Healthcare Operations

Clinical AI, specialty pharmacy, and consolidation: what's reshaping healthcare operations right now

Nurses are co-designing AI tools, OpenAI is pitching hospitals directly, and specialty pharmacy M&A is accelerating. Here's what it means for health system oper

How Do You Work Around Hospital Operations?

Hospitals never stop operating. Patients still need care, medical staff need access to every part of the facility, and critical services can't pause while restoration or renovation work is underway. That means every project begins with one goal: complete the work while minimizing disruption to daily

Healthcare's first big AI use is a pressure valve, not a moonshot

AI tools are accelerating diagnosis, cutting admin costs, and acting as longitudinal companions for patients navigating complex care journeys.

Healthcare's first big AI use is a pressure valve, not a moonshot

From AI scribes to LLM companions, healthcare's AI adoption is moving from pilot to standard practice across clinical and administrative workflows.

Redesigning Finance from the Inside Out with Sham Firdausi

Santa Clara County's deputy CFO Sham Firdausi on redesigning public health finance, absorbing a $1B shortfall, and embedding finance into clinical operations.

Introducing The Scopewell Podcast

James Leuthe launches The Scopewell Podcast to surface real healthcare conversations and bring the best thinking out of the room.

Turning Denial Data Into Action: How Healthcare Organizations Can Fight Back Against Payer Denials

Healthcare providers across the U.S. are facing a growing wave of claim denials that is putting pressure on already strained hospital finances. Industry research from the American Hospital Association shows that nearly 15% of medical claims submitted to private payers are initially denied, forcing hospitals and health systems to spend about $19.7 billion annually attempting…

Diagnosing Your Capital Asset Health: Why Asset Visibility Is the New Financial Imperative in Healthcare

Hospitals and surgery centers own millions of dollars in equipment — but owning assets and having actionable visibility into them are two different things. Most systems maintain inventories, yet many struggle with outdated records, fragmented tracking, and limited insight into useful life or service contracts. With nearly half of U.S. hospitals reporting negative operating…

Censis’ Final Check Uses Computer Vision to Eliminate Tray Errors Before They Reach the OR

Artificial intelligence used to live in strategy decks and conference keynotes—but now it’s showing up in a very different place: right on the assembly tables where SPD technicians build trays for the next case. And it’s arriving at a time when the pressure on sterile processing has never been higher. As surgical volumes climb and…

AI in Sterile Processing Is Proving Its Value by Acting as a Co-Pilot, Not a Replacement

Sterile processing departments are dealing with persistent operational pressures. Surgical case volumes are rising, instruments are more complex, and staffing shortages remain across many health systems. Accuracy and documentation requirements continue to tighten, leaving little room for error. In busy hospitals, sterile processing teams may handle 10,000 to 30,000 surgical instruments per day, with…

How Predictive AI Is Helping Hospitals Anticipate Admissions and Optimize Emergency Department Throughput

Emergency departments across the U.S. are under unprecedented strain, with overcrowding, staffing shortages, and inpatient bed constraints converging into a throughput crisis. The American Hospital Association reports that hospital capacity and workforce growth have lagged, intensifying delays from arrival to disposition. At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence are moving from experimental to operational—raising…

Why Does Benchmark’s Work Matter, and What’s it Like Being Part of it

Working behind the scenes of pharmaceutical manufacturing may not always be visible to patients, but it is foundational to every breakthrough therapy that reaches them. At Benchmark Products, the work matters because it supports the precision, efficiency, and reliability life sciences companies need to turn complex science into scalable, life-saving treatments. Being part of…

Getting SPD Teams to the Table: Why Sterile Processing Deserves a Central Role in Surgical Planning and Operations

Sterile Processing Departments (SPDs) remain the backbone of safe surgical care, yet across the country, they’re still routinely left out of early decision-making around products, construction, staffing, and case planning. As hospitals juggle tighter margins, higher patient acuity, and growing procedural demands, the consequences of excluding SPD voices become unmistakably real—showing up in daily…

The SPD Hack Playbook: Streamlining Sterile Processing with Smart Tech and Team Buy-In

Sterile Processing Departments (SPDs) are the unsung backbone of surgical care — ensuring every instrument, tray, and tool is safe, sterile, and ready when needed. Yet, despite their vital role, SPD workflows often rely on manual processes and underrecognized best practices. As healthcare systems push for greater efficiency and staff well-being, SPD managers are turning…

Technology Is Transforming Cardiovascular Care But Can Access Keep Up?

Cardiovascular care is entering one of its most transformative periods in decades. Advances in AI imaging and minimally invasive procedures are transforming the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 19.8 million people died from cardiovascular diseases in 2022, representing approximately 32% of all global deaths. This…

Dr. Kevin Stevenson Gives His Thoughts on the Evolution of Healthcare Over the Past Decades

As healthcare continues to transform faster than ever — shaped by post-pandemic burnout, staffing shortages, and the rise of AI — leaders are being forced to rethink what it truly means to deliver both value and compassion in medicine. With the U.S. expected to face a shortage of 64,000 nurses in 2030, healthcare leaders are…

Elevating the Standards Together: What We Are Looking Forward to at CtUC 2025

The sterile processing industry stands at a pivotal moment. With surgical case volumes rising while departmental resources remaining flat, the pressure to “do more with less” has never been greater. Nowadays, sterile processing departments (SPDs) are struggling with high staff turnover and growing compliance requirements. And while these regulations are designed to improve patient…

The Uber of Healthcare: How OverbookMD is Using Data and Tech to Redefine Patient Care

In today’s world, where instant delivery and ride-sharing are everyday norms, healthcare access still lags behind. Patients now wait an average of 31 days to see a specialist in major U.S. cities—a 19 percent jump since 2022—according to AMN Healthcare’s 2025 survey. The stakes are high: delays can lead to worsening conditions, increased ER visits,…

SHMS Optimizes Operations for Medicare Advantage Plan Operators in the Healthcare Payer Enterprise

Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans is projected to reach about 35.7 million, according to a 2025 Senate Finance Committee report. Yet, many startup and midsize organizations face steep technical and regulatory hurdles when launching or scaling operations. As part of the broader healthcare payer enterprise landscape, these plans must manage compliance, claims adjudication, risk adjustment,…

Healthcare Operations Improve with AI That Unites Data, Automation, and Ethics

Generative AI has captured the public imagination, but its most transformative use cases may lie far from flashy consumer tools. In healthcare operations, where complexity, inefficiency, and fragmentation remain persistent challenges, AI is now driving measurable improvements. Research suggests AI-enabled healthcare systems could cut administrative costs by up to $360 billion in the U.S. alone….

Culture as a Growth Engine: How People-First Values Create Long-Term Success in a Tech-Driven Age

Companies everywhere are racing to integrate AI and automation into their operations—but what happens when technology threatens the very people who power the business? A recent Mercer study found that while executives see AI as a major driver of productivity, many admit their organizations are struggling to keep their workforce prepared for the pace of…

From Manual Searches to Real-Time Tracking: How Stillwater Medical Center Strengthens Operations and Loaner Management with CensiTrac

At the Stillwater Medical Center in Oklahoma, Lead Central Sterile Technician Sydney McWaters and Certified Sterilization Technician Trey Sneed have experienced firsthand how CensiTrac, the surgical instrument and asset management solution from Censis, has transformed daily operations and helped their team adapt to change with confidence. Recently, the department implemented location scanning through CensiTrac—a…

How Mayo Clinic Uses CensiTrac’s AI² to Improve Quality and Staffing in Sterile Processing

At the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Nursing Manager Josh Meyer has seen measurable benefits from implementing CensiTrac’s AI² functionality. The tool has become an integral part of how the department monitors quality, manages staffing, and improves daily operations. With AI², the team is able to track key quality metrics across sterile processing workflows. From…

The Value of a Restoration Team with Healthcare Experience

Healthcare facilities require restoration partners who understand the stakes of downtime and can anticipate problems before they disrupt patient care

Inside the SPD Revolution: Robby Miller on Embracing CensisAI²

A healthcare leader with three decades of experience reveals how AI technology is transforming sterile processing operations

Sustainability in Healthcare: Why and How

Healthcare organizations are discovering how to cut carbon emissions without sacrificing patient care or stretching budgets further

Hospital Supply Chain Management: How to Find Scarce Equipment and Supplies

Healthcare leaders are rethinking procurement strategies to build resilience against ongoing supply disruptions and shortages

Key Predictions of Virtual Nursing

Hospital leaders anticipate virtual nursing will streamline operations and improve patient outcomes without eliminating traditional bedside care

Tackling Productivity Challenges in Perioperative and SPD: Insights from Brian Dawson

Healthcare operations leaders face critical tradeoffs between OR efficiency and patient safety that demand strategic solutions

Podcast: Maximize Profit and Patient Care, Tips for Boosting Annual Supply Sales

Strategic approaches to annual supply sales can strengthen both revenue and patient relationships simultaneously