Jessica Davis

Nearly three-quarters of health systems with more than 300 beds -- and 81 percent of providers with fewer than 300 beds -- are shifting their focus to IT outsourcing as bottom-line pressures force systems to choose outside vendors, according to a new Black Book Research survey of hospital finance and tech administrators.

Geisinger Health System's plan to offer refunds for 'dissatisfied' surgery patients came out of extensive study on how to react when patients have bad experiences, the healthcare provider said. Now it's putting its faith in the ProvenExperience program and app to turn bad situations around.

While some carriers may see the need to instate payment guidelines, the overwhelming majority of physicians surveyed cite administrative issues and a lack of billing services to address the need for reimbursement tools as a major detraction from implementing telehealth into their practices.

In a novel initiative, Geisinger Health System is launching a refund program for patients not met with "kindness and compassion," President and CEO David T. Feinberg, MD, announced this week.

Hospitals are continuing to make big investments in technology as they recognize the need to effectively manage population health, according to C-suite executives polled for Premier's Fall 2015 Economic Outlook survey.

The American Academy of Family Physicians launched an online portal to make it easier for its doctor members to demand Congress push back Stage 3 of the meaningful use regulation.

A recent Black Book Market Research survey revealed hospitals are finding their C-suite is unprepared for the drastic technological innovations in healthcare and are seeking solutions.