2024 Healthcare Trends Report: Using Digital Health Tools to Solve Healthcare Challenges

Although 2024 has just begun, it’s clear that recent healthcare challenges aren’t likely to go away anytime soon. Consider, for example, that over 70% of Americans say that the US healthcare system is failing them. It’s not just patients who are encountering difficulties, though — payers and providers alike struggle with major issues like staffing shortages, rising costs, and an increasing number of bankruptcies.

IVF in 2024: Trends, Challenges, & Opportunities

IVF may have once been considered a luxury — but in recent years, it’s increasingly being seen as the essential healthcare practice that it is, says Dr. Alan Copperman, Managing Director & CEO of RMA of New York.

5 Ways to Improve Member Experience for Next Year’s Medicare Star Ratings

The CMS 2024 Medicare Star Ratings, released just days before the October 15th Open Enrollment kickoff, largely painted a picture of Medicare Advantage plans struggling to deliver on member experience as the industry grows.

Boosting Medicare Advantage Acquisition, Engagement, & Retention With Digital Health Solutions

In recent years — and particularly since the passage of the Affordable Care Act — the Medicare Advantage space has seen rapid growth, with Medicare Advantage retention, engagement, and acquisition not always able to keep pace.

How to Streamline Patient Throughput

Patient throughput (patient intake to checkout process) can pose a real challenge. Many healthcare providers find that inefficient flow slows them down and creates a frustrating experience for patients. Making changes to a well-established process might seem daunting and not worth the effort, but the benefits of improved patient flow are invaluable.

EHR Optimization: The Benefits of Having Digital Solutions on Top of Your EHR

While electronic health records (EHRs) date as far back as the 1960s, they have only been mandatory for slightly over a decade. Even in that brief time, though, the American healthcare system has become widely reliant on them. While providers will be the first to say that EHRs aren't perfect, they have also become an essential part of the healthcare workflow. But rarely do practitioners think of EHR optimization.

How Remote Patient Monitoring Can Improve Health Outcomes

No matter how great the diagnosis, treatment, and management provided at a site of care, at-home care coordination is still an absolute must. After all, a full 20% of patients experience an adverse event within three weeks of leaving the hospital — three-quarters of which can be prevented with appropriate care.

The Digital Front Door: Improving Healthcare Access Through Patient Engagement Technology

Eliminating barriers to access has long been a top concern of the healthcare industry. However, many don't think to look at the digital front door: the point at which users enter the journey. This is especially true compared to industries like tech and retail. But today, healthcare access and digital experience are impossible to disentangle. Patients are using their smartphones, computers, and tablets to do everything from finding providers to reading their reviews to booking appointments and more.

7 Reasons Why No-Show Appointments Occur (& What You Can Do About It)

While no-show appointments certainly aren’t a new challenge for healthcare organizations, they are one of the most persistent. Missed appointments lead to about $150-$200 in lost revenue for primary care physicians, and even $500 for surgeons — not to mention any costs that come along with associated testing, lab services, or other procedures.

How Healthcare Organizations Can Boost Digital Discoverability

When health systems are struggling with low volume, leaders are often quick to suggest ad campaigns. But when your website doesn’t serve as a welcoming digital front door for patients, any budget spent on digital ads, local commercials, billboards, and other forms of advertising is largely wasted.

Nurse Burnout & Moral Injury: Addressing the Current Crisis

Nursing is an intrinsically demanding field: the hours, pressure, and expectations that come with the job have always lent themselves to burnout. But in recent years, burnout has reached crisis- level proportions. A survey of 2,500 nurses released in July 2022 found that three-quarters of respondents had experienced burnout since the pandemic began, and 64% were considering leaving healthcare altogether. In the midst of already-widespread nursing shortages, identifying the causes of burnout and addressing them is critical.

Wendy Dean on Physician Burnout & Moral Injury

It’s no secret that it’s hard to be a physician in the US. A 2018 survey put the “Physician Misery Index” — a measurement of national physician dissatisfaction — at a 3.94 out of 5. Meanwhile, a 2022 survey by the American Medical Association found that 52% of respondents were experiencing a great deal of stress.