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2018’s Priciest Outpatient Procedure: The Colonoscopy

April 18, 2019 BY Tory Waldron

Colonoscopies: one of the most notoriously uncomfortable procedures for U.S. residents ages 50 to 75 – it’s not easy to fast for 24 hours, process strong laxatives, undergo the sedation process, and then find a ride home. It’s a whole “song and dance,” and it doesn’t help that it’s not only routine but also expensive. The average colonoscopy costs $3,081 – but this procedure can range all the way up to a shocking $19,438!

More and more, patients are booking their colonoscopies at geographically-convenient outpatient facilities (or ambulatory surgery centers), rather than their nearest hospital. And because doctors recommend all patients over the age of 50 get a colonoscopy every five to ten years, it’s no wonder that this procedure continues to be the leading procedure charge in U.S. ASCs.

Infographic: U.S. ASCs (Surgical Centers) - Top Diagnoses & Procedures by State

April 16, 2019 BY Tory Waldron

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASC), or outpatient surgery centers, perform surgical procedures that don't require an overnight hospital stay. We took a look at our most recent data and discovered that 2018's top outpatient diagnoses at surgery centers included colonoscopies, cataract surgeries, and lower back pain. We also took at look at the top five U.S. states that saw the most outpatient surgical procedures. 

Top 20 Most Common ER Diagnoses

April 16, 2019 BY Alanna Moriarty

Hospital emergency departments are on the front lines of patient care, providing vital information and insights into population health trends. Emergency room (ER) use data can aid hospital leaders and providers in understanding the needs of their patients -- particularly for rural communities.

As seen in the table below, patients primarily seek care at emergency departments for non-emergency medical events. Chest pain is by far the most common reason diagnosis at hospital ERs.

Infographic: Top 10 U.S. Hospitals with the Highest Number of Outpatient Procedures & Payments

April 16, 2019 BY Tory Waldron

Medical procedures are increasingly starting to move into outpatient facilities. According to Deloitte, aggregate hospital revenue from outpatient services grew from 30 percent in 1995, to 47 percent in 2016, which they attribute to "patient preference and clinical and technological advances."

Healthcare Accessibility: How Providers Can Serve Autistic Patients

April 12, 2019 BY Alanna Moriarty

Healthcare accessibility is a hot issue for healthcare providers (HCPs) across the U.S. Many of these efforts are focused on rural and elderly patient populations, such as encouraging the widespread implementation of telehealth to improve care access. Healthcare industry outsiders, like Uber and Lyft, are also partnering with hospitals and care facilities to assist patients with limited options for transportation.