Embedding a liaison to help transition people from SNFs to home lowers costs Whether you are an accountable care organization (ACO) or operate under a bundled payment, or any type of value-based payment model, skilled nursing facility utilization and cost are a major area of focus. Not only is it a major source of healthcare expenditure, but people… Read More »
As we move to value-based care models, where we place our focus becomes very important. With limited resources both in dollars and human capital, knowing where to spend our energy is dependent on knowing information driven by data. Sometimes dictum is driven more from thought than fact. We focus a great deal on those with multiple chronic diseases,… Read More »
We live in an ever-changing healthcare environment. No matter where you look, or what you hear, there is ambiguity and difficult situations. When things get tough, we have a tendency to become anxious, and this anxiety leads to behavior and thought processes that we need to name and hopefully keep in check. One such behavior is that of… Read More »
There is a great deal of discussion around the cost of care at the end of life. The spectrum ranges from, “this is where we need to put all our focus,” to the press around “death panels.” In order to really understand the scope, we need to look and see what the data tells us. It is estimated… Read More »
Value’s variables often affect each other Value has three variables: quality, service and cost. Many times we confuse one of these variables for the other. As these different variables each affect value differently, it’s important to understand what activities falls under each variable and how they interact. For example, we want to increase quality and service while decreasing… Read More »
Debate over rights and true consumers hinders achieving value Healthcare costs have been on the rise for many decades and there have been multiple attempts and models to curb spending. We are presently shifting to value-based payment models under the theory that unlike previously in a fee for service world, paying only for what increases quality and satisfaction… Read More »
There is no one solution to specialized vs. general care As I read an article by Richard Gunderman about the proliferation of hospitalist care and what it means for the continuity of care needed in a value- based world, it made me think about the bigger question of which is better: general or specialty care? We see this… Read More »
I had the honor and blessing to attend an event that celebrated 25 years of a health center that is almost completely funded by donations. Most of the patients that receive care, around 90%, are refugees from other countries who are not just looking for a better life, but had to leave their homes and cultures just to… Read More »
Care for those in need and improving their health status requires us to think differently if we truly want to see meaningful changes. As MissionPoint Health Partners seeks to ensure all aspects of our member’s lives work together toward better health, lower costs, and greater satisfaction, we continuously look for models of care that will result in positive… Read More »
Naming conventions highlight underlying disease-centered philosophical approach to healthcare I remember a character created by comedian Bill Saluga back in the late 70s named Raymond J. Johnson Jr. When the character would be addressed as “Mr. Johnson,” he would go into a loud shrieking voice saying, “My name is Raymond J. Johnson Jr. Now you can call me… Read More »