An American Hospital Association study estimates financial losses for U.S. based hospitals at a staggering $320 billion for the year 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has significantly impacted IT spending and forced IT leaders to explore new ways to reduce the cost of IT while ensuring care continuity. Reducing “keep the […]
As efforts to increase diagnostic testing for COVID-19 accelerate, some consumers may still have questions about the types of tests available, who can perform them and where, and what differentiates one test from another. The guide below, adapted from the FDA website, should help answer some of these common questions. COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests In certain […]
The drive to modernize the delivery of virtual care to support the pandemic is unprecedented. More than ever, innovation is needed to deliver primary care via telemedicine and remote monitoring services, and to protect patient data and reduce medical errors. Deploying technology to enhance patient care and safety starts one hospital at a time and […]
It feels like physicians spend as much time in front a computer screen these days as they do seeing patients. That's not far from the truth, according to some studies, like this one. But it doesn't have to be that way. As someone who has spent most of her professional career in EHR training, I […]
Ready or not, price transparency is coming. On Jan 1, 2021, the much-anticipated hospital price transparency rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go into effect. Finalized in November 2019, these rules require hospitals to publicize their list of standard charges for items and services ranging from supplies and room and board […]
When patients call a health system to schedule an appointment, they expect the same experience whether they’re talking to primary care, neurology, or pediatrics. And they expect to be able to get an appointment that meets their preferences for location, date, time of day, and provider. In theory, this should be an efficient process, but […]
Under pressure to increase productivity while reducing operating expenses, more healthcare organizations are looking at Kronos for Workforce Management to better understand and manage their staffing levels and labor costs. Other considerations putting WFM in the spotlight include workplace safety, the shift to remote work, compliance requirements, and union contracts and policies, just to name […]
As a training specialist with over 20 Cerner Go-Lives under my belt, I have worked with thousands of individuals in healthcare organizations to ensure they were trained and ready to transition to a new electronic health records solution. And not surprisingly, I have encountered some reluctant students over the years. Some healthcare professionals claim to […]
The pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic are shining a light on the central importance of the lab to the clinical goals of a hospital or health system. COVID-specific challenges for hospital lab professionals range from new billing and documentation requirements to the setup and configuration of drive-through test facilities. These challenges are also highlighting the […]
Legacy systems are a challenge for all companies, especially those who grow through acquisition or need to focus on immediate profitability after a merger. Modernizing and consolidating systems is often left out of acquisition timelines. Unfortunately, this often leaves IT with a patchwork of legacy systems to manage and a lack of partnership between IT […]
If you’ve been employed at a hospital or health system during the past decade, chances are you’ve worked with or at least encountered an outside consultant or consulting team. Maybe you saw us roaming the halls or hunched over our laptops in conference rooms. Maybe we shadowed your day-to-day work to see what you do. […]
As hospitals continue to reschedule the backlog of elective surgeries cancelled due to COVID-19, guidelines and best practices continue to evolve. Increasing urgency due to the cumulative effect of delays on patient health and hospital revenues has pushed hospitals to quickly implement new workflows using the best information available. Whether your organization is in the […]