Reducing length of stay (LOS) and implementing an accurate and efficient discharge planning process are two of the most difficult operational challenges for hospitals and health systems. 

Behavioral health is a top concern for hospital CEOs in 2024 — and for good reason, as health systems face persistent challenges in meeting demand and lack adequate funding to address widespread mental health issues.

For many health systems, the operating room is key to cultivating sustainability — especially when it comes to revenue and staffing.

As the new school year starts, many students and parents find themselves grappling with anxiety.

Every two seconds in the United States, someone needs blood. Yet, only 3 percent of Americans donate blood. Given the importance of this vital resource, the healthcare community must do a better job of engaging more donors, reducing waste and aligning collection activities with patient demand. 

Vice President Kamala Harris has a complicated past with Medicare for All, and she's distancing herself from the policy as she heads into her 2024 presidential campaign.

In the fast-paced, high-stakes environment of an operating room (OR), the primary focus is, understandably, on the patient undergoing surgery. However, the experience of the patient's family members, who are often anxiously waiting for news, is equally important.

Vice President Kamala Harris has unveiled new economic policies she would look to enact during her first 100 days in office if elected president in November.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz both have a history of challenging major healthcare corporations, but health policy experts say it's unclear how vigorously they'd continue these efforts at the national level if elected, The Washington Post reported Aug. 16.

In acute care settings, it is essential that communication between physicians, nurses, care coordinators and other healthcare professionals is unified across multiple clinical workflows, so that patients receive the right care with minimal wait times.

Cleveland Clinic implemented the institute model approximately 20 years ago.

The Critical Elements Missing in Today's Consumer-Focused Online Scheduling In an era dominated by convenience and instant access, the healthcare industry faces increasing pressure to adapt to consumer expectations. Patients today are accustomed to the seamless experiences offered by leading e-commerce and digital service platforms, such as Amazon and online banking.

Despite 76% of patients referred for home health care being denied in 2022 (a 22% increase from 2019), we know health care is moving home with an increase in HHA referral volumes by 11% since 2020. Concurrently, the concept of "Hospital at Home" (HaH) has been gaining traction globally as healthcare systems seek innovative ways to deliver care efficiently and effectively.

Greater demands for care and fewer resources are driving health systems to innovate more than ever — and top organizations are doing it successfully while keeping patient outcomes at the forefront.

Ensuring Revenue Received Aligns with Care Delivered

People are the foundation of a successful healthcare strategy.

Widespread staffing shortages, especially among anesthesia providers, are posing significant challenges to operating room efficiency. But some hospitals and health systems are leveraging timely information about procedure schedules, patient flow and OR turnover to maximize both OR utilization and staff satisfaction. 

Healthcare is experiencing a profound transformation driven by two major forces: consumerism and a critical shortage of caregivers. Today’s patients expect more personalized, efficient, and convenient care, while providers face mounting challenges in maintaining service quality amidst workforce shortages. People-centered care model design is at the heart of this transformation—a holistic approach that empowers healthcare organizations to adapt and thrive in this evolving landscape.

MedicaSoft's Chief Strategy Officer Helen Figge, PharmD, has had a distinguished career in healthcare informatics and technology. She serves in senior advisory roles to organizations across the U.S. and sits on committees and boards for HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society), NAHDO (National Association of Health Data Organizations) and other organizations.

Generative AI, a subset of artificial intelligence, is used extensively in consumer-facing industries such as retail, travel and hospitality.