EDs could save $8.3B annually with better primary care, study finds

Of 24 million emergency visits by patients with certain chronic conditions in 2017, 4.3 million were potentially avoidable, according to a Premier analysis.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 8, 2019

Microsoft debuts healthcare messaging features, new bot service

Microsoft Care Team users can now view integrated EHR data on their mobile device. The company will showcase these and other tools at HIMSS 2019 in Florida next week.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 8, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Payer/provider relationships

As M&A intensifies and companies embrace more holistic and value-based care models, partnerships have become more closely intertwined.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Changing how we pay for healthcare to promote high-quality care, eliminate waste

The fee-for-service model needs an overhaul to best serve patients, argue Suzanne Delbanco, Maclaine Lehan and Roslyn Murray of the nonprofit Catalyst for Payment Reform.

By Suzanne Delbanco, Maclaine Lehan, Roslyn Murray • Feb. 4, 2019

Focus on usability, interoperability to help reduce health IT burden, groups tell ONC

Stakeholders also urged ONC to consider artificial intelligence tools as a means of relieving hassles from EHR use.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 29, 2019

HIMSS19: 5 panels you don't want to miss

The healthcare world is buzzing about what to expect at the biggest IT conference of the year. Here are five key panels you should plan to attend.

By David Lim , Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 28, 2019

JAMA study makes case for investing in primary care

People with primary care receive more high-value care, slightly more low-value care and report better healthcare experiences than those without primary care, according to a new study in JAMA Internal Medicine.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 28, 2019

Fewer Americans see doctors in their office, CDC data show

Chronic conditions were the leading reason for physician office visits in 2016, followed by "new problems" and preventive care.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 25, 2019

Hospital groups push shared infrastructure, rules of road to boost interoperability

Data sharing barriers include lack of standard vocabulary between health IT platforms and changing regulatory requirements and timelines, the American Hospital Association and six other groups said in a report.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 23, 2019

Downside risk spurs provider exodus in bundled payment models, GAO says

The watchdog also found provider groups participating in any of the six bundled payment models from CMS had larger practices and higher care episode volume on average, and were more likely to be located in urban areas.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 23, 2019

Health industry employee benefit costs up 14.6% since 2004

The annual cost of benefits per employee averaged $21,364 in 2018, according to an analysis by Bay Alarm Medical.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 22, 2019

Private equity boost, upskilling workers among 2019 sector trends, PwC reports

With the average health insurance deductible triple what it was a decade ago, the consultancy believes 2019 could also be the year for value line products and services — similar to the Southwest Airlines approach.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 18, 2019

Clinicians, hospital admin: Leave these 3 biases at the door

To focus completely on patient care, hospital administration and physicians need to work together in an environment of trust, argues Pat Cormier, managing director of consultancy Kotter.

By Pat Cormier • Jan. 18, 2019

eTransactions saw usage upswing in 2018: report

Findings from the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare show real momentum for electronic administrative transactions, a crucial step toward reducing physician burnout and increasing workplace efficiency.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 18, 2019

Nearly half of doctors feel burned out, Medscape survey shows

Urologists, neurologists and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists have the highest burnout levels, according to the report.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 17, 2019

Coursera adds healthcare vertical with 15 university partners

The online learning platform is rolling out the new offerings, which include two master's degrees, to address growing demand for healthcare workers. 

By Natalie Schwartz • Jan. 17, 2019

No single solution to patient matching challenge, GAO says

Questions about the accuracy of digital matching tools force providers to recheck results manually, according to the government watchdog.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 16, 2019

Traditional players focused on value-based care, interoperability to drive innovation, experts argue

Four panelists agreed Wednesday that the Trump administration is making some headway in initiatives that prioritize quality over quantity of care, but it's not enough.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 16, 2019

Walmart exits CVS pharmacy benefit network over pricing dispute

CVS wants Walmart to fill prescriptions as an in-network pharmacy through April 30, but the retail giant could leave the network as early as February.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 15, 2019

ONC to Congress: Room for improvement in data sharing

Ongoing barriers to seamless data sharing range from technical and financial to trust and business practices, according to the HHS IT department's latest progress report.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 10, 2019

How AI could shape the health tech landscape in 2019

Highlights include technologies that seek to cut costs and promote patient health, especially in the areas of imaging, diagnostics, predictive analytics and administration.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 10, 2019

Women make up only 13% of healthcare CEOs

On average, it takes women three to five years longer than men to reach the top executive position, according to a report from Oliver Wyman.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 8, 2019

Convenience more important to patients than quality of care, survey finds

Nearly half of the organizations surveyed by NRC Health plan to invest in technology to gauge patient-experience metrics over the next year.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 7, 2019

ACOs can improve results, buy-in when focusing on high-risk patients, report suggests

The best approach to help high-need, high-cost patients is a hybrid model of quantitative and qualitative data, according to The Commonwealth Fund.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 7, 2019

Partnering, guidance key for pop health management vendors, KLAS says

Among the 21 vendors examined in the new report, HealthEC scored best for overall customer satisfaction with strong showings in both customer relations and strategic guidance.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 4, 2019

HL7 releases latest FHIR version

The new iteration brings normative status, meaning future changes will be backward compatible.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 3, 2019