Healthcare Headlines Blog

The healthcare industry continues to pilot new ways of delivering care that align patient, provider, and payer incentives. Medically complex patients remain a key population due to higher costs associated with the intensity of treatment and length of recovery time required. The latest innovation in care delivery, an expansion of the accountable care organization (ACO) called ACO REACH, is pushing further into addressing the needs of these patients. Learn more about the program and how long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) can play a role in achieving the goals of the newest model. Read Full Post

Cedar Gate Technologies conducted a review of claims data of ACO beneficiaries treated at LTACHs and SNFs in Las Vegas. They found that readmission rates and Medicare spending were lower for patients who discharged to LTACHs, and lowest for those discharging to Kindred LTACHs specifically. Cedar Gate concluded that LTACHs can deliver improved outcomes and cost savings for complex patients. Read Full Post

Medically complex patients, who comprise a small but growing percentage of the patient population, often require one or more post-acute care (PAC) providers along a recovery journey that can span a number of weeks. Ensuring patients are receiving the most appropriate level of care can help improve and expedite recovery. Read Full Post

This article highlights how the MCG Health Clinical Indications for Admission to LTACHs have been revised based on the latest clinical research showing the benefits of timely discharge of ventilated patients to LTACHs.

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As America’s hospitalized patients become increasingly complex, so does their treatment. Read Full Post

Throughout the pandemic, many Americans avoided seeking medical attention out of fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus. This was especially true among those with chronic conditions. Read Full Post

Recent research indicates that acute respiratory failure mortality rates are continuing to increase, further heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic and demographic changes.¹ For patients experiencing pulmonary conditions, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), specialized care after the ICU is being shown to play a critical role in patient survival and recovery. Read Full Post

The American healthcare system, already financially strained and facing demanding demographic changes, has been further challenged over the past two years by the COVID-19 pandemic. This unique situation has revealed areas for improvement and highlighted the importance of health and safety. Read Full Post

With consumers’ growing interest in their care, physicians are increasingly seeing the benefits that greater involvement can have with regard to patient satisfaction and outcomes. Read Full Post

Compounded by the pandemic and driven by increased consumerism, patients are more interested in their healthcare than ever before. With a growing importance placed on patient satisfaction, providers are seeking ways to engage patients and finding that this involvement can improve outcomes. Read Full Post