How To Ensure Nurses Work at The Peak Of Their License—And Why It Matters
Hospitals and health systems continue to struggle with nursing shortages. While exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the shortage has been growing for years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be 203,200 openings for registered nurses (RNs) each year through 2031. Today, there are more than 4.7 million active nurses in the U.S., […]
The Distinct Advantages of Medical Coding Around the Clock
How to Maximize Productivity and Efficiency Medical coding is essential to the financial health of hospitals and health systems, translating patient care into billing codes that ensure proper reimbursement. However, the current labor market reveals a 30% shortfall in qualified coders, making it increasingly difficult for healthcare providers to recruit and retain skilled and credentialed […]
Developing an Effective Absence Management Program: 3 Best Practices to Incorporate
Many companies underestimate the impact of absenteeism, without fully accounting for its broader financial and operational implications. However, minimizing employee time away when a claim or leave occurs is critically important. The importance of developing an effective absence management program cannot be overstated. Absenteeism presents a significant challenge for businesses in every sector, carrying a […]
The Intricacies of Women’s Health Coding for Maternal Care and Childbirth
Poor coding quality is costly, leading to denied claims, care delays, and inaccurate or slow reimbursement. Recent research finds that more than 15% of claims submitted to private payers are denied, although more than half are eventually overturned. This means providers spend excessive time appealing claims that should have been paid in the first place. […]
Celebrating Nurses Week
Nurses Week 2024 is being celebrated from May 6-12. With the fitting theme of Nurses Make the Difference, this week serves as a formal reminder of the vital impact that nurses make every day, around the globe. For more than 50 years Shearwater’s mission has been to improve healthcare outcomes globally, and we are fortunate to […]
Celebrating Patient Experience Week and the Clinicians Who Make a Difference
We’re often quick to celebrate the hard work of our front-line heroes but rarely reflect on the positive outcomes they bring to those they care for. This week we celebrate Patient Experience Week and put into the spotlight the significant impact healthcare workers have on patient care. This dedicated week underscores the importance of every […]
How to Develop a Successful Utilization Management Program
Utilization management (UM) helps lower costs and improve outcomes by ensuring members receive the most appropriate care in a timely, cost-effective manner. Initially, UM was primarily focused on reducing excessive use that leads to waste without any measurable gains in quality or outcomes. The focus has now expanded to encompass improving quality and regulatory compliance […]
International Nurse Recruiting: A Formula to Measure Success
“Workforce challenges” is the number one hurdle faced by healthcare organizations today, and those challenges revolve around nursing. Respondents to a recent survey stated overwhelmingly that managing repercussions from staff shortages, recruiting nurses from outside the organization, and retaining them are their most pressing concerns. Nurses are leaving the field in catastrophic numbers. Over 610,000, […]
Shortcomings in the U.S. Nursing Education System
Nursing education is designed to professionally prepare nurses for clinical practice. To ensure a smooth transition into patient care, nursing schools are increasingly collaborating with clinical partners to provide students with a hands-on educational experience. However, the U.S. nursing education system limits the enrollment of qualified nurse applicants due to faculty vacancies, limited infrastructure, and […]
Navigating Visa Retrogression Today
Visa retrogression occurs when the demand for visas exceeds the limits set by the U.S. government. It has a profound effect on the nursing profession which falls into the large EB-3 subcategory alongside workers in many other fields, as well as applicant’s family members. EB-3 includes all occupations that require at least an associate’s degree […]
