The survey, which polled health-care executives attending HFMAs Annual National Institute in Seattle, Wash., June 14-17, showed that one in three respondents believe the next greatest challenge facing providers will be changes to the American health-care system as a result of President Obamas health-care reform.

Additionally, 80% of those surveyed speculate health-care providers will need more aid administering their revenue cycles in the coming year. Closely reflecting this wide consensus, more than 80% of respondents chose outsourcing financial/revenue cycle services and establishing new IT programs ” over cutting fixed cost ” as the best strategies to reduce hospitals administrative costs. At the same time, three out of four (75%) executives acknowledging the survey believe customer-facing functions (e.g., patient access services, financial counseling) should continue to be handled by providers staff.

Its clear that health-care providers are facing a perfect storm that combines growing costs, declining revenues and industry reform, said Michael Shea, president of global health-care solutions and CEO of North America for MedAssist. Whats also clear is that providers will need to become more innovative than ever in finding ways to boost economic efficiencies without lowering standards of care.

The survey confirms our belief that certain functions are core competencies that belong in the domain of health-care centers, while other areas will continue to be addressed most effectively by experienced providers of financial and revenue cycle management services, said Brenda Snow, executive vice president, strategic planning and analysis at MedAssist. The question is how soon health-care providers can make this transition.

Asked which categories afford the greatest savings opportunities for hospitals, 29% of respondents pointed to improved technology (e.g., electronic health records, computerized physician order entry), while 26% mentioned preventative care and chronic disease management (e.g., asthma, diabetes). Survey participants also cited streamlining administrative costs and reimbursement contingent upon quality outcomes (both at 21%) as viable areas for cutting costs.

Mallory works for a debt collection agency. Also, she writes stories on business and finance, and collections. .

When you grant open credit to your foreign customers, unforeseen circumstances can develop that can affect your collections. Or, if you have made the sale based on a letter of credit or some other type of documentary collection, things can occasionally go wrong. In these situations you will be faced with the need to pursue other measures to collect from your international customers on your unpaid invoices. This is where an international debt collection agency can help.

A debt collector usually works by commission which represents no risks for you. They will not bill you until they have recovered some of your money. To clarify, if they are unable to get any money back, they will not charge you anything. This is basically a win win situation for both parties. Debt collection agencies employ experienced specialists and lawyers in this particular field to increase your odds of getting your money back. Some of these agencies may charge high commission rates.

It is important to state that you will sometimes need extra legal actions. If you find yourself in this situation, negotiate the prices beforehand to avoid paying more than you expected. Look for agencies with strong international experience and global network to represent you.

In the end, you will need to analyze whether it is worth your time and money to pursue a client with bad debt or write this lost money as expense.

Global Trade consultant Joshua Adekane specializes in assisting businesses to successfully import and export globally. To browse his tips and resources, click here Collection Attorney

A shareholder is a person or company that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a joint stock company. Shareholders get special privileges that depend on the class of the stock. There are a number of privileges that can come with stock that include: the right to have a vote on things like elections to the board of directors, the right to share in distributions of the company’s income, the right to buy more shares that are issued by the company, and the right to a company’s assets when a company liquidates. Directors and officers of a company are bound by fiduciary duties to act in the best interest of the shareholders.

Owners of a company may sell shares to build additional capital for investing in new projects within the company, or to reduce their holding so they have more capital freed for their own private use. When you purchase a share you are literally sharing in the ownership of the company, a portion of the decision making power, and potentially, a portion of the profits.

Because there could potentially be thousands of shareholders in a large publicly traded corporation, shareholders will use their shares as votes in the election of members of the board of directors of the company.

Usually, each share equals one vote. Corporations might issue different classes of shares though, which might have different voting rights. Because shares are proportional to votes, owning most of the shares permits other shareholders to be out voted, which is how original owners of a large business will usually still have control of the company. To Be Continued In Part Three.

Mallory Megan works for Rapid Recovery Solution and writes articles about medical collection agencies. Also published at Stocks For Beginners Part Two.

As far as financing a purchase of stock, there are two ways to do it: purchase stock with money that is currently in the buyer’s ownership, or by buying stock on margin. When you purchase stock on margin you are buying stock with money that is borrowed against the stocks in the same account. In other words, you use the stock you already own as collateral to guarantee that you can repay your loan. Otherwise, the stockbroker can sell the collateral to repay the money.

Selling stock is pretty much the same idea as buying stock. Typically, the investor is going to want to buy low and sell high. After a broker takes out his fee for arranging the transfer of stock from a seller to a buyer, the seller is entitled to all of the money.

The price of a stock will fluctuate with the theory of supply and demand, supply being the number of shares that are offered for sale at any one moment, demand being the number of shares investors want to buy at that exact same time. When buyers who want to purchase stock outnumber sellers, the price will grow. Eventually, sellers will see how high the stock is being sold for and start to sell their stock, or buyers will leave and equilibrium will be achieved between sellers and buyers. When sellers outnumber buyers, the price falls. Eventually buyers come back in or sellers leave, and equilibrium is again achieved. Therefore, the value of a share of a business at any given moment is determined by all investors voting with their money.

Obviously, all of this doesn’t explain how people decide the maximum price at which they are willing to buy or the minimum price at which they are willing to sell, people’s selling and buying habits, or which stock will be more valuable when. People spend lifetimes trying to figure this information out, it’s still up for debate, and if I knew, I wouldn’t be here typing about stock, I’d be in my fabulous mansion! But it is my hope that my primer course on stock was at least a little enlightening.

Mallory Megan works for Rapid Recovery Solution and writes articles on commercial collection agencies. Unique version for reprint here: Understanding Stocks For Beginners Part Four.

Even if you owned fifty percent of a business’ shares and thus own fifty percent of a business, you do not have the right to utilize that business’ equipment, materials, building, or other property. This is due to the fact that the company is considered a legal person that owns all of its assets itself.

Although owning shares means part ownership of a company, it doesn’t mean responsibility for liabilities. If a business goes under and has to default on loans, the shareholders won’t be liable in any way. On the other hand, when it comes time to repay loans and debts, the creditors must be paid first, oftentimes leaving shareholders with nothing.

Shares of a business have the ability to be transferred from shareholders to other parties by selling, and stock markets have been established for trading shares and other stock derivatives. Even though there are various methods of buying and financing stocks, investors will usually be represented by stock brokers, people who buy and sell shares of a wide range of companies.

Stock brokers can be full service, or discount. Full service brokers will charge more per trade, but offer advice when it comes to investment or personal finance. Discount brokers will offer little or no advice but charge less for trades. A third type of broker would be a bank or credit union. Another way to buy stock is to buy the stock directly from the business itself. If you own at least one stock, most companies will permit you to purchase shares directly from the company. To Be Continued In Part 4.

Mallory Megan works for Rapid Recovery Solution and writes articles on credit collection agencies. Unique version for reprint here: Stocks 101 Part Three.