Older adults who are low income and non-white have more issues getting their preferences heard by health systems, according to a March 22 study. 

HHS has developed three strategy areas to address social determinants of health, focusing on data, improved connections between health and social services and a whole-government approach, according to a March 31 article published on JAMA Network.

About 80 percent of what affects health outcomes happens outside of a provider's office. In addition, at any given time, only 15 percent of the people in a population are in a "patient state"; the other 85 percent are in a "consumer mode."

Paramedics are sorely needed in rural areas, where small numbers of them are left to cover large areas. Difficulty recruiting and retaining such workers is straining rural health systems, Kaiser Health News reported April 7.

Ascension has renamed 15 Illinois hospitals after finalizing the unwinding of a joint venture with AdventHealth. 

Healthcare is moving into a more collaborative, personalized and value-based model that  takes patient preference into heart, according to a March 24 McKinsey report. Using research as well as expert testimony, the consultancy rounded up 10 trends that are shaping the future of healthcare.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted challenges health systems face with financial planning in a highly dynamic environment. In many healthcare organizations, the pandemic has been a catalyst to reevaluate current planning tools and processes.

The global COVID-19 response should shift from crisis management to long-term control strategy urgently, according to a March 29 report from Duke University and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Seldom has there been a new care modality subject to more misinformation than telehealth. As anyone who has observed the industry for a length of time understands, healthcare is notoriously change-averse.

Starting in the 19th century, hospital spaces were arranged for the efficient delivery of care as medicine became process-oriented, sacrificing personal comfort, privacy and a patient’s control.

In today's healthcare environment, automating certain patient phone communications makes more sense than ever.

Walmart is removing tobacco products from select locations, including some stores in California, Florida, Arkansas and New Mexico, The Wall Street Journal reports. 

Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., submitted a request for information March 24 from 12 healthcare organizations regarding how they are fighting climate change.

Automation can help healthcare organizations tackle ingrained problems in new ways. However, developing the right strategy and roadmap for automation is a critical factor for success.

Despite the many challenges of the pandemic, the small teams and close knit communities of rural hospitals helped those organizations overcome challenges of the pandemic in ways large, urban hospitals couldn't, according to a March 22 report in Health Affairs.

The pandemic helped expose many of the profound health inequities plaguing the U.S. health system and created newfound momentum for remedying underlying issues. When hospitalizations and cases decrease, there are three key strategies worth keeping when the pandemic ends, according to authors of an article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

Although virtual visits and remote patient monitoring devices are growing in popularity, automation is needed to enable RPM systems to analyze patient data and facilitate appropriate action.

Women’s health is a hot topic.

While many hospitals are concerned with their competition, collaborating with neighboring systems may be a win-win strategy, bringing better clinical outcomes to patients, according to a March 16 Harvard Business Review report. 

The accounts payable sector faces a complex and challenging future. One important strategy for coping with the expected disruption is to accelerate the adoption of digital payments. CommerceHealthcare® has compiled a few data points and considerations for further illustration. We also encourage you to read our full eBook Healthcare Finance Trends for 2022.