Preparing a hospital to ride out a natural disaster is fairly straightforward when the danger is imminent. You hunker down, secure the facility, and transfer any higher-risk patients to a safer location.
But what happens if there is only a possibility that disaster might strike? That was the dilemma facing us at Baptist Health, our multi-facility health system in Jacksonville, Fla., as Hurricane Dorian approached in September 2019.
Early weather models of the (at one point)
Read More
Data: The Foundation For Collaborative Leadership To Deliver High-Value Care
The move to a healthcare system that rewards the value delivered to patients vs. the volume of services performed is no easy task. Healthcare providers, including hospitals and physicians, face decreasing reimbursements as both commercial and government payors implement new payment models designed to more closely align the activities of various organizations and practitioners involved in patient care. Better coordination has been found to both improve the quality and lower the cost of care,
Read More
How Digital Health Solutions Can Help Hospitals Eliminate Opportunities for Error
For many hospitals and health systems, creating a culture of high reliability is a priority. As healthcare shifts toward value-based care models that reward strong clinical outcomes, using repeatable, standardized processes to avoid errors and deliver safe, high-quality care is vital.
Despite dedicated efforts, however, the healthcare industry still struggles to achieve consistent, widespread quality. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1.7
Read More
7 Best Practices to Improve Professional Fee Revenue Cycle for Better ED Bottom Lines
Most healthcare organizations partner with physician services groups for niche coverage. While outsourced medical services are available across all specialties, common areas for external physician support include anesthesia, radiology, wound care, and emergency medicine. However, when outsourced physician services are used, challenges to ensure accurate reimbursement for both components of care—the hospital portion and the physician’s professional fee—increase.
Snafus are largely attributable
Read More
Jumping to Lightspeed – Consolidating Patient Monitoring Devices
In the early summer of 2005, Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith premiered worldwide. Diehard fans flocked to the theaters to see Anakin Skywalker embrace the dark side of the force, battle Obi Wan Kinobi and transform into the infamous Darth Vader.
While audiences were enthralled by vivid battle scenes and cool effects, I was intrigued by a less popular scene, where Padmea, mother of Luke and Leia Skywalker, is examined and cared for in an out-of-this-universe hospital room. Padmea
Read More
Why SDoH Data Is Key For Developing Population Health Strategies
The healthcare industry has come a long way in its appreciation of non-clinical factors impacting a patient’s overall well-being, such as social determinants of health (SDoH).
However, the industry has made less progress when it comes to gathering information on individual patients’ social determinants, analyzing the details and – most importantly – translating the findings into actionable information that healthcare organizations (HCOs) can use to improve population health management.
One
Read More
Using the 3M’s to Get Physicians to Embrace Telehealth: Metrics, Money & eMotion
Telehealth utilization is on track to explode due to consumer demand, reimbursement alignment and an improved regulatory environment.
But for health systems to reap telehealth’s financial and clinical benefits, organizational leaders must demonstrate strong leadership, provide relevant education, align financial incentives and change daily culture to help physicians fully embrace this disruption.
Many physicians are starting to understand the benefits of telehealth, which include better access
Read More
Getting Back to Joy in Work: A Call to Prioritize The Patient-Provider Relationship
When I think about the term “joy in work”, coined by the Institute for Health Improvement, the first thing that comes to mind are my patients and their health. If I feel like I can contribute in some way to overcoming an illness, meeting their health goals, or improving their quality of life, then it makes the long days of work worthwhile. Like anyone else in any other profession, the impact I make through my work keeps me going throughout all the other headaches. That’s why re-prioritizing the
Read More
Integrated Behavioral Health: Expectations vs Realities?
When patients go to the doctor, they’re putting their trust in a highly-trained professional. They trust that professional to provide them with the necessary care and attention to improve or sustain their health.
However, some underlying health issues can’t be detected with a simple blood test or CAT scan. Behavioral health problems can impact every part of a person’s life. Some can develop as a result of physical problems, and vice versa.
This is why the integration of physical and behavioral
Read More
Using Patient Relationship Management Tools to Improve Preventive & Chronic Care
Every year, another 1.5 million people learn they have diabetes. The number of people in the U.S. managing chronic diseases has been growing steadily for several years. In addition, there is more and more pressure on providers to help patients manage these conditions to improve outcomes and avoid complications or readmissions.
The challenge providers face is that visits are short, often just 15 minutes, and patients struggle to retain the information given to them during the appointment.
Read More
