Of the 32 released films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which one has been your favorite?
With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opening in first place this weekend, making it the 32nd movie in a row that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has opened in first place dating all the way back to the first film in the franchise, 2008’s Iron Man, we wanted to know what movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been your favorite? We know that Avengers: Endgame is tough to beat, but without the movies leading up to that climactic finale, it wouldn’t have had as big an impact. Or perhaps the fan service of bringing together all 3 big screen Spider-Men is more your speed? Let us know in the comments your pick and why it resonated with you so much.
As the hunt for the next Bond continues, a key figure in the book world says the movies just aren’t on par with other major franchises.
Author Charlie Higson, who launched the Young Bond series in 2005, is shaking and stirring things up in the 007 universe, saying that the franchise has lost its way and that the best Bond movies now feature a man who goes by Hunt, Ethan Hunt.
Speaking with The Times, Higson gave his thoughts on what he thinks is the best Bond movie…and it’s not even a Bond movie. Citing one key gripe, Higson explained, “They overcomplicate him…The best ‘Bond films’ now are the Mission: Impossibles. There is no inner life, it’s just, ‘Woah! Look at that building — I’d love to climb it and blow things up.’” That might be oversimplifying Ethan Hunt (just a bit), but Higson does hit the proper point: sometimes we just want to see action–and lots of it–on the big screen. Obviously this is a huge draw for many Mission: Impossible fans, who want to be wowed by the next insane stunt that Tom Cruise will pull off.
Building off of this, Higson also blasted the most recent Bond movie, 2021’s No Time to Die, criticizing its mandatory sequential watching. “I went to see No Time to Die with my oldest boy, Frank, who is 30, and he said, ‘That felt like a Bond film made by people who are embarrassed to make a Bond film.’ You had to watch two films in advance to know who such and such is and you think, ‘Oh, fuck off with that.’ Make it a new mission each episode and let him be Bond.” He added, “Guns, cars, a supervillain and a woman. M, Q, Moneypenny. 007 is a fantasy figure who solves things with a fist and doesn’t overthink.” We’ll have quite a wait to see how the next string of movies will be handled, as producers are still trying to track down their next 007, leaving a lengthy lull.
That Mission: Impossible only has around a quarter of the installments as the Bond series shows not just how strong those films are (it is, along with John Wick, the best action franchise going), but also just how strongly Higson feels about how easily a character he respects (or used to) can be ousted. Of course, it took a lot more than the Jason Bourne flicks, once touted as the next Bond movies, to do so.
What do you think of the Young Bond author’s thoughts on current Bond movies? Do you think Mission: Impossible has replaced it as the go-to spy franchise? Give us your take below!
We take a look back at Rain Man, one of the biggest early hits of Tom Cruise’s career and an Oscar winner for Dustin Hoffman.
Many people think Tom Cruise dancing around in his underwear to Bob Seger in Risky Business is his most iconic scene. To others, it’s him saying he feels the need for speed in Top Gun or infiltrating the vault in Mission: Impossible. Or “I want the truth!” Or “show me the money!” But, to me, one of the scenes that best sums up Tom Cruise as one of the coolest movie stars ever is his entrance in Barry Levinson’s Rain Man. We see the smog-filled backdrop of Los Angeles as a Lamborghini flies across the screen. We see it’s being transported to a car lot where Tom Cruise’s Charlie Babbit, one of the most iconic eighties yuppies, inspects the car while The Belle Stars cover of “Iko Iko” fills the soundtrack. It’s a memorable moment that was so potent composer Hans Zimmer, when he reteamed with Cruise on Mission: Impossible 2, couldn’t help but riff on it by using another cover of “Iko Iko” on the soundtrack as Cruise’s Ethan Hunt did the world’s scariest rock climbing. In this episode of Tom Cruise Revisited, we look back at Rain Man, a movie that proved two things – in 1988, Tom Cruise was the world’s biggest movie star, and he was a legit actor to boot.
Tom Cruise is an iconic movie star, but all too often, his acting talents are overlooked. Some of his dramatic performances, such as in Born on the Fourth of July, Magnolia, The Last Samurai and many others, put to shame many of the more acclaimed performances of their respective years, but his talent is taken for granted. It could be that he makes it all look effortless. Many critics unfairly wrote him off as a pretty boy in the eighties. His performance in TheColor of Money had won over a few, but no one took him seriously until he paired up with Dustin Hoffman for Barry Levinson’s Rain Man. In it, Cruise plays a selfish Los Angeles yuppie who discovers that he has a long-lost brother, Raymond, who’s been left their late father’s sizeable estate. It turns out Raymond is autistic and has been confined to an institution for most of his life. Charlie takes custody of him to get access to his father’s money, but it will be challenging to bring him home to L.A., as Raymond refuses to fly. Well, except Qantas that is… The two brothers embark on a classic road trip, and along the way, Charlie realizes his brother is a mathematical savant, meaning a quick stopover in Vegas is in the cards so that his brother wins big at poker and cover his debts
Of course, Charlie starts to grow up as the film goes on, learning to value not only his brother but also his relationship with his girlfriend, Susanna, played by Valeria Golino. When people discuss Rain Man, they mainly focus on Hoffman’s performance. Indeed, he has the showier role, with him winning an Oscar for the part. Cruise should have been nominated. Revisiting the movie now, it’s clear that Cruise grounds the film and is the protagonist, with Hoffman actually supporting him, not the other way around. Critics got lost in the flash of Cruise’s performance, with him impeccably tailored throughout, sporting ray bans and a great eighties haircut. But Cruise brings a lot of vulnerability to the role, with him a charismatic hustler who’s not the pretty cold-blooded, calculating shark he needs to be. It’s a terrific part, and the story of how Rain Man came to be made is fascinating.
Initially, Steven Spielberg was set to direct but needed to start work on Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Sydney Pollack, who had made Tootsie with Hoffman, was also considered, but the job went to Barry Levinson in the end. The Baltimore-born director was coming off a massive hit, having made Good Morning Vietnam. The screenplay was written by Ron Bass and Barry Morrow, both of whom won an Oscar for it. Morrow was inspired by two real-life savants, Kim Peek and Bill Sackter. Where the movie eventually got into trouble was the idea to make Raymond not only a Savant but also autistic. This harmed the public’s perception of autism, with it a totally separate condition, and the odds of having both autism and savant syndrome were tiny. The movie made it seem like it was commonplace.
Nevertheless, Hoffman spent a year preparing for his role and was plagued with self-doubt throughout the filming, begging Levinson to replace him with Bill Murray. Cruise and Hoffman apparently would rehearse and trade-off parts in-between filming, and indeed the two became close on-set. One noteworthy thing is that Rain Man was one of the first American films to be scored by Hans Zimmer, whose usual, partly electronic score earned him his first Oscar nomination. It was one of the first scores he composed without his regular collaborator, Stanley Myers. It kickstarted his career, with him scoring Black Rain the next year and quickly becoming one of the hottest composers in town, to his eventual mogul status.
Rain Man was a smash hit at the box office, earning a massive $172 million domestically, good enough to make it the top-grossing movie of the year. Interestingly, it opened at second place at the box office behind a movie it shared several similarities with, Twins. In the end, Rain Man would clean up at the Oscars, with Hoffman winning best actor, Levinson winning best director, and the film also taking home best picture and best screenplay. In the autism community, the film has a mixed legacy. On the one hand, the film led to a common stereotype, being that people on the autism spectrum have savant-like abilities. On the other hand, the movie significantly increased awareness of the disorder. Notably, the film also led to people believing that card counting is somehow illegal in Las Vegas. It’s not – so if you’re able to count cards – go ahead.
While Cruise’s performance would go somewhat unheralded, it found one prominent fan, with actor Michael Caine once citing it as his favourite screen performance. It turns out the reason for this was intensely personal to Caine, with him discovering, late in life, that he, too, had a long-lost brother who had spent most of his life institutionalized. Indeed, he maintains that while Hoffman has the showy part, Cruise’s is the one that requires the most discipline, and indeed it remains one of the actor’s best performances. But, watching Dustin win the Oscar might have stung a little for Cruise, who, in his next film, would get the “showy” part and would prove, once and for all, that when he wants to be, he can be as good of a dramatic actor as anyone.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 reigned supreme with an estimated $114 million opening weekend
Saturday proved to be a better day than anticipated for the third adventure of the Guardians as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 finishes its first weekend with an estimated $114 million, $4 million over what it was looking like it would finish with in yesterday’s update. By any other metric, an opening that large would be cause for celebration but for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, that number represents a fairly large drop off from the previous entry in the franchise as Guardians Vol. 2 pulled in $146.5 million when it opened exactly six years ago to the day and is also softer than what the studio (and I) were projecting on Thursday. But there are several reasons why this isn’t all bad news, with the first being that the film performed exceptionally well around the world and is looking at a nearly $270 million worldwide start followed by the fact that Vol. 3 is polling higher than the last few entries in the MCU with it hitting a 95% audience score compared to the 83% that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania saw, the 77% of Thor: Love and Thunder and the 85% from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (only Black Panther: Wakanda Forever came close with its 94% audience score.)
What does that mean? It means that with the good word of mouth the film is generating, it may persuade those who were on the fence about seeing the latest Marvel film on the big screen to actually head out and see it. For my money, this is the first MCU film that I full on enjoyed since Spider-Man: No Way Home and the first one that I think actually mattered since Avengers: Endgame. It didn’t feel like a place-holder film, it felt like it belonged. A sentiment our own Editor in Chief Chris Bumbray echoes in his 8/10 review of the film. With two movies coming next week that aren’t expected to do massive numbers (the Robert Rodriguez directed/ Ben Affleck starring Hypnotic and the octogenarian sequel Book Club: The Next Chapter) it is likely that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will retain the top spot for another week before the vroom vroom of Fast X (pronounced Fast Ten, as in “Fast Ten your set belts”) comes in and DOMinates, but all eyes will be on what type of drop it has.
Second place belongs to the also Chris Pratt starring The Super Mario Bros. Movie which saw a 54% decline with $18.6 million. Of course with a $518.1 million domestic take and over $1.1 billion in worldwide ticket sales, I think the animated plumbers are doing just fine. The movie still has the animated family market to itself for another few weeks until Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse hits theaters on June 2 with Pixar’s Elemental releasing on June 16.
Coming in third place is Evil Dead Rise that continues to bring in the horror audiences with an additional $5.7 million added to its $54.1 domestic total. With an under $20 million budget and an over $100 million worldwide gross, this film has far exceeded expectations and should open the door to future films in the world of the Evil Dead as the producers have said they plan on making new movies every two to three years (although, please don’t! Make new films, but a new film that often will only water down this iconic 40 year old franchise).
Fourth place looks like it will be the big screen adaptation of the classic book Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret with an additional $3.3 million added to its lackluster $12.6 million total domestic take. The film has phenomenal critical numbers with a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score accompanied by a 94% audience score and an A cinemascore, so the fact that it is tanking this hard is a bit perplexing, especially when you consider how well a movie like Where The Crawdads Sing did just a year ago. I am confident this film will find its audience one day.
Fifth place goes to the new release film Love Again that looks to have not made an impact in its big screen bow, pulling in just $2.4 million. With a relatively low budget of $9 million, it is possible that this one can eventually be profitable, but the attempt at counter programming to a big Marvel film seems to have been a missed attempt. Although the people that did pay to see it, seem to enjoy it with a 94% audience score, which is a massive improvement over its 17% critical score.
The remainder of the top ten are your holdovers including four R rated films with John Wick: Chapter 4 pulling in $2.3 million, Air taking in an additional $1.3 million, Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant taking in $1.2 million and Sisu rounding it out with $1.08 million, while the PG13 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves sees an additional $1.5 million added to its domestic total of $90.9 million.
Were you able to make it to theaters this weekend? If so, let us know what you saw in the comments section and don’t forget to take our weekly poll where we ask: What is your Favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe Movie?
TAMPA, Fla., May 8, 2023 (Newswire.com)
-
Black Book Research announced that Netsmart has swept the post-acute health technology platform ratings for highest customer satisfaction in the annual client experience polling of 20 top competitors. Black Book's study of post-acute providers confirmed Netsmart has retained the top performance honor for the fifth year in a row; 3,846 post-acute, subacute, hospice, and long-term care providers and 280 rehabilitation providers participated in the crowdsourced survey from December 2022 to April this year.
Black Book also examined post-acute provider EHR usage and revenue cycle management tools employed in the U.S. and found that less than seventeen percent of respondents consider their organization equipped to electronically engage in value-based care, care coordination, patient record exchange, or population health initiatives with referral hospitals and physicians currently.
The growth potential for post-acute care technology is estimated by Black Book to exceed double digits in 2024 as value-based payment reforms require providers to exchange data electronically and coordinate care effectively.
"Year after year, we see Netsmart as top-rated in the industry by client users," said Doug Brown, president, and CEO of Black Book Research. "It's clear that, even in a tightening and increasingly complex market, Netsmart is continuing to lead the post-acute care industry by providing a product that is a vital part of their users' workflow, patient coordination, reimbursement, and critical digital capabilities to the successful providers in the value-based care environment."
This report is based on findings from an independent survey conducted by Black Book qualified users of post-acute EHR and RCM systems, including Skilled Nursing Facilities, Hospital-Based Subacute Units, Short and Long Term Rehabilitation Centers, Home Health Agencies, and Hospice organizations reporting on more than 75 vendors.
For more on the Black Book methodology, unbiased independence from vendor influence, and commitment to a relevant healthcare technology research process, please visit www.blackbookmarketresearch.com.
About Black Book™
Black Book Market Research LLC provides vendor-neutral archival solutions and healthcare IT users, media, investors, analysts, quality-minded vendors, and prospective software and services buyers with comprehensive comparison data of the industry's top respected and competitively performing solutions vendors. The largest user opinion poll of its kind in healthcare IT, Black Book™ collects over one million viewpoints on information technology and outsourced services vendor performance annually. Black Book is internationally recognized for over 17 years of customer satisfaction and loyalty polling, particularly in technology, medical equipment, services, and outsourcing industries.
Black Book™ founders, management, and staff do not own or hold any financial interest in any of the vendors covered and encompassed in this survey, including NetSmart, and Black Book reports the results of the collected satisfaction and client experience rankings in publication and to media prior to vendor notification of rating results.
NEW YORK, May 8, 2023 (Newswire.com)
-
Credello: Summer isn't far away, and that's when many individuals and families think about taking vacations. You can stick to your travel budget in various ways. You might pursue flights on less popular days of the week or book a hotel using credit card points.
One way to keep the cost of a vacation down, though, is to visit a part of the country that isn't particularly expensive. A trip to New York City or Los Angeles might be unrealistic, but you can also target some cheaper destinations that still have a lot to offer.
Let's talk about some of those right now.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
You might head to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Maybe you've never heard of it, but it has many attractions that your family should enjoy.
You can check out any of the dinner theater shows, where you get a meal and entertainment. There's one with a Dolly Parton theme that features live animal acts. Another has a magic theme, and there's another one with pirates. Perhaps the most popular one is the Hatfield and McCoy show which puts a comic spin on America's most famous feud.
The hotels and motels there don't cost very much, and you can save even more if you don't mind roughing it. You can rent a cabin close to the woods, so you can take some scenic nature walks.
Reno, Nevada
If you want to check out some casinos but feel that Las Vegas is too expensive, you might go to Reno instead. Billing itself as "The Biggest Little City in the World," Reno has all the Elvis impersonators and gambling opportunities as Vegas, but it's nowhere near as expensive.
You can eat at buffet-style restaurants and spend time wandering from casino to casino. You can catch a show or enjoy a spa day and get a mani-pedi.
Beaufort, North Carolina
If you like Southern hospitality, Beaufort, North Carolina, is another very affordable option. This charming seaside town has little houses that you can rent. The tree-lined streets are perfect for family bike rides, and you can rent bikes easily there as well.
You can eat the freshest seafood at the quaint restaurants there, and you can rent a boat and go out on the water. You can fish and catch some aquatic monsters that you might stuff and hang on your wall at home. You can also swim in the ocean.
If you're lucky, maybe you'll find a doubloon that washes up on the shore after a storm. There are pirate ships that were known to have sunk off the coast of South Carolina, and you never know when the ocean floor might give you a gift of some of that lost treasure.
You Have Cheap Vacation Options this Year
If you get a little creative, there's no reason why you can't take some time off from work this year and enjoy a vacation in the US that doesn't put you in debt. You can check out Beaufort, South Carolina, where you can sample crab cakes and enjoy some amazing fishing. Reno is a suitable alternative to Las Vegas. You can have fun in the casinos and enjoy the shows, and there's nearly as much glitz and glamor.
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, has roller coasters, campy dinner theater, and the sprawling woods that are just begging to be explored. You can spot many animal species and work up an appetite for a picnic lunch.
Talk to your family and see which option appeals to them. Make sure to take lots of pictures of your trip so you can remember this time together fondly. You can post them on social media as well.
About Credello
Credello is a financial tech company offering a personal finance tool that simplifies financial decisions through personalized, on-demand recommendations — so users can borrow, save, or invest with confidence. Credello believes that finding the right financial product should be as easy and interactive as online shopping, and we are on a mission to make that possible. For more information, please visit https://www.credello.com.
NEW YORK, May 8, 2023 (Newswire.com)
-
Credello: Thanks to so many new developments in medical tech, elective surgeries are becoming more available and affordable for patients worldwide.
Plastic surgery is one of the top categories for elective surgeries. Now with lasers and robotics becoming so advanced, many procedures that used to be very expensive are becoming more affordable.
But before you start looking for the best personal loan for plastic surgery, you should still realize that these types of surgeries still come with a hefty price tag few insurances will cover, so it's critical you understand both the medical and financial side effects that can come with a little nip or tuck.
How we determined the cost of plastic surgery procedures
We've gone through the most popular medical debt myths and facts and looked at pricing all around the U.S. to find what we feel is the most realistic median price you'll see. While it's true that both the procedure and hospital you've chosen will affect your final cost, there are other factors that we've used to help find an average price for these popular surgeries. Please note that your final cost may differ based on certain criteria that can affect the price, like your preferred surgeon, geographic location, payment options, insurance coverage, etc.
Below, we've covered the top 6 most popular surgical procedures, both surgical and not.
Microdermabrasion
Average cost: $167
What it is:
Microdermabrasion is a cosmetic treatment that uses a microdermabrasion machine to remove the top layer of skin cells. This can improve the appearance of certain skin problems, like age spots and blemishes.
How it works:
The microdermabrasion machine uses tiny crystals or pads to remove the top layer of skin cells. This can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, and age spots.
Botulinum Toxin (BOTOX)
Average cost: $466
What it is:
BOTOX is a botulinum toxin used to treat conditions such as frown lines, drooping eyelids, and excessive sweating.
How it works:
BOTOX injections are given into the muscle below the skin to reduce the amount of muscle activity. This can improve the look of these conditions by reducing the appearance of wrinkles and lines.
Injection Lipolysis (KYBELLA)
Average cost: $941
What it is:
Injection Lipolysis is a cosmetic treatment that uses injections of a chemical called bevacizumab to tighten and reduce the size of fat cells in the skin.
How it works:
The bevacizumab injections work by stopping the growth of new fat cells. This can improve the look of areas like the stomach, love handles, and trunk.
Breast augmentation
Average cost: $4,516
What it is:
Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure that adds size, shape, and density to the breasts.
How it works:
The surgeon will use either silicone or saline implants to add size and shape to the breasts. These implants can be filled with either saline or silicone gel, giving you the desired look and feel.
Rhinoplasty (nose jobs)
Average cost: $5,483
What it is:
Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that fixes problems with the nose, such as enlarged septums (the dividing line between the nostrils), crooked noses, and noses that are too wide or too narrow.
How it works:
The surgeon will remove excess skin and tissue from the nose, which can improve the nose's look by correcting these problems. They may also perform septoplasty (reconstructing torn septums) or cartilage ablation (removing cartilage cells to reduce nasal width).
Liposuction
Average cost: $3,637
What it is:
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that uses a vacuum to remove fatty tissues from the body.
How it works:
The liposuction machine uses strong suction to remove fat cells from the treated area. This can reduce the appearance of cellulite, love handles, and excess skin.
The bottom line
While plastic surgery prices are becoming more affordable thanks to advances in medical tech, it's still important to remember that some of these are invasive procedures that must be considered. Speak with your doctor for recommendations, always research your options, and thoroughly vet your surgeon before committing.
About Credello
Credello is a financial tech company offering a personal finance tool that simplifies financial decisions through personalized, on-demand recommendations — so users can borrow, save, or invest with confidence. Credello believes that finding the right financial product should be as easy and interactive as online shopping, and we are on a mission to make that possible. For more information, please visit https://www.credello.com.
NEW YORK, May 8, 2023 (Newswire.com)
-
Credello: If you're considering getting a personal loan soon, you need to prepare your finances to look their best. Many people will only focus on their credit scores, but did you know that there are more factors that affect your ability to get a loan? It's true! Here are the other ways lenders can determine whether or not they should approve your loan application.
1. Your bank account history
Lenders want to see that you have the money to make your monthly payments and will often check out your bank account's histories to see how responsible you are with money. What they're typically looking for is that your account has a positive balance for most of your history and that you have some kind of history-making recurring payments to a company, such as a utility or data company.
Relying on your banking history is a relatively new change lenders have made as a way to make getting a credit history more accessible to previously underserved communities. Because of this, it's become even easier to get an installment loan with bad credit or no credit.
2. Rent payments
Another way lenders are opening up their criteria for loan approvals is by reviewing your rental history. Like your bank account, this is a way for lenders to determine how responsible you are at handling regular payments to a company, like a landlord.
3. Data trends
Many financial experts have advocated for lenders and credit bureaus to expand their criteria to more historical trends that include, but are not limited to, credit scores. While your credit report is a standardized method for determining creditworthiness, it's often limited to a "snapshot" of your financial history that might not account for things like COVID-19-related job fluctuations, sudden medical debts, or other anomalies.
However, don't assume that a historical trend of positive financial habits will completely wipe out a bad credit score. You may get approved for a loan, but lenders still offer the most competitive interest rates on personal loans for excellent credit scores of 700+.
How to improve your chance of getting approved for a loan
The best way to improve your chances of getting approved for a personal loan is to ensure you're prepared with your financial information. While credit scores are no longer the only factor affecting your approval odds, they're still the highest priority for lenders, so focus your effort on getting your score as high as possible before applying.
The easiest way to improve your score quickly is by concentrating on the two most heavily-weighted factors on a credit report: the number of on-time payments and your credit utilization ratio. The lower your credit balances and the more on-time minimum payments you make, the better your score will be.
In addition, speak to lenders beforehand to see what other criteria they might use and prepare documents relevant to each criterion. Bank account statements, rental agreements, and even a letter of recommendation from your landlord could go a long way toward improving your odds of getting a loan.
The bottom line
Lenders are expanding their criteria for loan approvals beyond just your credit score, and there are many ways to improve your chances of getting approved for a personal loan. Whether you're looking for a short-term or long-term solution, don't be afraid to ask your lender what other factors are important to them, and come prepared with evidence proving you're someone who handles money responsibly.
About Credello
Credello is a financial tech company offering a personal finance tool that simplifies financial decisions through personalized, on-demand recommendations — so users can borrow, save, or invest with confidence. Credello believes that finding the right financial product should be as easy and interactive as online shopping, and we are on a mission to make that possible. For more information, please visit https://www.credello.com.
TAMPA, Fla., May 8, 2023 (Newswire.com)
-
Black Book Research announced the top comprehensive revenue cycle management solutions for laboratories and ancillaries from the collected feedback of 2,663 healthcare and medical users from 459 hospitals, 387 physician practices, and 1,699 diagnostic medical and outpatient facilities in the annual crowdsourced poll of customer and user satisfaction.
Black Book measures true client experience across 18 revenue cycle management services key performance indicators.
XiFin, Inc. received top user scores in 9 KPIs, besting 19 ancillary RCM managed services competitors. Highest achievements were scored in strategic alignment of client goals; innovation and optimization; client relationships and cultural fit; trust, accountability, transparency, and ethics; customization; reliability; brand image and marketing communications; marginal value adds; data security and patient privacy; and best of breed technology and process improvement.
"XiFin well exceeded ancillary customer expectations and notably is the highest client-rated RCM managed services solutions among physicians and support staff in laboratory and diagnostic radiology centers of excellence," said Doug Brown, president of Black Book Research.
Eighty-eight percent of laboratories responding to the survey indicated that their organizations are actively seeking to implement solutions offering improvements in cash collections and reduction in denials through outsourced RCM solutions for 2023.
The survey methodology and full listing of healthcare IT and services vendor rankings can be found at Black Book's website www.blackbookmarketresearch.com.
About Black Book™
Black Book Market Research LLC provides vendor-neutral archival solutions and healthcare IT users, media, investors, analysts, quality-minded vendors, and prospective software and services buyers with comprehensive comparison data of the industry's top respected and competitively performing solutions vendors. The largest user opinion poll of its kind in healthcare IT, Black Book™ collects over 1,000,000 viewpoints on information technology and outsourced services vendor performance annually. Black Book is internationally recognized for over 17 years of customer satisfaction and loyalty polling, particularly in technology, medical equipment, services, and outsourcing industries.
Black Book™ founders, management, and staff do not own or hold any financial interest in any of the vendors covered and encompassed in this survey including XiFin, Inc., and Black Book reports the results of the collected satisfaction and client experience rankings in publication and to media prior to vendor notification of rating results.
Dr. Jacquelyn Y. Kung, Former CEO of Activated Insights, Will Join Discovery Senior Living's Board of Directors as an Independent Board Member
Dr. Jacquelyn Y. Kung Discovery Senior Living has announced the appointment of Dr. Jacquelyn Y. Kung as an Independent Board Member.
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla., May 8, 2023 (Newswire.com)
-
Discovery Senior Living ("Discovery") has announced the appointment of Dr. Jacquelyn Y. Kung as an Independent Board Member to its Board of Directors. Kung brings with her a wealth of experience in the healthcare industry, having served in executive leadership roles in numerous organizations.
Kung is the former CEO of Activated Insights, a health tech software company that focuses on employee, patient, and resident engagement. Under her leadership, Activated Insights grew to capture nearly 50% of the market share. The company also received recognition as an Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Company awardee.
Prior to her role at Activated Insights, Kung served as the Chief Operating Officer and Advisor at ClearCare (now WellSky®), the dominant cloud-based enterprise software company for home care agencies.
Kung also has experience as a consultant at McKinsey & Co., where she engaged in more than 10 healthcare studies serving provider, manufacturer, supplier, and investor growth needs. She also served as the Senior Director of Strategy at Erickson Retirement Communities, a $1.2 billion developer and manager of large-scale communities; as an Investment Banking Associate at Goldman Sachs International; and as a consultant for AARP and Boston Consulting Group.
As an Independent Board Member, Kung will work exclusively within the seniors housing industry with Discovery to support its ongoing growth and innovation as it continues to evolve as a world-class company supporting the aging population.
Kung earned her Doctorate in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, a Master in Business Administration from Harvard Business School, and a B.A. in Economics from Harvard College. She currently serves as a Board Director for the Smithsonian Institute's SITES traveling exhibits division and as a Senior Advisor at Milken Institute's Center for the Future of Aging.
"We are excited to welcome Jacquelyn to our Board of Directors," said Dan Decker, Chairman of the Board for Discovery Senior Living. "Her extensive experience in the healthcare industry and expertise in business strategy will be invaluable to our organization as we continue to grow and evolve."
CEO and Board Member Richard J. Hutchinson added, "I am extremely excited to have another world-class business leader join our Board of Directors and very much looking forward to being able to work closely with Jacquelyn on our numerous next-generation initiatives."
"I'm very excited to partner with Discovery and positively contribute to their performance. Given how the sector is at a critical inflection, putting the operator and management company first will lead to faster innovations that enhance quality of life for our older adults," said Dr. Jacquelyn Y. Kung.
Kung's appointment to Discovery's Board of Directors is effective immediately.
About Discovery Senior Living
Discovery Senior Living is a family of companies that includes Discovery Management Group, Morada Senior Living, TerraBella Senior Living, Lakehouse Senior Living, Discovery Development Group, Discovery Design Concepts, Discovery Marketing Group, and Discovery At Home, a Medicare-certified home healthcare company. With almost three decades of experience, the award-winning management group has been developing, building, marketing, and operating upscale senior-living communities across the United States. By leveraging its innovative "Experiential Living" philosophy across a growing portfolio of more than 13,000 existing homes or homes under development, Discovery Senior Living is a recognized industry leader for lifestyle customization and, today, ranks among the 10 largest U.S. senior living operators and providers.
Contact Information:
Heidi LaVanway
Vice President of Marketing [email protected]
239.301.5330
