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Apr 23, 2025·Becker's Hospital Review

A recent report from ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices highlights the risks associated with poor patient discharge coordination, noting issues like inadequate communication and ineffective medication management that can compromise safety. To combat these challenges, healthcare organizations are implementing interdisciplinary strategies to enhance discharge processes. For example, MUSC Health is conducting telehealth medication reconciliation for high-risk patients within 24 hours of discharge, while UK HealthCare has introduced the LINK navigation process to facilitate smoother transitions from inpatient to outpatient care. These approaches aim to improve patient safety and ensure effective follow-up care.

Apr 23, 2025·Nordic Global

Addressing the confusion and anxiety patients experience upon hospital admission is crucial for improving their inpatient experience. Dr. Craig Joseph advocates for an onboarding process similar to those in hotels or theme parks, which would provide patients with essential orientations, set expectations, and clarify the roles of their care team. Additionally, Dr. Angela Ingraham emphasizes that effective communication regarding discharge criteria can alleviate patient concerns by shifting discussions from vague timelines to specific milestones required for release. Despite potential operational pushback due to time constraints and varying patient conditions, Dr. Joseph argues that hospitals can integrate these practices without significantly impacting existing workflows.

Apr 20, 2025·LinkedIn

Houston Methodist is implementing strategies to enhance patient agency and engagement in healthcare by improving access to information. Recognizing that empowered patients have better recovery outcomes, the hospital has integrated the MyChart Bedside portal into in-room smart televisions. This allows patients to readily access their medical records and care team information in real time, reducing anxiety and fostering transparency. The system also facilitates personalized patient education, enabling clinicians to assign tailored content and confirm patient understanding, thus improving both comprehension and nursing efficiency.

Apr 17, 2025·NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals has launched a pilot program named Hotspotting at Lincoln Hospital to support individuals with opioid use disorder and combat rising overdose incidents. In collaboration with the Staten Island Performing Provider System (SIPPS) and funded by Robin Hood, the program aims to assist patients visiting the emergency department for opioid-related issues by connecting them to a dedicated team of community health workers and peer counselors. This team will offer follow-up care and facilitate access to addiction services and resources for up to a year post-discharge, addressing a critical need for ongoing support in light of increasing overdose deaths in New York City, particularly in the Bronx.

Apr 17, 2025·Becker's Hospital Review

Penn Medicine is advancing healthcare delivery through initiatives like the Penn Acute Care at Home (PATH) program and the use of ambient AI documentation tools. The PATH program enables patients to receive acute care at home, addressing specific conditions and easing hospital congestion, while also aligning with patient preferences for recovery at home. This model is developed from clinical evidence and operational insights, remaining focused on patient care rather than payment methods. Concurrently, ambient AI tools are being integrated to streamline documentation processes, reducing the administrative burden on clinicians and enhancing patient interaction. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to improve patient outcomes and clinician satisfaction.

Apr 9, 2025·HealthLeaders

Sharp HealthCare's newly launched VIP (Virtual InPatient) experience enhances patient engagement by integrating virtual nurses into the care team, especially in the neuroscience unit. This initiative, developed with input from various stakeholders, aims to provide a concierge-like approach to healthcare, ensuring patients feel monitored and supported throughout their journey. Since its launch in April 2024, the program has expanded to all four of Sharp's hospitals, operating daily to help streamline admissions and discharges while addressing hospital capacity. However, proving a clear return on investment remains a challenge for the program.

Apr 7, 2025·Healthcare IT News

SSM Health, a health system in St. Louis, has upgraded its online scheduling capabilities to enhance patient access to care across its 23 hospitals and over 650 physician offices. Recognizing the growing demand for mobile-friendly options, SSM Health collaborated with DexCare to streamline the scheduling process by incorporating e-commerce best practices. This initiative targeted improvements in user experience and facilitated easier booking for services such as primary and urgent care. The new technology provides a cohesive interface from search to appointment booking, integrating effectively with existing systems to meet organizational growth objectives.

Mar 31, 2025·EurekAlert

A study from the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine analyzed over 58,000 patient visits across 13 emergency departments in Indiana and identified key factors influencing patient satisfaction. Findings revealed that higher pain levels upon arrival and the use of hallway beds due to overcrowding correlated with poorer patient experiences, while undergoing radiology tests like X-rays or MRIs was associated with higher satisfaction scores. The researchers suggest these factors may reflect the importance of interpersonal care and effective communication in enhancing patient perceptions. Dr. Paul Musey Jr. highlighted the ongoing challenges emergency departments face, especially during peak times like flu season.

Mar 31, 2025·The DO

Physician empathy is essential in chronic pain management, as illustrated by a case study where a patient's frustration over tapering long-term opioid therapy underscores the need for effective communication and collaborative decision-making. The CDC's updated opioid prescribing guidelines emphasize the importance of empathy in enhancing patient-centered care. Research has shown that empathetic physicians contribute to higher patient satisfaction and better health outcomes, including reduced pain and improved quality of life. However, empathy often declines during medical training due to the pressures of education, highlighting the need for strategies to integrate empathic practices into healthcare training for better patient care.

Mar 30, 2025·Becker's Hospital Review

Boston Medical Center Health System has implemented digital kiosks, specifically iPads, for patient check-ins in both inpatient and outpatient departments, improving operational efficiency and patient experience. Joy Brown, the senior vice president and chief digital information officer, noted the initiative aims to align hospital digital interactions with patients' everyday automated experiences. The kiosks increase appointment availability, enhance care quality, and streamline the collection of patient consent forms, while also gathering social information for value-based care. Feedback has been positive, indicating that the kiosks create a user-friendly environment. The phased rollout includes features to support the needs of non-English speaking patients, demonstrating the center's commitment to inclusivity as part of a larger "digital journey."

Mar 24, 2025·nj.com

RWJBarnabas Health has initiated a program in New Jersey to provide free transportation to underserved patients through a partnership with Uber Health, addressing significant barriers to accessing healthcare. Launched in November 2023 with $25 million in state funding, the service started at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and has since grown to include five more facilities within the RWJBarnabas network, now supported by an additional $50 million. By February 2025, the program had facilitated over 47,440 rides, effectively reducing missed appointments and enhancing access to medications and food resources, which is particularly crucial in an area where many households lack reliable transportation.

Mar 13, 2025·KFF

The 2024 KFF Women’s Health Survey reveals that nearly 25% of women aged 18 to 64 have experienced unfair or disrespectful treatment from healthcare providers in the past two years, with weight stigma being the most cited reason. The findings indicate higher rates of negative interactions among Black and Hispanic women, with 26% and 25% respectively reporting such experiences linked to their race or accent. Additionally, women of reproductive age, those with lower incomes, LGBT+ women, and women with disabilities also faced increased instances of discrimination, highlighting the complex layers of prejudice within healthcare settings. Approximately one-third of women who sought care reported encountering at least one adverse interaction.

Mar 12, 2025·Forbes

trust is rebuilt and customer needs are effectively met. Health insurers are facing a significant trust deficit, with only 56% of consumers confident in their commitment to acting in their best interest, as revealed by recent data. The industry's Customer Experience Index has also dropped to a five-year low, pointing to service shortcomings, particularly in transaction efficiency. To remedy this, insurers are encouraged to implement eight strategic approaches, including conducting "listening tours" to gather insights, prioritizing transparency in communication, and making meaningful improvements based on customer feedback. These steps, along with targeted investments and inclusive co-creation of customer experiences, aim to enhance trust and satisfaction among members.

Feb 24, 2025·Healthcare IT News

Banner Health has launched "Text the CEO," a real-time feedback system that allows patients, their families, and visitors to communicate directly with hospital leadership during their visits. This initiative, led by Amy Adashek-Pinn, replaces traditional post-discharge feedback methods with immediate input via text or QR code scanning, addressing concerns on the same day. The program has rapidly expanded across over 125 locations, utilizing technology from Luma Health to streamline the feedback process and enhance patient satisfaction and care.

Feb 11, 2025·St. Luke's

St. Luke’s Health System has introduced the Hospital at Home program, enabling patients to receive hospital-level care in their own homes. Ronald Moser, a pneumonia patient, was one of the first to utilize this service, which alleviated his worries about leaving his wife in hospice care. As Idaho's first healthcare system to implement this model and the 40th in the U.S., the program emphasizes coordinated care with a team of healthcare professionals providing daily visits and monitoring. Moser reported a satisfactory experience, noting the quality of care matched that of traditional hospitals, while the home setting enhanced his recovery by allowing him to engage in familiar routines.

Feb 9, 2025·LinkedIn

Virtua Health has partnered with Exact Sciences to address the high incidence of colorectal cancer by launching the Cologuard campaign, which promotes less invasive screening options. Utilizing Epic’s CRM capabilities, Virtua identified eligible patients and reached out via MyChart notifications, subsequently mailing Cologuard kits to non-responders. This initiative successfully facilitated the submission of 2,000 kits from an initial 3,500 contacts, with around 300 positive results prompting further medical intervention. Consequently, the campaign has resulted in a 20% increase in colorectal cancer screenings among patients aged 45 to 49.

Feb 6, 2025·Forbes

Mayo Clinic has established itself as a leader in healthcare by prioritizing integrated patient care through multidisciplinary teams, rather than focusing solely on individual physician expertise. Founded over 150 years ago, the institution's foundations lie in collaboration and continuous learning, which enhance its reputation. Marketing expert Dr. Leonard Berry emphasizes that Mayo’s brand strength comes from delivering meaningful patient value through an integrated health system that reduces care fragmentation. This patient-centric approach is reflected in the clinic's emphasis on accurate diagnoses and coordinated treatment, fostering a thorough and attentive care experience that distinguishes it from other facilities.

Feb 6, 2025·Healthcare Finance News

A significant digital divide in healthcare hampers access to digital health technologies, particularly among disadvantaged patient groups and less mature healthcare organizations. Renee Broadbent from SoNE Health highlights the urgency of addressing this issue, as a 2024 survey reveals that 70% of health systems are still early in their digital transformation. She advocates for targeted investments from healthcare providers and public health organizations, especially to assist rural patients and those with disabilities. Broadbent suggests enhancing support for smaller healthcare entities by integrating them into larger digital networks, such as electronic health records, to improve patient access and manage care costs effectively.

Feb 5, 2025·Becker's Hospital Review

UT Health San Antonio has launched a $472 million hospital equipped with innovative technology aimed at improving patient care and experience. Each of the 144 beds features a 65-inch Epic Bedside TV that provides crucial information for patients, along with educational and entertainment options. The facility also utilizes high-resolution cameras and the Epic Monitor platform, enabling virtual nurses to monitor patients remotely and enhance safety measures. Despite the higher costs associated with this advanced technology, UT Health officials believe it will lead to better patient outcomes and overall quality of care.

Feb 3, 2025·Forbes

Amazon's One Medical is expanding into New York's Westchester County through a partnership with Montefiore Health System, aiming to establish clinics and virtual care services set to launch in 2026. This collaboration will enhance patient access to primary care by providing same and next-day appointments, onsite lab services, and virtual care support. The partnership leverages Montefiore's extensive healthcare network, aligning with One Medical's strategy of collaborating with established providers to foster integrated care. As part of its broader growth plan, Amazon One Medical aims to expand further into new regions, including New Jersey and Northeast Ohio, while focusing on delivering high-quality, coordinated healthcare.