The data required for a CON application can offer valuable insights into future technology trends. Here’s what we see with PET.
What Our CON Work Tells Us About the Future of PET
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When Will PE Give Up on Physician Practices?
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Meet the Team: Kim Meymandi
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How an illness led this senior consultant into a healthcare career – with a special focus on improving access for underserved communities.
Healthcare Workforce Development: Learning from Bloomberg
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Student debt is a big hurdle to healthcare workforce development, but Bloomberg Philanthropies is betting that it doesn’t have to be.
Medicare (Dis)Advantage: Hospital Observation Downgrades
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Hospital Operating Margins in Limbo as Investments Drive Profitability
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Hospital operating margins are highly uncertain, even as investment income provides an illusion of financial wellbeing.
Meet the Team: Patricia Dowbiggin
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Our strategy consultant discusses her background in EMS, her burden for rural healthcare … and her love of the outdoors.
Celebrating Another Year of Impact
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Here’s what happened when our far-flung team gathered in NC for a 2023 holiday party.
Medicare (Dis)Advantage: DRG Downgrades
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Medicare (Dis)Advantage: 35 Million Prior Authorizations
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Medicare (Dis)Advantage: Hospitals Count the Cost
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Total Cost of Care: Lessons from the Maryland Model
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A Maryland expert shares her experience with total cost of care as CMS pushes other states to consider the approach.
Why Private Equity Is No Strategy for Struggling Hospitals
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Why the Post-Acute Crisis Is Acutely Troubling for Hospitals
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Nursing homes are facing unprecedented staffing challenges in 2023 – with big implications for hospitals.
Ascendient Aids County After Hospital Closure (Video)
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When a rural hospital was closed unexpectedly, Ascendient stepped in to find a more sustainable option for local healthcare.
Can a New CMS Model Move Healthcare Transformation AHEAD?
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Introducing the New Healthcare Research e-Brief from Ascendient
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Meet the Team: Greg Flicek
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Our resident CPA discusses where he came from, what drives him, and what he’d like to fix in healthcare.
Hospital Finance: Capital Expenditure Costs Are Up Nearly 2x
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Rising interest rates + building costs have nearly doubled the price of capital projects. What happens now?
Hospital Community Benefit Rules: Changes Ahead
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Health System Profits Are Widespread Despite Operating Losses
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Big health systems are turning profitable again, but investment income may be masking deep – and unsustainable – operational woes.
Chronic Care Management Reimbursement: Pitfalls & Potential
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
A Supportive Solution for Public Health Burnout
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
The Future of Public Health: 5 Questions for the Experts
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Deus Ex Machina: AI for CON Applications?
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AI tools may be a helpful resource when creating CON applications, but they can’t yet replace personal experience or human smarts.
Are Airports More “Essential” Than Hospitals?
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
ChatGPT for Hospitals: 3 Burning Questions
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Can an Insurance Company Transform Healthcare?
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Healthcare Consulting Partnerships: 3 Executive Testimonials
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Three healthcare leaders in a variety of roles discuss Ascendient’s value as a long-term partner.
Happy Holidays from Ascendient
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Physician Alignment: Watch Out for Corporate Competitors
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Corporate buyers are snapping up physician practices at a record pace. Here are 4 implications for hospitals’ physician alignment strategy.
Rural Emergency Hospital Questions: Just the FAQs
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Analysis: 88% of Large Health Systems Are Losing Money in 2022
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Healthcare financial planning is tougher than ever. In 2022, even the largest health systems are losing money on both operations & investments.
Healthcare Transformation Consulting: A CEO Testimonial
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Donna Isgett, CEO of McLeod Health, discusses the growing momentum of healthcare transformation and how Ascendient’s Healthytown model is helping to ensure a sustainable future for her nonprofit system with seven hospitals and 15,000 employees spread across 12 counties in South Carolina. “[Today] we’re paid for fee-for-service – you do a service, and you’re compensated… Read More
Strategic Planning for Hospitals: Why Worry About the Surge
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Healthcare Strategy: 4 Lessons from Amazon Care
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Health-Related Social Needs: Get Ready for CMS Mandates
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New rules are coming soon for screening patients with health-related social needs. Here’s what that means for your mission & margins.
What the 2023 IPPS Tells Us About CMS Priorities
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
3 Ways to “Upcycle” Those Unused Inpatient Hospital Rooms
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Critical Access Hospitals: 5 Troubling Financial Signals for 2022
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Days cash on hand, the quickest metric for judging financial health at Critical Access Hospitals, is poised to plunge in 2022. Here’s why.
Healthcare Affiliation Consulting: A Client’s Perspective
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In an increasingly competitive healthcare environment, affiliation is sometimes the only realistic option for keeping vital services local and accessible. In this short video, hospital president Preston Hammock shares his experience working with M&A advisors who cared about the community as much as he did. “They value the end product of the healthcare system and… Read More
How a Church-Based Clinic Is Making Primary Care More Accessible
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Debating the Role of Pharmacy in Healthcare Transformation
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
NC Legislature Hears from Dawn Carter on Certificate of Need Reform
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A Joint Committee of the NC General Assembly recently heard from Ascendient’s Dawn Carter on the subject of Certificate of Need reform.
Healthcare Marketing: Why “Cookies” Are Off the Menu
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Third-party cookies are commonly used in healthcare marketing, but they’re going away in 2022. Here’s what you need to know.
Public Health Strategic Planning: Don’t Skimp on the SWOT
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A good SWOT analysis is foundational to public health strategic planning. Here’s a step-by-step guide for doing it right.
Corporations Are Betting Big on Value-Based Care
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
The Public Health CHA: Time for a Temperature Reading
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As some public health departments come under fire by Covid-weary residents, the CHA process could be a powerful tool for bridge-building.
Physician Assistants: the Future of Team-Based Care?
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Ascendient Welcomes Joann Anderson
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After decades as a hospital CEO & board member, Joann Anderson is now offering consulting services in healthcare leadership and rural operations.
Hospital Planning: 5 Financial Lessons from Covid-19
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A review of financial data from 2020 shows how hospital planning has been upset by Covid-19. Here are 5 implications moving forward.
Will Congress Finally Invest in End-of-Life Care?
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Biden’s spending bill includes strategic funding for end-of-life care, including hospice & palliative medicine. Here’s why it matters.
What Hospitals Need to Know About Medicare Advantage Growth
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With CMS targeting 100% accountable care for Medicare enrollees, Medicare Advantage is poised for even faster growth.
The Senate Rural Health Caucus Needs NC Voices
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Rural Healthcare Strategy Consulting: A CEO Testimonial
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Joann Anderson, a longtime rural healthcare CEO, on the role of values & mission alignment in a consulting relationship.
Hospital at Home: Answering the $30,000 Question
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Smart Physician Recruiting: Is Balance the Ultimate Benefit?
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Why the Deafening Silence Around Medicare Insolvency?
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Healthcare providers face a 6% reimbursement cut in the event of Medicare insolvency – a scenario that looks increasingly likely.
Hospital Community Benefit: How Do You Measure and Why Should You Care?
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Hospital community benefit is tough to measure, but it’s worth the effort – both for more equitable healthcare and better hospital finances.
Formalizing Our Commitment to Rural Healthcare
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The rural healthcare crisis is getting worse, with record hospital closures in 2020. Here’s what Ascendient is doing about it.
Important Changes to CON Laws in NC: What You Need to Know
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For the first time in a generation, NC has modified its CON laws. Here’s what hospital leaders need to know about the changes.
Re-Thinking Retail
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As Amazon and others invest in healthcare delivery, traditional providers need to re-think their approach to consumers.
What’s the Price of Healthcare Price Transparency?
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Regulating healthcare price transparency is a bad idea for 4 reasons. Read our op-ed originally published in the Charlotte Observer.
Could Amazon Affect Your Revenue…and Provider Planning?
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Healthcare provider recruitment could get trickier – and costlier – as corporate giants like Amazon move into the space.
Reconfiguring Rural Healthcare Access
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“Saving” hospitals isn’t the lone solution for struggling communities. Instead, think about prioritizing services for rural healthcare access.
Hospital at Home: A Valuable Tool for Transformation
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A PHE waiver gave a huge boost to the Hospital at Home model, which shows great promise for advancing the “healthcare trifecta.”
Ascendient Healthcare Advisors Adds Three Senior-Level Positions
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Meet the managing consultants joining Ascendient as part of the firm’s largest-ever expansion.
Mobile Integrated Healthcare: A Valuable Tool for Healthcare Transformation
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Bolstered by CMS payment incentives, mobile integrated healthcare is reducing ED visits and improving population health.
Four Things You Must Know Before the First M&A Conversation
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
The Maryland Model (Part 3): Lessons Learned from Maryland’s Payment Models
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Maryland’s experiment with healthcare transformation has been encouraging but not perfect. Here are some of the biggest lessons learned.
The Maryland Model (Part 2): Understanding How Maryland’s Payment Models Work
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In the second of our three-part series, we examine how Maryland’s unique payment models work – and what other states can learn.
The Maryland Model (Part 1): Understanding Maryland’s Medicare Waiver
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Maryland’s Medicare waiver is getting national attention as CMS rolls out its new AHEAD model. Here are the essentials you need to know.
The Importance of Hospital and Health System Planning in an Uncertain Healthcare Environment
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Happy, Hopeful Holidays
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
The Cardiovascular Services Revolution: How Will This Impact Your Bottom Line?
Dear Clients and Friends, Please enjoy this short video of our thoughts for the season. Thank you for your continued friendship, support, and partnership. Ascendient will be closed December 24, 2018 through January 1, 2019. Dawn Carter will be the partner on-call during that time for any urgent issues. Our home office… Read More
Why the Outcome of the Election Doesn’t Matter
