Research published in Health Affairs, based on data from Denmark, finds that hospital occupancy rates above 85% are associated with worsening mortality, as is being admitted outside of normal business hours or on weekends. It is not clear, however, that there is a causative effect. It would seem more likely that there would be one in the case of admissions outside normal hours, but high occupancy rates seem less likely to be causative of greater mortality.
Second quarter venture funding activity was high, according to the NVCA MoneyTree results, with $13 billion invested in 1,114 deals. Biotech firms received $1.8 billion of that in 122 deals and med device companies got $649 million in 73 transactions.
http://www.nvca.org
Jul182014
Epion Health, which provides software for patient checkin, has added $4.5 million in equity investment funding.
A study in Health Affairs finds that restricting detailing of prescribers led to a reduction in use of anti-depressants and anti-psychotics in children.
According to the federal government, it made over $100 billion in improper payments last year, including $50 billion in Medicare and $14 billion in Medicaid.
Canadian private equity firm Onex is close to buying workers' comp and general insurance services firm York Services for over $1.3 billion dollars, according to reports.
Stung by research showing that patient-centered medical homes set up according to its standards provide little cost or quality improvement, the National Committee for Quality Assurance is seeking public comment on a revised set of standards to evaluate ambulatory care, called Patient-Centered Connected Care.
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.
The Healthy Skeptic is a website about the health care system, and is written by Kevin Roche, who has many years of experience working in the health industry. Mr. Roche is available to assist health care companies through consulting arrangements through Roche Consulting, LLC and may be reached at khroche@healthy-skeptic.com.