Dear Healthcare Intelligence Network Client,
There's been a great deal of focus recently on reducing avoidable use of hospital emergency departments. Healthcare organizations are doing everything from surveying ED patients post-discharge to embedding a case manager in the ED. In this week's issue, Ariel Linden describes an essential first step to reducing avoidable healthcare utilization. And on a related note, we present new Johns Hopkins research that questions whether increased use of MRIs and CT scans in the ER is contributing to longer ER visits and increasing the risk of medical error.
You'll also learn why 16 states will be taking a closer look at evidence-based care transition models that will help break the cycle of hospital readmissions.
Your colleague in the business of healthcare,
Patricia Donovan
Editor, Healthcare Business Weekly Update
Please send comments, questions and replies to pdonovan@hin.com.
Associate Editor:
Jessica Papay, jpapay@hin.com
Publisher:
Melanie Matthews, mmatthews@hin.com
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October 11, 2010
Vol. XII, No. 37
Sponsored by:
Healthcare Trends in 2011 — A Strategic Industry Forecast
This week's industry news:
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Healthcare Trends for 2011
This week's industry news
1.) The First Step To Reducing Avoidable Utilization
Some simple analysis before launching a chronic care management program can help an organization to reduce avoidable utilization, advises Ariel Linden, Dr.P.h., M.S., and president of Linden Consulting Group.
Get the full story.
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2.) Real ROI from Health Management: Cost Savings through Coaching and Disease Management
In this resource, industry experts detail the measures to look at when evaluating health coaching and population health programs and provide case studies of how they are using these measures to demonstrate a health management ROI.
Learn more about this resource.
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3.) Dramatic Rise in MRI, CT Use in EDs Raise Questions
A dramatic increase in the use of medical imaging in emergency departments (EDs) when seeing patients with injuries hasn’t paid off with an equal rise in diagnosing life-threatening conditions or follow-up hospital admissions, a team of Johns Hopkins researchers conclude in a study published in an October issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Get the full story.
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4.) 2010 Performance Benchmarks in Reducing Avoidable ER Visits
How prevalent are programs to reduce avoidable ER use, and what kind of results do they net? Which populations and conditions are responsible for most preventable ER visits, and what are the most effective strategies for redirecting these patients to more cost-effective and appropriate healthcare settings? This resource addresses these concerns and others by providing actionable information from 90 healthcare organizations on their efforts to reduce inappropriate use of the ED. This 50-page resource documents trends and metrics from emergency departments across the country that are successfully managing ER utilization.
Learn more about this resource.
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5.) Healthcare Business White Paper: Patient Registries — The Track to Better Quality Healthcare
Patient registries are clinical information systems that physicians use to identify and track patients with a defined disease or condition. Besides creating realistic views of clinical practices, patient outcomes, safety and comparative effectiveness, patient registries support evidence development and decision-making and are associated with improved management of chronic illness.
Download this complimentary white paper.
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6.) AOA Pain Education Campaign Includes New Pain Assessment Tools
With more than 90 percent of Americans underestimating the severity and prevalence of chronic pain, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) has launched a “Break Through Your Pain” public education campaign. By exposing common misperceptions associated with chronic pain, the campaign is designed to empower people living in pain to get the help and resources they need.
Get the full story.
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7.) New Chart: Trends in Pharmacist Reimbursement
Many healthcare organizations reported a strong effort to improve medication adherence levels, with a serious focus on patient education and primary responsibility assigned to either the PCP or pharmacist. We wanted to see which medication adherence-related tasks were reimbursable for pharmacists.
Click here to view the chart.
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8.) Relieving the Costs and Consequences of Chronic Pain: A Best Practice Multimodal Approach
The financial, physical and emotional toll of pain on the United States is excruciating, but this resource offers an antidote for the 25 percent of Americans suffering daily from chronic or persistent pain and the healthcare organizations that treat them. Featuring contributions from two of pain management's foremost experts, this special report offers multi-faceted strategies in pain assessment and management to improve quality of life for the chronic pain patient, reducing healthcare utilization in the process.
Learn more about this resource.
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9.) Six States Funded to Help Improve Patient Safety, Combat Abuse in Long-Term Care Facilities
To combat abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities, six states will share $13.7 million in CMS funding to design comprehensive applicant criminal background check programs for jobs involving direct patient care.
Get the full story.
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10.) 2010 Performance Benchmarks in Health Risk Assessment Use
This 60-page resource provides metrics and measures on current and planned HRA initiatives as well as lessons learned and results from successful health assessment programs. This industry snapshot is enhanced with guidance from industry thought leaders on the design and implementation of HRAs, the role of an HRA in a population health management program and guidelines for evaluating the effectiveness of HRA programs.
Learn more about this resource.
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11.) Evidence-Based Care Transition Grants Part of HHS Grants for Elderly, Disabled
Sixteen states will receive funding from HHS to implement evidence-based care transition models that help older persons or persons with disabilities remain in their own homes after a hospital, rehabilitation or skilled nursing facility stay.
Get the full story.
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12.) Retooling Care Transitions to Reduce Hospitalizations in Medicare Patients
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This 40-page resource is essential for any healthcare organizations wishing to evaluate their care transition efforts against best practices in the industry. It delivers current trends in care transition programs as well as advice and guidance from industry thought leaders on key elements of care transition programs — from enhancements to the hospital discharge process to medication reconciliation ideas to better utilization of home visits during care transitions.
Learn more about this resource.
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13.) HealthSounds Podcast: Healthcare Trends in 2011 — A Strategic Industry Forecast
Healthcare reform offers two major opportunities for healthcare to bend the spend curve and improve profitability, says Steven Valentine, president of The Camden Group. Valentine also weighs in on the current state of healthcare, and why organizations can't think about healthcare reform without considering the current economy.
Listen to this podcast.
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