Ascension pauses plan to shrink services at Milwaukee hospital

The decision comes after city leaders asked the health system to wait one year before consolidating services to engage with the community and mitigate the impact of any final decision.

By David Lim • April 19, 2018

CHS selling spree goes on with Florida hospital sale

Adventist Health System will add the 421-bed Munroe Regional Medical Center to its Florida portfolio.

By Jeff Byers • April 19, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Surprise Billing

Federal legislation banning surprise bills has hit a barrage of roadblocks, complicating efforts to protect consumers from unexpected out-of-network charges.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Doctor shortage could exceed 121K by 2030, report says

One factor affecting the shortage is an aging workforce — more than one-third of practicing physicians will be 65 or older within the next decade and looking to retire.

By Meg Bryant • April 13, 2018

Mobile device use tied to higher patient experience scores, survey finds

Nine in 10 healthcare organizations have implemented, or plan to implement, a mobile device initiative.

By Meg Bryant • April 13, 2018

Hospitals must improve medication adherence system use to protect patients, report says

Many hospitals are struggling to properly use technology designed to prevent bedside medication errors.

By David Lim • April 13, 2018

Electronic access to patient info a struggle, physician survey finds

The worst gap in information is around medication adherence.

By Meg Bryant • April 13, 2018

Optum a step ahead in vertical integration frenzy

UnitedHealth's healthcare services arm is the elephant in the room as media darlings Amazon and Walmart look to enter the market. 

By Jeff Byers • April 12, 2018

Patient experience 2.0

Patient experience is not about satisfaction. It’s about consistent care delivery.

By Vikki Choate, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CCM, CPHQ and Colleen McCrory, MBA, FACHE • April 12, 2018

Is the doctor shortage problem overblown?

While supply is not keeping up with population growth, technology and use of non-physicians may ease any shortfall. 

By Meg Bryant • April 11, 2018

Gender pay gap a problem for doctors — and it's growing

A new Medscape report found male primary care physicians earn an average of $239,000 annually while women on average earn $203,000.

By Les Masterson • April 11, 2018

U.S. News adding patient ratings to online doctor profiles

The ratings will include 10 patient experience metrics like follow-up and provider attitude.

By Meg Bryant • April 10, 2018

Microsoft sues CHS over alleged copyright infringement

The lawsuit should be a wake-up call to healthcare systems, showing that they need to manage their IT networks and digital tools effectively.

By Meg Bryant • April 5, 2018

Surgeon General: More people should carry naloxone

The advisory comes a week before Congress is set to consider two competing packages aimed at curbing the opioid crisis.

By David Lim • April 5, 2018

'Nightmare' bacteria found in 221 cases across 27 states

The incidents reported by the CDC were mostly found in hospitals and nursing homes, especially those where patients might be on ventilators for long periods of time.

By Jeff Byers • April 4, 2018

Atrium yields to physician groups' demands after lawsuit filed

The doctors accused the system of monopolistic and anti-competitive practices.

By Meg Bryant • April 3, 2018

Humana, Optum pilot blockchain to fix network lists

MultiPlan, UnitedHealthcare and Quest Diagnostics are also part of the initiative to use blockchain to ensure accuracy of network directories.

By Meg Bryant • April 3, 2018

California sues Sutter for anticompetitive practices, high costs

The complaint alleges profits from Sutter's "illegal pricing practices" have gone toward acquisitions, executive wages and the financing of its own insurance arm.

By Tony Abraham • April 2, 2018

Face time, compassion key in online doctor reviews, analysis finds

The analysis of nearly 7 million Healthgrades reviews showed little difference by physician gender.

By Meg Bryant • March 28, 2018

Millennials more likely to use walk-in clinics, telemedicine, survey shows

Young people are shopping around more for providers and health plans, and are using online tools to support decision-making.  

By Meg Bryant • March 23, 2018

Paper health records have privacy risks, study finds

An audit of recycling bins at five hospitals turned up nearly 2,700 documents containing patients’ personal information.

By Meg Bryant • March 22, 2018

Geisinger plans pilot to help patients get to appointments

Geisinger’s program will also provide transportation for non-clinical, but health-related reasons, such as going to counseling, a pharmacy, a grocery store or to a job interview.

By Les Masterson • March 22, 2018

Higher volume associated with lower online ratings

Researchers looked at patient ratings for more than 600 urologists across four websites.

By Meg Bryant • March 21, 2018

Docs more likely to prescribe opioids after pharma pay, study finds

Opioid manufacturers paid physicians more than $43 million over a two-year period, according to CareDash.

By Meg Bryant • March 16, 2018

CHS hires advisers to restructure debt

The news comes as the hospital operator came off a weak 2017, compared to 2016.

By Jeff Byers • March 16, 2018

Hospitals acquired 5K physician practices in 1-year period

The report concluded that physicians struggle to maintain independent practices because payer policies "increasingly favor integrated health systems."

By Shannon Muchmore • March 14, 2018