Today’s hospital emergency departments (EDs) face formidable challenges as they strive to deliver high-quality care to more and more patients. A shortage of newly trained physicians, nurses, and support staff, and high burnout rates among existing staff, are making it increasingly difficult to maintain staffing levels at those needed to meet patient demand. Without changes to care delivery, they could even diminish the quality of care. Patients are also presenting in the ED with ever-more
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Health IT & Digital Health-Opinion | Op-Eds | Guest Columns | Analysis, Insights - HIT Consultant
4 Ways AP Throttles Business Growth at Medical Facilities
Is Accounts Payable the weakest link in your medical facility's growth strategy?
At first glance, the answer to that question may seem to be a resounding "no." The standard playbook for success in the medical facility industry focuses on factors like identifying and delivering in-demand services, establishing a strong brand and building relationships with local hospitals and physicians to create a referral network.
If you get these things right, you might assume that AP – a relatively
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Membership Medicine: The Future of Primary Care?
Primary care is at a tipping point. We know it has been said before. However, in the past, primary care delivery has been dictated by changes in payor-led reimbursement models. Examples include healthcare maintenance organizations (HMOs) of the 90s and more recent risk-sharing, value-based care initiatives. This time other forces are also at play, including:
Nontraditional market entrantsPhysician shortages exacerbated by industry-wide burnoutConsumer expectations
Health systems will be
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Oncology Software: The Digital Backbone of Cancer Care
The complex and dynamic landscape of multimodal cancer care is boosting demand for oncology-specific technological innovations. The need for elevated cancer care is steadily climbing, compelling software developers to create increasingly integrated and sophisticated solutions. Oncology has always been at the forefront of digitization due to the substantial amount of data needed and generated for each patient during the treatment process. Today, advanced oncology software offers clinicians a
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It’s Time to Treat Substance Use Disorder Like the Chronic Disease It Is
Far too often, substance use disorder (SUD) is viewed as an “acute condition,” one that can be “cured” with short-term treatment, such as a week-long stay in a detox facility. This could not be further from the truth. The failure to understand the science behind addiction leads individuals who are undertreated or inappropriately treated to return to use again and again.
SUD is not a moral failing. It is not a behavioral issue. It is not a choice. The leading health organizations around the
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Telehealth As A Solution For The Medicaid Population
For most of history, cutting-edge technology and affluence have gone hand-in-hand. The healthcare industry is no exception to the rule. The wealthiest hospitals have the ability to invest in the newest machinery and the best digital infrastructure. Meanwhile, low-income populations ― whose health needs are often the most urgent ― are less likely to be able to access the tools that might mean the difference between life and death.
The dawning era of telehealth represents a welcome
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A Blueprint for Solving the U.S. Nursing Shortage Crisis
Nurses have the highest level of public trust across medical professions, yet there’s a huge chasm between Americans’ appreciation for nursing and the profession’s uncertain future. A nursing shortage, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, has been fueled largely by high levels of moral distress, politicization, and lack of support. Left unchecked, the country will experience a critical shortfall of nearly 200,000 nurses in just a few years, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor
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Financial Experience: Empowering Patients to Improve Affordability
It’s no secret that healthcare costs have continued to rise over the years. In fact, a staggering four in 10 Americans have skipped medical care due to financial concerns. The rise of high-deductible health plans means more financial responsibility has fallen directly on patients, as out-of-pocket costs have skyrocketed by 111% since 2010 and are projected to increase by 10% each year through 2026.
But there’s good news. According to our own research and data, there is roughly $58
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Healthcare Security & Privacy Challenges of ChatGPT, AI Tools
Recent advances in Generative AI Large Language Models, such as ChatGPT, have been making waves across various industries, not least in healthcare. With the ability to converse with users much like a friend, adviser, or assistant, these models have a broad appeal and immense potential. Their user-friendly nature is democratizing access to AI and stirring a cauldron of innovation, with healthcare emerging as a field ripe for exploration.
Nevertheless, as with any powerful tool, there's a
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5 Key Challenges Preventing Innovation in Digital Health
Now more than ever, the healthcare sector is under pressure to curb rising costs, increase accessibility, alleviate issues caused by worker shortages, and improve both clinician and patient outcomes.
In addition, there is a rising demand for remote patient monitoring services, such as medical IoT and wearable devices, as well as the rapid growth of digital health infrastructure across developed nations.
Added to this are additional demographic factors, with the total size and relative
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