There has been a great deal of focus on whether nonprofit hospitals bring value to the communities they serve in proportion to their tax-exempt status. The argument is that the tax dollars are necessary and properly utilized for community benefit; therefore, a tax-exempt status requires community benefit in replacement of payments. The measure used as a metric for… Read More »
For those in the value-based payment (VBP) world, we are constantly asking the question; “Is what we are doing impactful and adding value to quality, service, and costs, to those we serve?” A recent study in Health Affairs analyzed 20 years of commercial VBP studies and found mixed results. And from this information, it’s possible to formulate a… Read More »
Structural racism refers to, “The totality of ways societies foster racial discrimination through mutually reinforcing systems of housing, credit, media, health care, and criminal justice.” One of the leading structural components that has led to the inequitable distribution of health services is healthcare financing, i.e., insurance coverage. Inadequate health insurance coverage is one of the most prevalent barriers… Read More »
As we focus on improving the care for all, with a lens toward health equity, it’s essential to examine the root causes of health inequities and their existence. And Racism is a contributing factor that has led to our present situation. To progress, we need to have an understanding and commonality of definitions. Referencing a recent article by… Read More »
Currently, we are at a crossroads in our workforce when it comes to the care required for those we serve. Especially when it comes to situations when family members and friends are delivering care upon hospital discharge. There is also the dynamic of the same type of service provided while a loved one is in the hospital and… Read More »
Almost daily, there are articles addressing the need for healthcare to be more consumer centric. We envision the topic within the context of service, access, and affordability. Yet, there remains a component that encompasses how we engage those we serve from a clinical perspective. Diagnosing and treating has been the primary focus of clinicians’ training. But, as we… Read More »
We are a country founded on individual rights. As a society, we have also decided that healthcare is a right of citizenship; we do not permit the denial of care based on one’s ability to pay. Unfortunately, the cost of the administrative components of the healthcare ecosystem is a burden on the overall cost of care. Many of… Read More »
Pharmaceutical costs continue to rise and are increasingly becoming a significant portion of medical spending for care. There have been many attempts to stem this ever-increasing portion of the total cost of care including, increased generic utilization, value-based incentive models, and the use of drug step therapy protocols. Specifically, this latter model requires the administration of specific agents… Read More »
Over the past several years, chronic pain and the use of opioids have been a dominant topic of conversation and a primary focus in healthcare. Tragically, in our attempt to improve the pain management in those we serve, an epidemic of narcotic misuse, abuse, and dependency occurred. To stem the rapidly increasing opioid crisis, the focus on fixing… Read More »
As we continue focusing on improving care for those we serve, public policy and advocacy are two areas in which healthcare professionals and organizations avoid, especially if they are fraught with political connotations. Without question, gun control is one such area. There is an abundance of literature that addresses the value of specific legislation regarding firearms that are… Read More »