Two Walmart Health centers opened in Chicago Nov. 20 adjacent to newly remodeled Walmart supercenters. 

Aided by relaxed regulations, many hospitals and health systems launched and expanded telehealth programs in a matter of days in response to COVID-19. The quick demand in access often meant using platforms such as FaceTime and Skype for virtual visits covering a wide range of conditions, from urgent care, primary care, medication follow-up and COVID-19 screenings.

As health systems grow, new opportunities for standardization and investment can materialize. But reaching operational excellence isn't a guarantee, especially as environmental factors like the pandemic hamper operations.

The economic downturn from the COVID-19 pandemic is placing new strain on health systems' relationships with employers, especially amid unemployment challenges and insurance changes.

The concept of health systems successfully operating a health plan while coexisting with physicians in an integrated delivery model has been an alluring proposition in our industry for decades. The goal is for integrated systems to be purveyors of population health and assume risk while delivering excellent clinical care.

As the healthcare industry manages quarantines, temporary care locations and more, a flexible and portable solution is a must.

Even before COVID-19, health systems were experiencing reduced fee-for-service margins. In 2019, median Medicare margin nationally decreased 2.2 percent while hospital costs rose 2.5 percent per year. With Medicare as the fastest growing segment of the patient population, the majority of geographies will see their Medicare payer mix increase substantially moving forward – a shift that will further compress margins. 

Patients and travelers in New York City will receive free dog-walking and drop-in services under a new partnership to help people who need to safely separate from others to combat COVID-19.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame's new entity, Hall of Fame Health, has partnered with 12 U.S. healthcare providers to offer medical services to any former NFL player or team employee, and their families.

Between shifting patient flow, the need to expand capacity for COVID-19 patients and revenue losses from shutting down services early on, the pandemic has caused numerous challenges and disruption for health systems across the country. For Gary Kaplan, MD, chairman and CEO of Virginia Mason Health System in Seattle, these challenges have underscored the importance of being open to new ideas and using lessons learned during the public health crisis to improve patient care. 

The board of Blue Mountain Hospital District in John Day, Ore., is weighing the possibility of parting ways with its management company, according to The Blue Mountain Eagle.

Adventist Health, a 23-hospital health system based in Roseville, Calif., is creating a division to promote community well-being, the organization announced in an Oct. 20 news release. 

The data on COVID-19 doesn't look good. A recent USA Today analysis showed that nearly 80% of the states reported more coronavirus cases than they had in the week before.

NewYork-Presbyterian on Oct. 13 opened a new center to better understand and address health inequities via a $50 million donation from billionaire hedge fund manager and philanthropist Ray Dalio.

HCA Healthcare is working with Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., to implement health and safety protocols for the final presidential debate on Oct. 22. 

Culture plays a key role in employee satisfaction, and a great culture can help hospitals and health systems prepare for a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Building that great culture takes time and investment. 

Embedded in the community with an in-depth knowledge of their patient population, community hospitals are an integral part of the U.S healthcare system. But the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated financial and operational challenges facing the hospitals, leaving many vulnerable. 

Consulting with physician technology leaders is critical to ensuring the successful implementation of new technologies.

Below are six hospitals or health systems that have announced name changes in the last month:

Huggins Hospital (Wolfeboro, NH) is a 25-bed non-profit community hospital designated as a Critical Access Hospital.