Recent posts

"The global pandemic of 2020 figuratively swept through the health care landscape like a Kansas cyclone...in what felt like an instant, everything was up in the air.” In his latest blog posting entitled Health Care Over the Rainbow, Vizient Research Institute Executive Director Tom Robertson draws an interesting parallel between our craving for normalcy and Dorothy’s quest to return from Oz.

A growing number of hospitals and health systems are taking the critical step of engaging physicians in evaluating preference items to a new level by establishing a medical director of supply chain. This newly created role is leading to more purposeful and collaborative relationships between physicians and supply chain, strengthening value-based care outcomes with a clearly shared vision with the patient at the center.

While the full effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nursing workforce remain to be seen, the latest data from the Vizient and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Nurse Residency Program serve as a call to action for hospital and nursing leaders if we are to successfully support and retain these nurses as a critical component of the health care workforce.

As the impact of record high ransomware attacks send shock waves through the insurance industry, many insurers are reassessing their exposure based on the increasing frequency of claims and mounting losses. Hospital and health system leaders are encouraged to check in with their cyber liability insurance broker and insurance carrier as soon as possible to review their policy in detail. Here’s three important considerations for your coverage and those conversations.

In his latest blog post entitled “Defying Gravity: What if Not Everything Returns to Normal?”, Vizient Research Institute Executive Director Tom Robertson provides a glimpse into the Institute’s most recent economic study. Launched at the outset of the global pandemic, the study explores the possibility of a number of changes that may occur, some short-term, others longitudinal, some reflecting supply and demand forces, others contemplating the potential for far-reaching systemic changes. The essay as well as the study findings emphasize the idea of defying gravity, of not allowing everything to come to rest just as they were before the pandemic. Both pose a different question than the one expressed in their titles…rather than asking what if not everything returns to normal, the more thought-provoking question is what if not everything should?

Neuromodulation—a broad clinical category that encompasses treatments that affect the nervous system and involve externally placed or internally implanted devices—is rich in novel technology and treatments. However, embracing the innovative technology is not enough to ensure a successful and sustainable program. Here are seven critical considerations for a neuromodulation program.

During 2021, hospitals and health care organizations will continue to face significant ransomware attacks that hit record highs last year. Most cybersecurity breaches occur from breakdowns in three main areas: people, process and technology. Here’s a checklist of important steps chief information security officers should take to reduce the most common areas of risk.

Last year, hospitals and health systems across the nation were under siege by cyber criminals and bad actors attacking vital community institutions with malware to gain profit and cause harm. The average total cost of a data breach in 2020 exceeded $3.8 million, with the average U.S. health care cyber breach costing $7.13M. With the threats never greater and the stakes never higher, it is essential for hospital and health system chief executive officers to start the new year with a conversation with their chief information security officers. Here’s a list of five essential questions you’ll want to discuss.