As hospitals continue to manage rising operational costs, tighter margins and strained discharge processes, one area is emerging as a critical inflection point: the transition to home.
During a recent discussion at Becker’s 2025 CEO + CFO Roundtable hosted by Parachute Health, healthcare leaders explored how modernizing post-acute ordering and data integration can streamline throughput, reduce readmissions and uncover new revenue potential.
Leaders also unpacked the inefficiencies in current discharge and supply chain processes and highlighted actionable ways to address fragmentation and financial leakage.
Here are four key takeaways from the session:
1. Fragmentation in post-acute care
The current post-acute ecosystem is rife with manual processes like fax-based communications and phone calls back and forth between health systems and suppliers.
According to Parachute Health, 68% of hospitals report delaying patient discharge when DME is unavailable or delayed, impacting patient throughput .
“Just from a DME perspective, 25% of all discharges are held due to DME,” said Catie Moser, chief revenue officer at Parachute Health. “If you’re holding a bed for a $40 walker that you could have drop-shipped on Amazon, what else could we be doing to make that throughput process easier?”
2. Transparent and connected communication
A recurring theme during the roundtable was the persistent communication gaps between health systems, payers and suppliers, each operating in their own workflows, with little visibility into what’s happening once an order leaves the EMR.
Executives emphasized the need for integrated digital platforms that not only close the loop across stakeholders but also empower patients with clear insight into where their orders stand and provide seamless communication channels so no one is stuck fax-chasing or managing endless back-and-forth phone calls.
Leaders noted that this transparency isn’t just operationally beneficial, it is increasingly central to meeting patient expectations. As one clinical executive from a Midwest health system explained, patients and families are more vocal about their needs and preferences, and they expect the same level of clarity they receive in other parts of their lives, like retail or travel.
Parachute provides visibility into order status and direct ways to communicate with suppliers which helps reduce avoidable delays, eliminates confusion and prevents situations where patients fall through the cracks after discharge.
“We are catering more and more to patients,” he said. “Interfacing with patient desires or needs is an important piece. It wraps everything up.”
3. Data creates leverage
Digitizing the ordering process not only improves efficiency, but also generates data that can be used for contract optimization, accountability and growth. Health systems with preferred supplier networks, for instance, can use order data to ensure vendors meet service-level agreements and track leakage.
With access to real-time order data, health systems can enforce service-level agreements and make data-driven decisions about supplier partnerships. One health system in the South conducts quarterly supplier reviews and removes underperformers from its top five, using quality scores rather than sales relationships to drive accountability.
“With ePrescribing in place, we have visibility into orders,” Ms. Moser said. “You can now see where your orders are going, who’s servicing them and how they were serviced. That unlocks the ability to hold suppliers accountable and compete on service, not cupcakes on Fridays.”
4. Post-acute transformation as revenue driver
For health systems that have sunset DME services due to reimbursement challenges, the conversation has shifted toward reclaiming that lost revenue. Those that have sunset DME services due to reimbursement challenges, the conversation has shifted toward reclaiming that lost revenue. Parachute can support health systems in taking control of their DME process and even make it a profit center for the health system instead of solely relying on external 3rd parties.
“We’ve followed case managers around and found they spend 71 to 75 minutes on a single DME order,” Ms. Moser said. “If you remove that burden and digitize the process, your teams can focus on high-value tasks and in some cases, generate new revenue by capturing in-house fulfillment.”
The transition to home is no longer just a discharge planning challenge, it’s a strategic priority. Health systems that digitize and standardize their post-acute workflows stand to gain faster throughput, better patient outcomes, and even new income streams. The key lies in data visibility, communication and technology that works across the entire care continuum.
