U.S. hospitals are finding innovative ways to ease long wait times and treat patients in emergency rooms. 

A change in Defense Department policy could mean hospitals across the nation receive billions less in outpatient payments.

UnitedHealth Group launched a new website and services for consumers.  The new site allows consumers to create health records online.

Avatar client Poudre Valley Health System has been awarded the 2008 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Poudre Valley is one of just three organizations nationwide to receive this honor, which recognizes superior quality in areas like leadership, customer focus, measurement and use of data, and results.

The Joint Commission released a white paper today that proposes major changes in the principles and actions that should be taken to create the 'hospital of the future'.  The paper, Health Care at the Crossroads: Guiding Principles for the Development of the Hospital of the Future, offers recommendations in five core areas of hospital development.

Avatar International announces its partnership with the Southcentral Foundation of Anchorage Alaska.  Avatar has launched a comprehensive patient satisfaction evaluation and service delivery optimization program.