Blog
Through our blog we hope to provide information and insight to assist leadership in the overall strategic direction and execution of operations, particularly as it applies to community healthcare providers.
5 Ways a Hospital Can Help—or Hinder—the Interim Selection Process
Posted on August 31, 2020
A “right fit” interim often is offered the permanent position—but rarely do they take it. Mike Lieb, vice president, interim services, for HealthTechS3, estimates fewer than 5% of interim leaders choose to stay in their roles: “Most of these leaders enjoy the flexibility of interim work.”
Navigating Challenges During Times of Change—One Rural Hospital’s Perspective
Posted on August 27, 2020
When the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to elective surgeries everywhere, Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital in Thermopolis, Wyoming, saw a 60% reduction in revenue in the first two months alone.
Stepping Up and Stepping In: Defining the Board’s Role in a Crisis
Posted on August 19, 2020
No hospital is immune to the strains caused by the global pandemic, but nowhere has the impact been felt more deeply than in rural communities. A lack of resources and already slim operating margins have been compounded by the cancelation of elective procedures, which traditionally were seen as a lifeline for rural and community access hospitals.
Principal Care Management: Care Coordination for Specialty Practices
Posted on August 13, 2020
When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched the Chronic Care Management (CCM) program in 2015, it was targeted to primary care practices, but the final rule didn’t exclude specialty practices from participating.
The Benefits of Effective Communication
Posted on July 29, 2020
While it’s no secret that effective communication is essential for healthcare teams to provide high-quality care to patients, it’s also the backbone of an efficient hospital management team.
Rural Communities Improving Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Posted on July 22, 2020
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on opioid misuse in America are encouraging. In 2018, the drug overdose death rate was lower in 14 states than in 2017. Four of those states—Kentucky, West Virginia, Maine and Iowa—are predominantly rural, meaning more than 50% of their residents live in rural areas.
As COVID-19 Cases Increase, Challenges Mount for Rural Healthcare Providers
Posted on July 14, 2020
Rural hospitals have no shortage of problems that present a drag on their bottom lines: low patient volumes, provider shortages, regulatory burdens, high prescription drug costs.
Community Health Needs Assessment—So Much More Than a Regulatory Requirement
Posted on July 07, 2020
Every three years nonprofit hospitals and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are required to conduct a community health needs assessment (CHNA).
How COVID-19 Will Affect Rural Hospitals’ Revenue Cycle Management
Posted on July 02, 2020
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been a drag on the bottom lines of many rural hospitals, despite the fact that the disease has yet to fully infiltrate many rural areas. One of the reasons for this is the sharp decline in patient volumes. At least 15 rural hospitals have closed their doors so far in 2020, with many citing declines in patient volumes as a reason.
Industry Trends Impacting Rural Nursing Part 2
Posted on June 17, 2020
According to the United States Census Bureau, about 60 million people, or one in five Americans, live in rural America. In general, rural areas are sparsely populated, have low housing density, and are far from urban centers. While urban areas make up only 3 percent of the entire land area of the country, they are home to more than 80 percent of the population.