The Journey

Several familiar themes emerged at the J.P. Morgan Annual Healthcare Conference in San Francisco last week, affirming the growing influence of patient consumerism and the importance of leveraging technology to reduce costs and improve care. Highlights provide an early glimpse into the early stages of healthcare’s transformation in America.

With higher personal costs for healthcare care driving a dramatic shift in patient behavior, patient loyalty has never been more important - or more at risk. Hospitals and Health Systems are faced with a stark choice - Either improve revenues by delivering financial transparency, accessibility and technology, or watch market share and revenues...

Physicians and other clinicians represent an important and often overlooked constituency in the debate about healthcare price transparency. With rising out-of-pocket costs causing patients to avoid, delay or ration care, doctors need information about price to design treatment plans their patients will actually follow.

Most of us are familiar with the aphorism, “You have to spend money to make money”, but many health systems and hospitals have relied primarily on cost cutting to preserve deteriorating operating margins. As consumerism in healthcare continues to expand, providers must invest to improve efficiencies, engage consumers and drive growth.

When Healthcare Revenue Cycle Executives were asked what their top five pain points were, their responses painted a picture of an industry struggling to adapt to today’s increasingly consumer-driven marketplace and frustrated with the performance of existing systems. Some trailblazing providers are elevating revenue cycle and forging innovative...

Fueled by America’s ageing population, growing occurrences of chronic disease and the high cost of healthcare, Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) are wielding their reputation for better patient engagement and lower cost to attract a growing share of the healthcare market. Hospitals and other full-service providers are finding new ways to...

Several prominent healthcare providers and investors have been featured in recent, damaging national news stories about patient billing and collection tactics. But some hospitals are learning that improved transparency and communications make it possible to partner with patients to increase revenues and burnish their reputations.

The financial impact of cancer treatment can be so severe for patients and their families that it’s been described as “financial toxicity”. For oncologists, a thoughtful patient financial strategy is critical to patient and provider well-being.

Online or in-person, shopping in America has been transformed by the popularity and growth of eCommerce. A similar transformation is underway in healthcare. Will you be ready?

Health systems, Hospitals and other healthcare providers are being challenged to do more with less, even as patients are seeking more convenient and affordable alternatives. Some farsighted providers are finding ways to reduce their costs and grow market share.