A Yale Cancer Center study reveals patient volume may be affected by hospital affiliations. In fact, more than eighty percent of individuals set to undergo cancer surgery would travel as much as an hour away to have the surgery performed at a top-ranked affiliated hospital versus a hospital near them.
Yale Cancer Center researchers noted that the trend in where patients receive care hinted that individuals are under the belief that hospital affiliation with hospitals with a high ranking means both hospitals – the top-ranked and affiliate organizations – offer a similar degree of premium care. And about one-half of the 1,000 study respondents said that safety and quality of care were indistinguishable at both the top-ranked and affiliate hospitals. Researches did, however, warn that there is a difference in perception when it comes to whether these high-ranking hospitals and their affiliates provide an equal level of care.
As healthcare providers undergo consolidation, the perception regarding hospital affiliations may prove problematic. During the second quarter of this year alone, just over 250 merger and acquisition deals have been announced, according to a Kaufman Hall consulting firm report. Those deals represent the highest number ever of transactions.
To read more, visit https://revcycleintelligence.com/news/patient-perception-of-hospital-affiliations-influences-care.
This update is by Medical Accounts Systems, a full-service healthcare revenue cycle management company providing a number of services including insurance follow up and managed care disputes, physician reimbursement, extended business office services, and more. For additional information on our services or for any questions you may have on topics such as medical payment systems, please call 877-759-6315.