Developing Healthcare

With tight margins as the uninsured population grows and uncertainty as healthcare reform approaches, hospitals and physicians groups across the country are seeking merger opportunities. In 2011, there were 86 hospital merger and acquisition deals, up from 77 in 2010, and 107 physician group merger and acquisition deals, up from 67 in 2010, according to Irving ...

As a leader in specialty procedures, cardiology is a growing field that is in demand from patients, as well as from hospitals looking to acquire practices. While some cardiologists are interested in being employed by hospitals, about 67% according to a Price Water House Coopers 2011 Report, others prefer the private practice route. When looking at ...

Hospitals spend $10 billion every year disposing of waste according to the American Hospital Association. As industries everywhere are “going green,” healthcare facilities are implementing green technology programs as well, and the applications can be overwhelming. Not only do sustainability initiatives help reduce hospitals’ carbon footprints, but also increase operational efficiency and promote the ...

With the growth of health-care spending declining significantly to 3.9% in 2010, according to federal analysts, the American people are not the only ones looking to cut back on the costs of health care. Hospitals, now more so than ever, are looking for new ways to save money as costs escalate and reimbursements dwindle. There are ...

Healthcare is costly, especially on an inpatient basis, which is why it is not surprising that an established and growing trend has been the development of outpatient centers. According to a Healthcare Financial Management Association article, community hospitals gross outpatient revenues grew from 19 percent of all revenues to 38% of all revenues from 1987-2007. As ...

As a progressive new form of quality and convenient health, telehealth practices are growing, especially in rural areas, as it improves access and cost of care. However, with a reimbursement model not clearly defined, some physicians are still reluctant. In essence, telemedicine enables health providers to monitor patients who are not at their location. With telecommunication ...

The amount of office based physicians using electronic health records (EHRs) is up 12% from 2010 according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report. With electronic usage demonstrating positive health outcomes according to some case studies, and matched with a government incentive, adoption is likely to grow. Health Benefits: The prime reasons for ...

Created in the mid 90’s for the wealthy elite, concierge medicine today delivers care at a more reasonable price and can actually be more cost effective than some health insurance plans. With the number of concierge practices growing five times since 2005 according to a MedPAC study, concierge medicine is a progressive option that might ...

Employment by health systems is surging for Texas physicians as well as physicians across the country. 65% of physicians who changed jobs in 2009 moved into a hospital employment model according to a 2009 poll by the Medical Group Management Association. Through hospital acquisition, physicians receive a multitude of benefits while maintaining their autonomy. 2 Reasons ...

Why is a major health insurer conversing with hospital systems in Pennsylvania to discuss performance on quality measures? They are discussing reimbursement incentives as participants in Highmark Inc.’s QualityBLUE pay-for-performance program. Highmark was established in 1996 when two Pennsylvania licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association consolidated, now called Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and ...