Operations

Consumerism in healthcare is changing the industry, as patients are paying far closer attention to the costs of medical care than in the past. This change will likely shape the top 10 issues faced by providers in 2015, claims a new report by the PwC Health Research Institute.

An increasing number of healthcare organizations are turning to demand forecasting, crunching numbers to help them determine potential device usage, patient demand and even to decide whether or not to build new facilities.

Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network has acquired a majority stake in Klingensmith Healthcare, a Pennsylvania supplier of home medical equipment. The move comes as many health systems are bolstering their home-based and outpatient services.

Managing change is never easy for healthcare organizations going through a merger. From creating a consistent culture to centralizing services, success depends heavily upon the transition process.

The Centers for Disease Control has designated 35 Ebola treatment centers in hospitals across the country, officials said Tuesday, with more expected to be set up in the next few weeks.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a full schedule as 2014 ends, especially with the federal health insurance exchanges kicking off their open enrollment period.

Here's a quick look at some recent headlines in the world of healthcare finance.

Lean is not a program. It is a long-term philosophy of corporate leadership and organization that is based, above all, on respect shown to front-line staff. Indeed, coaching others to help them learn to see problems is really what lean is all about.

Collaboration with university-based business schools can bring a new perspective to hospital and health system problems, especially when trying to introduce new thinking into an organization.

While narrow networks aren't new, they have emerged as one of insurers' major levers for keeping costs down under the Affordable Care Act. Patients are often distressed at narrow networks' restrictions, but such plans can be designed right.