Cost of Care

Rethinking Caregiving in America: A Framework for Growth and Sustainability

// By Daniel Fell // The case for supporting family caregivers as an integral part of the care team. Here, we look at recent initiatives led by the federal government, share some programs developed by forward-thinking health systems, and propose a framework that health care executives can use to reimagine the role of caregivers.

“Fasten Your Seatbelts”: Health Care Trends to Watch Out For in 2024

Political, social, and marketplace trends crisscrossing the health care landscape going into 2024 present actionable strategic and operational challenges — and opportunities. Overall, the 2024 forecast for the health care sector is “fasten your seat belts.” Investments in technology adoption or replacement, labor costs, spending on infrastructure, and a volatile economy translate into higher insurance Read More

Should Your Health System Invest in Nontraditional Partnerships?

Jared Johnson

Nontraditional partnerships provide unique opportunities for hospitals and health systems to enhance consumer experiences, expand service offerings, and address emerging health care needs. 2024 is a year of hope and new possibilities for health system leaders who look to do more, with fewer resources, than ever before. Amid uncertain financial forecasts, leaders increasingly look to Read More

Health Care Trends 2024: Sector-by-Sector Watchlist

featured image hc trends

Political, social, and marketplace trends crisscrossing the health care landscape going into 2024 present actionable strategic and operational challenges — and opportunities. // By Lindsay Resnick, MHA // Overall, the 2024 forecast for the health care sector is “fasten your seat belts.” Investments in technology adoption or replacement, labor costs, spending on infrastructure, and a Read More

The Rise of Nontraditional Partnerships

Dr. Creagh Milford, SVP of Retail Health, CVS Health

Health systems throughout the country explore nontraditional partnerships and find success as they seek to transform their consumer experiences. In our 2024 forecast, you’ll hear from leading innovators about exciting new partnerships with health systems in retail care, hospital at home, and other areas where they see future opportunities to better serve consumers. // By Read More

Tension in the U.S. Health Care System is Growing: What You Need to Know

Paul Keckley, managing editor of The Keckley Report

Conflict between the sector’s “haves” and “have-nots” has been brewing for years and is coming to an inflection point. Health care in the U.S. has been very good to those who participate on the business end of the enterprise, but the comfort they enjoy is often at the expense of others. Those frictions are likely Read More

Paul Keckley: Friction in U.S. Health Care System Coming to a Head

Ron Shinkman

Conflict between the sector’s “haves” and “have-nots” has been brewing for years and is coming to an inflection point. // By Ron Shinkman // Health care in the U.S. has been very good to those who participate on the business end of the enterprise, but the comfort they enjoy is often at the expense of Read More

How Community Engagement Can Boost Your Health Equity Strategy

Lindsay Cosimano, senior director of marketing communications, Nebraska Health Network

How can a health system make a difference in utilization, quality and outcomes, and cost — and improve engagement with underserved members of its community? This was the topic of a recent presentation at the 2023 SHSMD Connections Virtual Conference. Lindsay Cosimano is senior director of marketing communications at Nebraska Health Network, an accountable care Read More

A Health Equity Strategy Focused on Community Engagement

Simon-Marcia-Author

Community engagement is a cornerstone of public relations. Effectively breaking down the barriers to health care access is a far greater challenge. // By Marcia Simon, APR // How can a health system make a difference in utilization, quality and outcomes, and cost — and improve engagement with underserved members of its community? This was Read More

Hospital Billing Overhaul: Northern Light Health’s Reputation Rescue

Vince Galloro headshot

Hospital billing practices have a direct and significant impact on a health care system’s brand reputation. Take this first-hand account shared by Suzanne Spruce and Vince Galloro in a new article: “In August 2022, the Portland Press Herald — the paper with the highest circulation in the state of Maine — published a long article Read More

How to Manage the Reputation Risks of Hospital Billing

Headshot of Suzanne Spruce smiling. She has short blonde hair and is wearing a black blazer with a white shirt.

Focus on what you can control and create patient-friendly bill pay web pages with clear financial assistance information. // By Suzanne R. Spruce and Vince Galloro // In August 2022, the Portland Press Herald — the paper with the highest circulation in the state of Maine — published a long article on unexpected medical bills. Read More

Expand Your Virtual Care Options to Improve Access and Attract New Patients

Jeff Stewart, system director of strategic marketing, CHRISTUS Health

There are many ways to expand health care access through virtual care. When CHRISTUS Health launched its “On Demand Care” urgent care service in May 2022, some clinicians were concerned about visit erosion from the primary care provider patient base. That didn’t happen. “Our primary care physicians who were initially skeptical, as you can imagine, Read More

Virtual Care Stays True to the Brand at CHRISTUS Health

Jane Weber Brubaker

There are many options for expanding access through virtual care. CHRISTUS Health’s thoughtful approach is guided by its mission, and its recognized brand attracts new patients. // By Jane Weber Brubaker // When CHRISTUS Health launched its “On Demand Care” urgent care service in May 2022, some clinicians were concerned about visit erosion from the Read More

Improving Access to Care: How Health Systems Can Overcome the Obstacles

Lindsay Resnick headshot

Assuring timely access to care — an individual’s ability to obtain health care services — has always challenged payers, providers, and without doubt, consumers. The industry’s constant back-and-forth blame game over cost and access must end. Customers are listening, and so are competitors. Recent market moves are making care more widely available than ever before. Read More

Access Will Be Profitable — If Health Care Movers and Shakers Are Right

Access Will Be Profitable — If Health Care Movers and Shakers are Right

Retail providers are expanding, and health insurers are profiting, but timely access to needed care remains elusive for many. // By Lindsay R. Resnick, MHA // Assuring timely access to care — an individual’s ability to obtain health care services — has always challenged payers, providers, and without doubt, consumers. The industry’s constant back-and-forth blame Read More

How to Take Control of the Health Care Cost Narrative

Ryan Colaianni, executive vice president of Communications & Crisis/Issues, Revive

As health care costs in the U.S. continue to rise, hospitals haven taken a disproportionate share of the blame in the media. While they bear some responsibility, current news coverage pins most of the blame on them. So how can your health system take control of the health care cost narrative? The cost of health Read More

What Does the Primary Care Shakeup in 2022 Really Mean?

Alan Shoebridge is associate vice president, national communication for Providence

The pace of change in primary care will continue to accelerate. We should not be scared by this change, but we do need to act. // By Alan Shoebridge // Most of us have heard the saying that things change gradually and then suddenly. Is primary care having that moment now? After years of incremental change, Read More

How Advance Care Planning Improves Patient Experience

L. Scott Brown, president and CEO, ADVault

Death and dying is a reality we are all going to face. So it is remarkable that end-of-life care isn’t as freely spoken about between providers and patients as it should be. This highlights an often overlooked communication challenge in the health care industry: How do you integrate end-of-life care into the patient experience in Read More