Chicago-Area Hospitals Sacrifice Revenue as They Prepare for Healthcare Reform

In the aftermath of healthcare reform, Chicago-area hospitals are looking to find ways to level with President Obama's new healthcare plans, according to a report by Crain's Chicago Business.

According to research done by the Dartmouth Medical School, Chicago spends 25 percent more on each Medicare patient than the national average and is also ranked among country's worst at keeping readmission rates low. As a result, health systems like Oak Brook, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care are looking at cost-cutting measures, which for that particular hospital means reducing the use of expensive MRI and CAT scans and cutting out extra testing that physicians may order for patients.

Advocate experienced $35 million in savings in 2009 from such measures.

Other ways hospitals can reduce costs, experts say, is by building communication between private practice doctors and hospitals in order to better coordinate care, according to Crain's Chicago Business.


Read the Crain's Chicago Business report on Chicago-area hospitals cost cutting.

Read more about hospital efficiency.

-Hospitals Adopt Factory Tactics to Improve Efficiency

-Mayo Health Launches Regionalization Efforts to Cut Costs and Improve Care

-10 Simple Ways to Contain Costs: How Sacred Heart Hospital Saved $5M

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