Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Suzanna Hoppszallern.
Our survey of construction trends finds that the most significant expansion and replacement of U.S. hospitals since the post-World War II building spree continues to fuel a red-hot market. And the building boom is likely to last through the rest of the decade.
Many hospitals outsource one or more key areas of their IT operations, but not all are happy with the outcomes. In this special foldout, H&HN looks at what sectors hospitals should consider outsourcing and what questions to ask potential partners.
The latest benchmarking data reveal both old trends and some surprises. Once again, hospitals in high managed care markets outperformed those in low managed care markets in profitability measures, such as total margin and return on equity. However, hospitals in areas with low managed care penetration had a lower percentage of bad-debt expense and significantly fewer days in accounts receivable and more days cash on hand.
Predictions of the rise of a take-charge health care consumer have proved premature. Opinion polls and data paint a confusing portrait of a consumer who wants quality care at discount prices, but who doesn't know how the system works, what it costs or what his or her role is. When will this super consumer emerge, and will the industry change as a result?
Controlling costs is not the only catalyst for the increase in outsourcing by hospitals. The 13th annual survey shows that in some areas, outsourcing can affect patient satisfaction.
HIPAA's administrative simplification rule was introduced to reduce the costs of handling provider-payer transactions by standardizing them. The transaction rules are predicted to save billions of dollars. To get the biggest payoff, providers will need to overhaul their business processes as part of electronic transaction processing. By eliminating redundant and inefficient administrative processes, staff time can be focused on processes that improve financial performance and customer satisfaction. If your organization needs to have an extension beyond the original compliance date, you must file a plan before Oct. 16 to show how you'll come into compliance by Oct. 16, 2003. Check the roadmap and timetable for HIPAA compliance and see where your organization is and where it needs to be.
The profitability gap between hospitals in high and low managed care markets is closing. The difference in total margins is down and the change in return on equity is even more dramatic. However, even with heavier patient care demands, hospitals in high managed care markets have a firmer grip on expenses and show productivity gains. Our annual Benchmarking Guide shows that the number of HMOs operating in the United States continues to decline with industry mergers, plan consolidations and plan closures. While 2001 enrollment stabilized at 79.5 million, the number of HMOs fell to 541. The guide also compares data on hospital-owned and non-hospital-owned physician practices.
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The hospital sector in 2001 led the health care field in mergers and acquisitions. Most deals involved a network augmenting its presence within a specific region or in a market adjacent to its primary service area. Analysts expect M&A activity to increase in 2002.
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Spending on clinical contracts continues to outpace spending on business services, but may be leveling off. The 12th annual Contract Management Survey shows that the performance of clinical vendors is now comparable to business service vendors in meeting savings targets. Both business and clinical vendors are receiving higher marks from hospital leaders, but execs quickly respond to low marks by bringing the service back in-house of changing vendors. This report examines trends in outsourcing, satisfaction levels, the decision-making process, contract features and performance, and spending.
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The HIPAA privacy rule, slated to take effect in April, guarantees patients access to their medical records, gives them more control over how their health information is used and disclosed, and provides recourse if their privacy is compromised. Providers need to understand their responsibilities and rights. Our fold-out guide will help providers understand the rule so that new policies and procedures can be implemented without interfering with access to quality care.