Viewing Sustainability Through the Cost-Savings Lens
Sustainability strategies like installing fluid management systems in the operating rooms (ORs) can improve safety and reduce waste and associated costs.
Variation analysis as a tool to improve value
Two leaders with Providence St. Joseph Health describe the systematic approach their organization developed to improve the value of the care it delivers.
Testing a model for better coordination of care in the community
Providers are using analytics to drive partnerships with community service organizations to address social determinants of health.
Telehealth Use Among Medicare Patients Limited but Growing
Growth in telehealth use among Medicare beneficiaries is occurring in patients 85 years and older and living in rural areas.
No-Divert Policy, Strategic Growth Help Erlanger Increase Revenue by $300 Million
A strategic plan that focused on growth and expanding specialty services helped Erlanger Health System improve its balance sheet while maintaining high-quality performance. A pay-for-performance program also increased nurse productivity.
When Indirect EHR Communication Drives Up Medical Costs
Indirect communication among primary care team members using EHRs is associated with increased hospital visits and higher medical costs for their patients with diabetes, according to one study. Researchers found that medical costs rose by $223 per patient with diabetes in a six-month period for every increase in one percentage point in indirect communication.
Community Paramedicine Saves Organization $6M in 1 Year
By training paramedics to treat patients at home under a physician’s supervision, Commonwealth Care Alliance is reducing unnecessary emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
When Every Minute Counts: Helping Hospitals Address the Opioid Epidemic
Garth Graham, MD, describes the Aetna Foundation’s efforts to fund opioid treatment programs that are tailored to the characteristics of individual communities.
Pressure Ulcer Prevention Can Save Costs
Pressure ulcer treatment can be as high as $150,000 and can add approximately $40,000 to a hospital stay.
7 Focus Areas for Reducing Healthcare Expenses
Healthcare providers should focus on seven areas to control costs and maximize savings while continuing to deliver high-quality patient care.