Due to massive shifts taking place in healthcare consumer behaviors, health systems are looking for ways to effectively respond to current and future patient needs. In doing so, a hospital can further leverage their strengths to expand across the care continuum and position themselves ahead of industry disruptors and other competition.

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Concerns over facility-based care and risk of exposure during the pandemic have led to a massive shift in consumerism—changing the methods in which individual’s research, select and receive various forms of care. This shift was compounded by the fact that many healthcare consumers who are responsible for an increasing share of their healthcare costs are looking for convenience and affordability, just like other services they pay for, and that some healthcare settings may be better than others for themselves or their loved ones. In order for health systems to effectively respond, they must first know and understand the shifts that are causing consumers to “shop” differently for their care. Read Full Post

A recent article from Health Leaders noted that the pressure to do so has substantially increased throughout COVID-19, especially since 138 local community hospitals have closed since 2010. Read Full Post

As the medical complexity of patients continues to increase, it is important for providers to be flexible in their ability to respond to current and future patient needs. But flexibility isn’t just important in an immediate crisis – it’s something healthcare leaders should be considering amid a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. Read Full Post

In the past, when determining the most effective care setting for chronically-ill and medically complex patients, health systems often viewed short-term acute care hospitals (STACHs) as the best option. However, as current data continues to highlight the benefits of LTACHs for patient recovery, many hospitals are beginning to integrate long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) into their care continuum. Read Full Post

Common misconceptions surrounding long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) have hindered health systems from including LTACHs in their market expansion strategies - ultimately limiting access to critical care options for medically complex patients. However, as health systems begin to uncover the true value of LTACH integration, they can start begin to reap the benefits it provides to patient care, outcomes, and hospital efficiencies. Read Full Post

Providing specialized care for the medically complex has become a vital aspect to a hospital’s care continuum, however, health systems are often not well-equipped to address the growing patient needs and fluctuating regulatory changes. As recently noted, being able to rely on an experience LTACH partner can help generate lower average post-acute length of stay as well as reduce the risk for readmission. Further, there are additional benefits when it comes to integrating an LTACH through a strategic partnership. Read Full Post

The medically complex and critically ill patient population now makes up 10% of the overall Medicare population, impacting four million individuals around the nation.1 These individuals experiencing debilitating illnesses require intensive and specialized care within a facility specifically equipped to meet their needs. Read Full Post

Now more than ever, it is important for providers to be flexible in their ability to respond to current and future patient needs as the medically complex patient population continues to increase. But flexibility isn’t just important in an immediate crisis— it’s something healthcare leaders should be thinking about amid a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. Read Full Post

As hospitals continue to address the unmet needs of the growing medically complex patient population, many are finding great benefit in partnering with a long-term acute hospital (LTACH) provider, especially as other levels of care often come up short in providing favorable outcomes to the entire health system. Read Full Post