• By Mary P. Sundeen, President, The HealthWell Foundation  |  May 2, 2013

    Heroes Needed: Apply Within

    We’re taking a departure today from our coverage of what works in American health care to ask for your help. Patients want us to re-open our Breast Cancer Fund at HealthWell, but we can’t successfully do that until we identify several key companies or organizations to partner with us in…more.

    Categories: Cost-Savings
  • By Linda Barlow  |  Apr 30, 2013

    It Takes a Community for Effective Disease Prevention and Management

    To help stem the tide and high cost of persisting disparities in U.S. health care, providers are leveraging Community Health Workers (CHWs) as critical players in improving health outcomes by successfully linking “vulnerable” patient populations to better care. Living in the communities where they work, CHWs understand what is meaningful…more.

    Categories: Access to Care
  • By Linda Barlow  |  Apr 25, 2013

    National Patient Safety Program Cuts Bloodstream Infections to Save Lives and Money

    Central-line catheters are lifesavers. They’re used in hospitals to deliver therapy where needed and when needed for patients with a wide range of conditions.  Unfortunately, central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) result in thousands of deaths each year and billions of dollars in added costs to the U.S. health care system,…more.

  • By Linda Barlow  |  Apr 23, 2013

    Telehealth Opens Doors to Enhance Health Outcomes and Reduce Costs

    Telehealth solutions are making significant inroads to reverse high health care expenditures and reduce noncompliance with prescription therapies – issues that especially impact those living with chronic disease. By engaging patients in health education through classes, patient portals, real-time patient-provider consultations, online discussion forums and more, telehealth strategies empower providers…more.

    Categories: Cost-Savings
  • By Eric Peacock, Co-founder and CEO, MyHealthTeams  |  Apr 18, 2013

    Making Life Easier for Patients and Loved Ones: Meet MyHealthTeams

    Talk to anyone impacted by a chronic condition – autism, multiple sclerosis, breast cancer – whatever disease or condition, they will all tell you it’s not easy. It’s not easy finding the support that best suits them. It’s not easy finding providers. It’s not easy period. At MyHealthTeams we create…more.

    Categories: Access to Care
  • By Linda Barlow  |  Apr 9, 2013

    Hospitals, Physicians Embrace Strategies To Reduce Cost of “Frequent Flyer” ER Visits

    Pardee Memorial Hospital in Hendersonville, N.C., shaved nearly $405,000 from its Emergency Room (ER) expenses over a one-year period thanks to an integrated program that its founder calls a “patient-centered medical home on steroids.” The program, Bridges to Health, helped its uninsured participants reduce their ER visits from an average…more.

    Categories: Cost-Savings
  • By Linda Barlow  |  Apr 4, 2013

    Self-Service Kiosks Provide Innovative Path to Testing and Connection to Providers

    The recent proliferation of affordable do-it-yourself consumer tools is one way patients are now empowered to take control of their health through prevention and wellness strategies. One successful example is SoloHealth Station – a free, self-service kiosk offering comprehensive vision, blood pressure, weight and body mass index screenings. Currently located…more.

    Categories: Access to Care
  • By Linda Barlow  |  Apr 2, 2013

    Walgreens Unveils Solutions to Boost Medication Adherence

    How can health professionals enable their patients to take medications more consistently as prescribed? Personalized counseling from pharmacists and prescription refill reminders are two effective ways now shown to fuel better drug adherence, according to research from Walgreens presented March 15 at the World Congress Summit in Philadelphia. Walgreens’ community pharmacy programs…more.

  • By Linda Barlow  |  Mar 26, 2013

    Taking the Digital Leap Saves Community $20+ Million in Preventable Health Care Costs

    Hospitalizations dropped by almost 3,000 people over a two-year period in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, thanks to a variety of quality changes and investments in electronic health records (EHR). This tool collects and shares critical health information about individual patients and populations across health care settings. The nearly 11 percent drop…more.

    Categories: Cost-Savings
  • By Linda Barlow  |  Mar 21, 2013

    Express Scripts Provides Roadmap to Improve Health Care, Reduce Costs and Streamline Delivery of the Medicine Patients Need

    You might be in a “utilization management program” and not know what that means or why it matters to your health. Offered by a variety of employers across industries, utilization management programs are designed to help patients evaluate their health care options and make decisions about the type of services they receive.…more.

    Categories: Access to Care