Academics are readying for a season of consultations with executives — including those from health systems — to field questions about remote work, hybrid arrangements and return-to-office plans, Bloomberg reports.

Although misinformation has plagued social media and the internet throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, completely censoring it could cause more harm than good, journalist Conor Friedersdorf wrote in The Atlantic on March 7. 

.article-image{display: none;} The future of healthcare is digital, and the ongoing pandemic is undoubtedly accelerating this transition. According to HIMSS, 80% of health systems plan to increase their investment in digital health in the next five years, with 58% planning to spend at least $10 million annually by 2026. This trend has proven true for both clinicians and patients, with 75% and 50% of those surveyed supporting the use of digital health tools, respectively [1]. Here are the three technologies that are helping to shape the healthcare landscape of tomorrow.

More than 18,000 procedures were postponed at Seattle-based UW Medicine, and as of March 1, Indianapolis-based IU Health identified at least 5,000 to 6,000 surgical cases in its backlog.

The latest United Nations climate report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change gives a stark warning to humanity to change before the window of opportunity runs out. Given that healthcare is affected by climate change, as it brings more disease and illness, as well as contributes 4 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, health systems should consider strategies to decarbonize their practices, according to a Feb. 28 Phillips blog. 

Looking further than 6 months ahead is a daunting task given the volatility of the last 2 years. Peering even farther into 2025 seems an impossibility even though it is right around the corner.

Climate change is affecting many aspects of life, including general health. Scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change spelled out how and what can be done to stop it in the latest report, released Feb. 28.

February is a month for celebrating matters of the heart.

Bed capacity is an underrated issue. Even if the U.S had enough healthcare workers to care for patients, there likely wouldn't be sufficient bed space in hospitals for all patients. More transparency around bed capacity, though, may solve this issue, Regina Herzlinger and Richard Boxer, MD, argued in a Feb. 18 Health Affairs article. 

Former Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon has launched Alpine Advisors, a strategic consultancy firm that specializes in the healthcare, energy, telecommunication and technology industries.

Bingham Memorial Hospital, a non-profit hospital located in Blackfoot Idaho, strives to provide exquisite patient care in a compassionate manner. Established in 1950, the award-winning healthcare provider has grown from just six doctors to over 140 medical providers and 700 staff. Bingham Memorial offers over 100 types of patient services, including in-patient, out-patient, critical care, emergency, rehabilitation, same day surgery, and transitional care services.

Your company probably has a detailed growth strategy that covers everything from marketing and sales to diversification and international strategies. But do you have a payment strategy?

As more people have taken healthcare into their own hands over the course of the pandemic, many are realizing it's not as easy as it seems, The Wall Street Journal reported Feb. 22. 

When COVID-19 infections overwhelmed New York City in March 2020, one of the city’s largest health systems lacked space to store badly-needed new medical equipment. Instead, the new equipment was delivered and stored at two Crothall Healthcare warehouses in Melville, N.Y., where our team of biomedical technicians and clinical engineers tested more than 5,000 pieces of medical equipment that was used to help keep patients alive.

The impermanent nature of a waiver flexibility and intensified staffing shortages leave health systems that have not yet moved forward with "hospital-at-home" programs in a policy-driven, wait-and-see limbo. 

Prior authorizations are a burden for providers and patients alike. Many are hopeful, however, that automation could be transformational, putting patients at the center of their financial care journey and letting them access the healthcare they need.

Sustainability, energy, and climate issues are poised to reshape the 21st century. Every organization will need new approaches to seize opportunities, manage risk, and continue to deliver on their core mission. This is particularly true for healthcare organizations where community health expectations heighten the importance of sustainability and climate performance.

It's time for a shift out of emergency mode into ongoing monitoring of the pandemic, Rajiv Shah, MD, president of the Rockefeller Foundation and a previous administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development, argued in Politico Feb. 11.

Health departments are worried that the extra pandemic funding they've received won't be sustainable in the long term as they face competition for workers with hospitals, Bloomberg Government reported Feb. 14.

Easing vaccine mandates, offering debt forgiveness and increased funding for research and training were touted by experts as ways to mitigate healthcare worker shortages, WebMD reported Feb. 14.