by Noah Schwartz, Becker’s Hospital Review Nearly 10 percent of Americans hold medical debt. In 2022, the issue remained prevalent as politicians, hospital executives and patient advocacy groups worked to address the problem in a myriad of different ways. The 10 biggest medical debt stories Becker’s reported on in 2022: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/capital/10-biggest-medical-debt-updates-of-the-year.html?origin=RCME&utm_source=RCME&utm_medium=email&utm_content=newsletter&oly_enc_id=2104I5452278A2W
Researchers found that engaging family caregivers in a health coaching program can lead to better patient activation and chronic disease management, consequently reducing poor health outcomes. By Sarai Rodriguez Offering health coaching to family caregivers might be key to improving patient activation and chronic disease management for patients with diabetes, according to a new study published in JAMA… Read more
By Susan Kelly, Healthcare Dive Dive Brief: Dive Insight: The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the U.S. could see a shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034, including both primary and specialty care. Demographic trends behind the projected shortfall include a growing and aging population, an aging physician workforce, physician burnout, and a dwindling amount… Read more
Four in 10 patients would pay more for convenient care access, including scheduling an appointment sooner and visiting a provider closer to home. By Sara Heath More than half of adult patients would be willing to pay more for better quality of care, while a whopping four in 10 would pay more for more convenient… Read more
By Sara Heath Aside from lower 30-day hospital readmission, text message patient outreach was also linked to lower odds of emergency department utilization and 30- and 60-day mortality. Healthcare organizations may consider implementing text message patient outreach as part of their post-discharge patient engagement strategies, as the technology can yield a lower risk of 30-day… Read more
by Judith Graham, KHN Millions of older adults are having trouble making ends meet, especially during these inflationary times. Yet many don’t realize help is available, and some notable programs that offer financial assistance are underused. A few examples: Nearly 14 million adults age 60 or older qualify for aid from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program… Read more
New research shows that telehealth services successfully connected surgical patients to care and reduced the odds of a no-show among two-thirds of patients. By Mark Melchionna A study presented at a recent America College of Surgeons (ACS) conference found that telehealth helped decrease no-show rates among surgical patients and led to improved healthcare access. With more… Read more
Telehealth provider HealthTap has partnered with Samsung to add a virtual healthcare feature to the tech giant’s Smart TVs to expand access to primary care. By Mark Melchionna Aiming to increase access to primary care, HealthTap and Samsung are working together to create and implement a virtual healthcare feature for smart TVs, allowing patients to access primary… Read more
New research shows that 57 to 80 percent of patients prefer telehealth when obtaining care, revealing high levels of satisfaction with the care modality. By Mark Melchionna According to new research findings from the JD Power 2022 US Telehealth Satisfaction Study, telehealth has become more than a temporary replacement for in-person care due to high consumer preference… Read more
By Shannon Muchmore Dive Brief: About 63% of physicians surveyed experienced at least one manifestation of burnout in 2021, shooting up from 38% in 2020 and representing the highest amount in a decade of recurring survey findings, according to an article published this week in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Mean scores for emotional exhaustion and depersonalization were higher… Read more
