Strategic alternative dispute resolution offers providers key to substantial claim recoveries
To be able to effectively handle disputes over healthcare claims, providers must be well-informed about the two basic types of alternative dispute resolution that can help them achieve favorable results: arbitration and mediation.
3 ways the patient financial experience can improve health equity
COVID-19 shined a bright light on disparities in access to care and health outcomes that existed in the U.S. healthcare system long before the pandemic, but far from improving the situation, it has exacerbated those disparities. Now, health system revenue cycle departments have an opportunity to be part of the solution.
5 ways the ERM playbook for health systems is due for a rewrite
Business risk for health systems has continued to evolve amid huge changes affecting the industry, including those driven by COVID-19. Health system leaders should respond by revisiting their approach to enterprise risk management (ERM) to focus on five areas of risk where their ability to deliver healthcare cost effectively could be compromised: Labor shortages, capital planning amid ongoing change, energy consumption, cyber security and price transparency.