Mayo Clinic CFO Dennis Dahlen preparing for his year as HFMA’s National Chair
After several decades spent making an impact at the healthcare organizational level, Dennis Dahlen is moving into a prime position to use his expertise for the benefit of stakeholders across the industry. The opportunity could not come at a more important juncture. The urgency is reflected in Dahlen’s theme for the new fiscal year, which…
Healthcare disruptor Glen Tullman says providers need more of a consumer-centric approach
One of the country’s most prominent healthcare entrepreneurs has a warning for legacy healthcare stakeholders. “Many of you in the audience are leading major health systems, and you’re the hub for healthcare today,” Glen Tullman said during a presentation at the HIMSS Global Health Conference and Exhibition, which took place the week of April 17…
Improving performance across the real estate portfolio
As health systems continue to face intense operational and financial pressures, performance improvement initiatives must reach all aspects of the organization. Often overlooked in performance improvement efforts is the real estate portfolio, both owned and leased. Management may perceive real estate as a relatively static resource and may not even realize the full extent of…
Michael Giardina: Why promoting a fitness approach like CrossFit should be a goal for all U.S. health systems
Healthcare organizations that are committed to value-based payment must focus on promoting health – within their patient populations as well as within their communities. And to successfully fulfill the value imperative and achieve the larger goal of cost effectiveness of health (CEoH), hospitals and health systems must partner with outside organizations that share their commitment…
Hospitals are facing a long slog to return to pre-pandemic normalcy, panelists say
The logjam of patients who cannot be seen expeditiously at hospitals is becoming an entrenched problem with no imminent solutions, a CMS leader said this week. “The data tells us healthcare services, particularly for the Medicare population, have not come back to pre-pandemic levels,” said Jonathan Blum, principal deputy administrator and COO with CMS. “We’re…
News Briefs: Financial and operational pressures continue for hospitals amid scattered positive signs
Recent financial data for the hospital industry illustrate continuing challenges even as some trends improve. Fitch Ratings released an analysis in early March that offers scant reason for optimism. Titled “Early NFP hospital medians show expected deterioration; will worsen,” it draws on data from hospitals with earlier 2022 financial year-ends. Those numbers show “materially weaker…
Member spotlight: Reaching out to learn and lead are hallmarks of Nimisha Madhu’s approach to revenue cycle management work
Nimisha Madhu enjoys exploring and learning about new areas in revenue cycle management (RCM) and then using her knowledge to deliver positive outcomes to her co-workers. Madhu, billing and recovery officer at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) in Abu Dhabi, recently shared with HFMA’s International Update how she is using her HFMA international membership to…
Data capture and coding for social determinants of health are works in progress, per reports
In the effort to bring social determinants of health (SDoH) more under the purview of healthcare providers, one tricky aspect is establishing a data and coding infrastructure. Recent reports highlight this challenge. For example, a survey conducted for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) found that although 78% of 2,637 respondents said their organizations…
Financial and operational pressures continue for hospitals amid some positive signs
New financial data for the hospital industry illustrate continuing challenges even as some trends improve. Fitch Ratings released an analysis in early March that offers scant reason for optimism. Titled “Early NFP Hospital Medians Show Expected Deterioration; Will Worsen,” it draws on data from hospitals with earlier 2022 financial year-ends. Those numbers show “materially weaker…
Collecting with compassion: Patient financial care grows in importance
Health system leaders increasingly believe more communication is better when it comes to telling patients what they owe. When the pandemic began, Henry County Health Center’s revenue cycle department took a gamble to relieve the financial stress of care for patients. Executives for the 25-bed, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, critical access hospital, which serves a large…