Healthcare Hot Topics: What are we to think?

Meaningful Use! ACO! Healthcare reform! The healthcare world continues to shout these, and other hot topics, from the rooftops. What are we to think?

Last week I participated in a leadership conference that brought together CIOs and CMIOs from healthcare systems across the western states. There were some REALLY bright people there from academic medicine, for- and non- profit systems, government agencies, and more. One thing was clear, despite the hubbub surrounding the buzzword themes dominating the media, good business practices and providing quality patient care are still at the forefront of peoples’ minds. That is what they were interested in, discussed, and sought answers for.

What did they say? Well, though enticing to be sure, a 5 million dollar one-time check for Stage I meaningful use compliance wont compensate for 10 million in lost annual reimbursement for bad care practices, or 25 million in annual patient leakage.  Fixing internal issues, such as missed doses, falls, surgical complications, core measure compliance, and hospital acquired infections still takes precedence over worrying about what might happen to a patient after they leave your care. And even though health care reform will come (like the “big one” in California), we need to live in the here-and-now with an eye on the future, not the other way around.

My assessment of the conference? Though 2017, 2020, and 2025 will all come with their respective requirements, most are focused on the next 1-2 years. They are working diligently on quality-of-care initiatives (all good, mind you) invoked 10 years ago, and business pressures brought on by the current economy. Dedicated, smart people, asking the hard questions, looking for the best answers, and coming to a great consensus.