Economics

This channel highlights factors that impact hospital and healthcare economics and revenue. This includes news on healthcare policies, reimbursement, marketing, business plans, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain, salaries, staffing, and the implementation of a cost-effective environment for patients and providers.

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Online physician reviews don't correlate with patient satisfaction surveys

Negative online physician reviews are not mimicked in patient satisfaction surveys, according to a study published April 2018 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Could outcomes-based reimbursement work for medical devices?

In a blog published March 29 by Health Affairs, four researchers expressed the need for creative reimbursement systems to “promote accountability” for outcomes related to devices that treat cardiovascular disease (CVD).

30% of patients have left appointments due to long wait times

If patients end up sitting around for too long, they may just walk out. According to a recent report by Vitals, long wait times led to 30 percent of patients leaving appointments at least once and 20 percent reported changing physicians.

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US heart disease deaths are down 68% since 1968—but racial gap has widened

Death rates from heart disease decreased by 68 percent for Americans from 1968 to 2015, according to a new analysis, but the mortality decline was greater for whites than blacks.

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25% of American healthcare dollars used in diabetic care

Diagnosed diabetes in the U.S. cost a total of $327 billion in 2017, according to a new report commissioned by the American Diabetes Association published online March 22 in Diabetes Care.

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AHA gives Congress thumbs up for boosting cardiovascular research funding

The American Heart Association (AHA) issued a statement March 29 applauding Congress for including funding increases for federal programs aimed at combating cardiovascular disease in its final omnibus spending bill.

Washington radiology practices announce new partnership

Two radiology practices from Washington state—Spokane-based Inland Imaging and Tri-Cities-based Columbia Basin Imaging (CBI)—have announced that they are combining their groups, effective September 2018.

62% of patients favor non-clinical factors when reviewing physicians

Patients overwhelmingly take non-clinical factors of care like compassion, comfort, personality and bedside manner into account when choosing a physician, according to a report by Healthgrades and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).