Topic:
Care Delivery
Latest Headlines
Latest Headlines
3 essentials for a well-run ER observation unit
More hospitals use observation units to improve patient flow within the emergency department, but there are several factors to consider before creating one at your facility, two physicians write in MedPageToday.
Highmark unveils bundled-payment model for cancer care
Following in the footsteps of other major insurers, Highmark will debut a bundled-payment initiative aimed at paying for value in cancer care, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Insurers, providers balk at Covered California proposal
In a proposal that has concerned both providers and payers, Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee says he wants to cut low-performing, high-cost hospitals from ithe state exchante's insurance networks, according to an article from Kaiser Health News published by NPR.
Heated debate continues on asking patients about gun ownership
Should physicians ask patients about gun ownership--or not? A video exchange on Medscape led by Art Caplan, Ph.D., founding director of the division of medical ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center, continued the debate.
Hospital discharges: 5 strategies to improve the process and cut readmissions
The discharge process remains a major obstacle for healthcare leaders seeking to improve outcomes and reduce readmissions, in large part because patients often don't understand the instructions. New research now suggests multiple strategies that could improve the process, including treating it more like the admissions process and dispensing medications at that point.
Additional resources necessary to address social determinants of health
The increased focus on quality of care has highlighted the impact of socioeconomic factors on patient health, but efforts to identify and manage those factors in the practice setting have remained tepid, according to a story published in AAFP News.
Customers more satisfied where health plan competition is higher
Consumers were most satisifed with their health plans in markets where there was more competition, but they also favor having to make fewer choices when it comes to their health plan options, according to the J.D. Power 2016 Member Health Plan Study.
Private insurer-led ACOs continue to evolve, study says
Accountable care organizations run by private insurers have matured in their efforts to boost quality and lower costs, but shared risk plays an increasing role in changes to reimbursement models, according to an analysis from the American Journal of Managed Care.
More companies provide on-site healthcare for their employees
With the growth of retail clinics making it clear that people value convenience and easy access to healthcare, more companies are now offering on-site healthcare for their workers, according to Fortune.
Scandal pushes officials to redesign the VA healthcare delivery system
Problems within the Department of Veterans Affairs keep coming even amid efforts to reform the system, with allegations this week that Texas VA facilities engaged in similar record falsification to that which kicked off the scandal nearly two years ago. The ongoing issues within the system demonstrate the need for a deeper re-evaluation of the VA's approach to care delivery, argues an opinion piece by VA Under Secretary of Health David Shulkin, M.D.
