SPOTLIGHT -
Gozio Health looks to help hospitals move in the right direction
The company’s technology helps patients navigate sprawling hospitals, along with scheduling and billing. CEO Joshua Titus says Gozio’s platform helps hospitals see higher patient engagement.
MGMA calls for COVID-19 public health emergency to be extended
The group joins hospitals in asking the Biden administration to continue the designation beyond October. At the same time, the CDC is easing some of its guidance.
Intermountain Healthcare CEO plans to step down
Marc Harrison will leave in the fall to run a healthcare platform for General Catalyst, which announced a collaboration with Intermountain this week.
Lifelink Systems uses conversational AI to engage patients
The company employs chatbots with natural language to connect with patients on mobile phones. CEO Greg Johnsen touts the ease of the technology for consumers.
Yale New Haven Health’s Michael Ivy on caring for hospital workers: ‘Everybody’s struggling’
Hospital workers may be struggling more than is readily apparent. Health system leaders need to recognize healthcare has changed and adjust expectations, he says.
The 10 biggest health data breaches in the first half of 2022
Millions of Americans have been affected by cyberattacks targeting hospitals and health companies in the first six months of the year. Ransomware attacks are getting more frequent, more costly and threaten patient safety.
Nursing home industry projects workforce won’t rebound until 2026
The workforce will take at least four years to reach pre-pandemic levels, unless federal and state officials provide more funding, according to a new report.
Amwell’s Anthony Sossong talks about telemedicine, kids and mental health
Sossong, who leads the company’s behavioral health efforts, spoke with us about the stress of the pandemic, expanding services to rural areas and integrating mental health with primary care.
Hospitals, health groups praise Inflation Reduction Act
The measure would help Americans pay for health insurance and also lower some prescription drug costs. The House is expected to vote this week, sending it to President Biden.
HHS awards nearly $90M to community health centers to get better data
More than 1,300 centers nationwide are getting grants to improve data reporting, which should also improve health equity, the Health and Human Services Department says.
How hospitals can improve their sustainability, and why they should get moving
Health systems are facing growing pressure to address climate change. A panel at the American Hospital Association Leadership Summit outlined strategies to move forward.
One in three women faculty in academic medicine experience sexual harassment
Half of the women faculty in some departments are harassed, according to a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Some don’t feel safe reporting harassment.
American Nurses Association confronts history of racism
The ANA acknowledges it has failed nurses of color in the past. ANA Enterprise CEO Loressa Cole talks about the organization’s efforts to make amends and vows ‘actions that matter.’
Most nurses say there’s not enough staffing, and many intend to leave
About a quarter of nurses say they have appropriate staffing, according to a new survey by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Many nurses don’t feel safe.
American Hospital Association asks court to approve 340B payments
The Supreme Court ruled last month that Medicare improperly cut the federal drug pricing program. Hospitals want the government to pay up.
Health systems plan for digital transformation, but need to pick up the pace
The HIMSS 2022 Future of Healthcare report said many will still be developing their digital plans in five years. If they wait too long, younger consumers could pick other retail options.
Health groups urge Supreme Court to allow medical schools to weigh race in admissions
If justices bar the consideration of race, the enrollment of students from minority groups will plunge, the Association of American Medical Colleges and other groups contend.
Real talk: Suki makes noise with voice assistant for doctors
Physicians use the software the way consumers use voice assistants in their homes. The California-based startup is banking on its AI-powered software to appeal to doctors and health systems battling burnout.
Feds will report patient safety data, but hospitals won’t face penalties
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services dropped a plan to suppress some safety reporting after pressure from patient advocates. The Leapfrog Group cheered the move.
CMS raises inpatient payments for 2023, drawing relief from hospitals
The federal government is going beyond the payment rate initially proposed in the spring, which drew sharp criticism. Hospitals welcome the move but say they could use more aid.
Hospitals want COVID-19 public health emergency to go beyond October
The timing is important, because the government has pledged to provide 60 days notice before ending the emergency. Health systems say waivers under the emergency have been critical to care for patients.
Ochsner Health completes merger with Rush Health Systems
The Louisiana-based system adds Rush’s 7 hospitals and more than 30 clinics. The Rush system will now be known as Ochsner Rush Health.
Hospital margins improving but remain in red for 6th straight month
It’s been an ‘extremely challenging year’ for hospitals, according to Kaufman Hall’s latest report. Health systems probably can’t expect a turnaround in the near future.
More post-discharge options means fewer hospital readmissions
Health systems with more doctors and palliative services saw fewer patients bounce back to the hospital, a recent study found.
The average healthcare breach now costs more than $10 million
Cyberattacks at hospitals are proving more costly, according to a new report from IBM Security. The cost of a typical breach rose by nearly $1 million over last year.
The pace of hospital mergers should pick up, eventually
It’s been a slow start to the year for healthcare mergers, but analysts project more transactions in the coming months. Critics worry about the prospect of mega-deals.
Black, Latinx patients had greater delays in cancer care in pandemic
Researchers found patients who were Black or Hispanic were far more likely than white patients to see care postponed for more than four weeks. The delays raise the risk for poor outcomes.
The future of healthcare ‘is about the consumer'
Patients have higher expectations, and hospital executives say the industry must focus more on the customer experience. It was a recurring theme at the American Hospital Association Leadership Summit this week.
How Amazon’s $3.9B purchase of One Medical could disrupt the healthcare market
The e-commerce behemoth is buying the primary care provider, saying the health industry needs reinvention. Analysts say Amazon could succeed.
Healthcare leaders must emphasize self-care, and ‘get rid of stupid stuff’
Eric Martin, vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer at Norton Children’s Hospital, talked about taking care of team members at the American Hospital Association Leadership Summit.