by Tony Chen
Recently, TIME magazine (is it still an actual magazine?) came out with the 10 big ideas that are changing the world today. As I read through this mostly fantastic (and maybe fantastical-sounding?) list, I couldn't help but think about the impact on health care for six of those big ideas.
Read more!by Tony Chen
If this didn't already start in your hospital three months ago, it will start soon enough. In order to survive the coming year or two of increasing bad debt, increasing charity care, other reimbursement cuts, declining elective surgery volumes, more complex delayed-care stuff showing up in the ER, and decreasing philanthropy, it is time for the serious business of cost-cutting.
What is your hospital planning? Where do you look first to cut costs? The real question is, where do you look that you haven't already?
by Tony Chen
2006 was the year of consumer-driven health care. Two years ago was the year of retail clinics. Last year was the year of health IT (with Google and Microsoft making big splash entries). So, what will 2009 bring? Here are some predictions sure to go wrong:
1. The number of uninsured and underinsured will increase dramatically.
Think about it: Unemployment was once close to 5 percent. At some point in 2009, it could get up to 10 percent. Add to that the many businesses that will be cutting healthcare coverage for the sake of business survival, as well as the folks who will decide to forego buying individual health insurance to make ends meet.