As we continue to focus on value-based care, with special attention put on the social needs of those we serve, how these investments occur becomes paramount. Historically, the buckets of allocated dollars for social needs lived in the public health sector, either by governmental or philanthropic funding. However, as we move towards value-based payment models, other delivery entities… Read More »
As healthcare delivery has evolved, we have developed a greater understanding that social factors have a big impact on health and wellness. As a result, healthcare systems are grappling with the question of how to address this dilemma. Numerous organizations focus on our communities’ social needs, and yet, others believe policy changes will drive a healthier society. In… Read More »
As we continue to focus on the social determinants of health, we spend a significant amount of attention on the financial support needed for nutrition assistance. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest food and nutrition assistance program, tasked with improving food security among low-income households. This program works by providing fiscal supplements to low-income households.… Read More »
Interestingly, when we examine the effect of malpractice liability, we first must recall why it is in existence. It was designed to serve three functions: compensate patients injured by negligence, promote corrective justice by providing a mechanism to rectify wrongful losses caused by defendants and to deter negligent behavior. In theory, deterring negligence should enhance health care quality… Read More »
As the COVID pandemic unfolded, both healthcare and our educational systems pivoted quickly to a digital model of providing services. These digital touchpoints that are patient-facing, encompass patient portals and mobile health apps. Moreover, these modalities are an additional method for sharing information, as well as a means of providing a front end for telehealth services. Unfortunately, these… Read More »
Our society continually grapples with the concept of individualism and its impact; COVID-19 brings this conversation to the forefront. Furthermore, numerous people equate the discussions concerning masking and stay-at-home orders to politics; however, at the core of the conversation are the ideas of risk, probability, social justice, and individuality. At the individual level, several people are risk-averse, while… Read More »
Healthcare is an industry where innovation and technology continue to progress and create an opportunity to improve lives. However, the cost of such products continues to rise and thus impacts the overall cost of care. But, suppose one surmises the purpose is to enhance care in a manner that delivers value, i.e., where the expense plays a significant… Read More »
With the explosion of COVID-19, those in healthcare are at the forefront. Therefore, it behooves us to step back, clarify and re-identify our roles as healthcare professionals. Undoubtedly, delivering care is first and foremost; however, there remains an obligation to lead the way in relaying helpful and accurate public information especially as we witness it firsthand. Every day,… Read More »
There is a definite belief that if we invest in care that prevents Emergency Room visits and hospitalizations, there is a positive impact on outcomes and costs. For instance, a recent study in Health Affairs by Wright et al. evaluated this belief in the Iowa Medicaid Healthy Behaviors Program. In their research, they found a substantial decrease in… Read More »
In our continuation of focusing on health disparities, tracking metrics are paramount to our understanding if our interventions are to be impactful. Monitoring and categorizing hospitalizations are a crucial indicator. One can postulate that if hospitalizations drop within a defined population type and responses have been put in place to drive down such admissions, then such models have… Read More »