Costs & Cost Controls
Health data inaccuracies cost millions, threaten care quality
Editor's Note Healthcare data inaccuracies occur at rates as high as 26.9% in hospitals, with related inefficiencies costing providers up to $20 million annually, HealthLeaders reported January 8. According to the article, these inaccuracies stem from factors such as data entry mistakes, outdated information, inconsistent data standards, and system integration…
Hospital M&A trends report reveals financial distress, market reorganization
Editor's Note The US hospital industry continues to face significant financial and structural challenges despite signs of stabilization in 2024, according to a January 9 report from Kaufman Hall. Despite improved operating margins and stable credit outlooks from major rating agencies, a surge in transactions involving financially distressed organizations and…
Study: Patient care experience declined after private equity hospital acquisitions
Editor's Note Patients fared worse in the wake of private equity acquisitions of US hospitals, according to research published January 9 in JAMA Network. Over a decade-long analysis of 73 acquired hospitals and 293 matched controls, declines became more pronounced in the years following acquisition, researchers wrote. Key findings include:…
Prosthetic insurance coverage disparities persist despite legal protections
Editor's Note Health insurance coverage of prosthetics remains inconsistent and often inadequate, KFF Health News reported January 6. As a result, many patients face coverage denials due to claims of lack of medical necessity or high costs despite significant advancements in prosthetic technology, such as microprocessor-controlled knees and myoelectric hands.…
Senate report: Private equity endangers patient care in underserved hospitals
Editor's Note A bipartisan Senate Budget Committee report accuses private equity firms of prioritizing profits over patients, compromising care in underserved communities, CBS News reported January 7. The investigation scrutinized the operations of Leonard Green & Partners and Apollo Global Management, alleging widespread financial mismanagement and underinvestment in hospitals they…
Study: Esophagectomy outcomes worse at private equity hospitals
Editor's Note A study published in JAMA Surgery revealed that hospitals owned by private equity firms had significantly worse outcomes for esophagectomy patients compared to non-acquired hospitals. As detailed in a January 2 report on the findings in MedPage Today, the analysis of over 9,000 cases highlights disparities in 30-day…
Report: Healthcare ransomware compromises millions of patient records, costs billions in downtime
Editor's Note Between 2018 and 2024, ransomware attacks on US healthcare organizations compromised nearly 89 million patient records and resulted in downtime costing an estimated total of $21.9 billion, according to a December 18 report from Comparitech. The report tallies 654 total ransomware incidents during this period targeting hospitals, clinics,…
Proposed tariffs, stricter immigration policies threaten healthcare workforce, supply chain
Editor's Note Immigration and trade policies proposed by President-elect Donald Trump could exacerbate challenges with healthcare staff and medical supply chains, according to recent reporting from Modern Healthcare and The Hill. As detailed by Modern Healthcare, stricter immigration policies could impede efforts to recruit skilled international workers, exacerbating gaps in…
Visual management supports perioperative Lean efforts
Takeaways • Visual management (VM) tools support Lean efforts, leading to improved quality and efficiency. • VM boards provide an overview of processes, facilitate problem solving, and promote staff-manager collaboration. • Other VM tools such as color coding and customized instrument trays can help reduce errors and save money. Lean…
Implications of 2024 surgical care trends for the year ahead
Perioperative leaders are entering a time of uncertainty after 2024 proved to be transformative for inpatient and outpatient surgical care. Last year saw important updates from The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that emphasized improvements alongside ongoing challenges in safety, workforce shortages, reimbursement, and…
Free Daily News
- AI boosts accuracy in surgical reports, outperforming surgeons
- AI models improve prediction of surgical complications using preoperative clinical notes
- Ambient AI healthcare documentation gains traction as capabilities expand
- Healthcare M&A faces tighter review as FTC retains guidelines
- Healthcare giants prioritize shareholder payouts over patient care
- Texas abortion ban linked to spike in pregnancy complications, maternal death
- AI streamlines documentation, frees time for nurses at Cedars-Sinai surgical unit
- Study identifies potential non-surgical treatment for inguinal hernias
- Rural hospital closures remain a growing concern despite slight financial improvement
- Session: Hoisting the Sails—Winning Strategies for Growing Service Lines in an ASC