White Papers

10 Questions for Comprehensive Succession Planning
By Kathy Noland, Ph.D
There is never a better time to begin succession planning than right now. Here are a few thought provoking questions to help lay the foundation for an effective succession planning process that will ensure outstanding performance at all levels of your organization, provide management strength and continuity, plus enrich and fill your leadership pipeline.

10 Questions to Optimize Case Management Performance
By Bobbi Baguhn, MA, BSN, RN, CNLC, CMAC
It's no secret that increasing regulatory demands and ever-shrinking reimbursements are putting pressure on today's healthcare organizations. The result is that many providers are trying to do more with less, leading to breakdowns in efficiency that eat away at revenue and degrade quality of care. It's time to ask some tough questions to ensure your case management function is positioned to sustain clinical excellence and a healthy bottom line.

Top 10 IT Questions: Staying Ahead of a Constantly Evolving Landscape
By Rich Miller, MBA, and Mike Supple
In today's fast-moving healthcare environment, your organization's ability to keep up with the latest information technology advances is a key ingredient to long-term success. With myriad IT demands on the horizon, achieving peak productivity and financial performance while seamlessly moving patients through the continuum of care is more critical - and -difficult than ever before. It's time to ask a few tough questions to ensure your organization is prepared to successfully address the challenges of a constantly evolving IT landscape.

10 Questions for Improving Financial Performance
By Jamie Townsend
The path to a healthy bottom line sounds simple: maximize volume and reimbursement while delivering care in the most effective and efficient manner, and reduce cost where possible. In practice, it's anything but simple. With ever-changing regulatory and reimbursement requirements, astute financial management is crucial to your organization's success, if not survival. You must ask some tough questions to steward your organization through these challenging times.

10 Questions for Your Inpatient Rehabilitation Leadership
By Rita Green, BAABS, MBA
Your inpatient rehabilitation unit (IRU) has always been a premier service for your organization. But with ever-tightening regulatory constraints, your IRU isn’t the performer it once was.Why? It’s time to ask some tough questions to gauge your organization’s readiness to face the challenges of a changing business market.

Healthcare Trends – 2011
by Doug Smith, MBA, MHA and Christine Ricci, RN, MBA
B. E. Smith’s annual survey of more than 200 healthcare executives provides insight into issues industry leaders expect to face in the coming year. The results of the most recent survey revealed a common theme.

 Healthcare Trends – 2010
by Doug Smith, MBA, MHA and Christine Ricci RN, MBA
Twice each year, B. E. Smith surveys 200 leading healthcare executives to provide insight into the issues they expect to face in the coming year.

Effective Revenue Cycle Management:
by Judith Myers, BS, FHFMA; Stacy Mays, MBA, MHA;
and Julee Thompson, RN, MSN, MBA
5 Actions You Can Take to Ensure Your Revenue Cycle Rises Above a Difficult Operating Environment.

Solve Your Next Crisis with Expedience and Experience
by James Brophy, FACHE and Colleen Chapp, RN, MHA, MSN, FACHE
Judicious healthcare leaders realize that crisis is inevitable. Crisis situations demand a focused approach and swift response. However, with all of the distractions that naturally accompany any crisis, it’s easy to panic and lose focus—resulting in mistakes that magnify negative outcomes and jeopardize the reputation and viability of the organization.

Achieving Financial Stability With Effective Resource Management
by Patricia Burns, RN, MSN; Teresa Golden, RN, MSN, NE-BC;
and Julee Thompson, RN, MSN, MBA
With myriad economic, regulatory and staffing pressures impacting today’s healthcare environment, effective resource management is critical to the financial stability of healthcare organizations. Yet, in spite of dramatic industry changes in recent years, many providers rely on oversimplified, outdated practices to manage resources.

Improving Financial Outcomes with High-Performing Charge Nurses
by Patricia Burns, RN, MSN; Beth Eagleton, RN, MN, Ph.D.;
Teresa Golden, RN, MSN, NE-BC; and Julee Thompson, RN, MSN, MBA
The complexity of the acute care setting has changed dramatically in recent years. With innovative treatments, technological advancements and new laws surfacing with increasing regularity, the demands on today’s charge nurses reflect a rapidly evolving healthcare climate. As the frontline leaders on the hospital unit, the performance of charge nurses makes a tremendous impact on the hospital’s success in terms of financial outcomes.

Surviving the “Other” Nursing Shortage
by Jodi Wilson, BSN, MBA, CEN and Ilah Stolz, RN, MS
Most hospitals have experienced the growing challenge of recruiting and retaining qualified nurse leaders. As the nursing shortage worsens, who is going to fill these key positions? One new strategy is proving to be an effective solution: engage skilled Interim Executive Consultants to mentor promising but less experienced candidates.

Emergency Department Overcrowded? Know Where to Look for the Right Solutions
by Scott McIntyre, MHA, FACHE MS
Focusing too narrowly on the emergency department itself can distract the organization, frustrate staff, and waste money. If your hospital is like many facilities across the country, overcrowding in the emergency department is an almost daily occurrence.