Just Got Word

In 2008, New York City hospitals spent $3 billion more on care than they took in. And, they operated at an average of a 6% loss versus the national average of operating at a 4% profit. One of the little discussed consequences of federal health reform and its related significant reductions in Medicare reimbursement will be the absence of any margin that can be used for capital investment. Speakers included: - Dr. Ralph de la Torre, President & CEO, Caritas Christi Health Care (recent name change to Steward Health Care)-- not a big fan of pharma companies; quite proud of himself for his work in Massachusetts, which has become, by default, the pilot for the National 'universal care' model advanced through the Health Care Reform Act. - Stephen Berger, Chairman, Odyssey Investment Partners and Chairman, Commission on Healthcare Facilities in the 21st Century -- made a bunch of recommendations to the governor about 5 years ago as to which hospitals should be closed and whic...

tPF continues to monitor advances in technology in the US health care delivery system. In fact, Rich Linderman of tPF is currently attending the 11th annual HIMSS (Health Information and Management Systems Society) meeting in Orlando, Florida. Attended by 28,000 health care professionals, this program tracks new and growing areas in health care information technology that could bring the greatest value to the overall health care community. "HIMSS11" offers learning and networking opportunities in the most high-growth or high-demand sectors. In addition, the exhibit floor is showcasing innovative products and service solutions in the health care industry. We look forward to receiving information about the conference from Rich, and, more importantly, sharing cutting-edge technology information with our growing client base.

To remain at the cutting edge, you have to be fully aware of current situations and emerging trends. tPF remains committed to understanding/rectifying the issue of health care delivery in the US; accordingly, we will be attending the "New York City Health Care Crisis" at the Harvard Club on February 22, 2011. Sponsored by Deloitte, Proskauer, Kramer Levin, Biopharm Insights and the Executive Council, the following questions will be asked (and hopefully answered): - What is driving the crisis? - Are hospitals really on the edge? - What can be done to stem the crisis? - What are best practices that can be created? - How do insurers pay differently so those that do better are able to be successful? - Are payers doing enough to change the way we pay? - Should patients have freedom of choice to go wherever they want? - Should they be limited? - As care changes, do we need as many hospitals? Stay tuned for timely information.

We're conducting extensive research into the effective use of ACOs (Accountable Care Organizations)and have come away with some key conclusions: -- BE PART OF THE SOLUTION: ACOs, available in 2012, are presented as a solution to the mounting cost of Medicare and Medicaid; the US government is attempting to stem to rising tide of such outlays. -- A BALANCING ACT: ACOs are in effect a new way of organizing patient care around set populations ("beneficiaries") who theoretically will receive more community-based, integrated care under the reward provisions of the program (which are allegedly invisible to the beneficiaries). But the rewards won't be paid unless monetary targets are met, so this whole delicate balancing act of quality performance and patient care cutbacks will play out under a new scenario. -- BE IN IT TO WIN IT: For a hospital or physician group, sitting on the sidelines is not a viable option as patient populations will migrate with primary care...

Introduction Hospitals large and small are among the most complex “organizations” to understand with respect to human interactions and the processes/systems meant to manage those.   They are equally fascinating and frustrating to interpret and advise/counsel, respectively.   The following article draws on the authors’ experience as management/operations consultants in hospital settings.   It discusses the communications characteristics unique to hospitals and some suggested remedies, particularly within the context of using communication as a change agent. The Problem Experience has shown that hospitals have difficulty meeting quality standards and financial targets when there is a lack of effective communication across the organization.   (This is certainly not exclusive to hospitals.   Every organization relies on effective communication to meet quality/financial objectives.)   More importantly, continued cost pressures coupled with new governmental rei...

First it was piano legs Hillary Clinton and Ira Magaziner doing the national health care thing.  Boy did they get far, real far, about as far away from the issue as they possibly get could once they realized how futile their "little" nationalized plan was going to go.  When it comes to health care in the US, the scale of greed and intractability speaks volumes for the practicality of the status quo. Fast forward to March, 2010, when President Obama signs into law the National Health Care Act, a monumental piece of legislation designed to do all sorts of things, from eliminating pre-existing conditions, to opening health care insurance to all, to cutting back on Medicare reimbursements.  Everyone, other than President Obama and his crafty advisors, are up in arms over this prescribed government/social change. Why are people so upset?  Hard to say; aside from the epic Lilliputian battles that rested on which side of an egg one should break when making eggs, I can't...

Tonight, on a cold, snowy, January night, David Fitzsimons of tPF will be attending a heated Obamacare debate at the NYU campus in New York City.  This is one in a series of "Intelligence Squared" US debates sponsored by the Rosenkranz Foundation. As a backdrop, back in March, President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act, the biggest overhaul of our health care system in decades.  According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 40% of the public would like Congress to expand or leave untouched the new health reform law, while 49% are in favor of repealing all or parts of it.  Can the new law reduce the deficit and expand coverage to millions of uninsured Americans, or, as its critics warn, will it actually increase the deficit and fail to control costs that are spiraling out of control? tPF will be reporting on this healthcare slugfest in this blog quite soon.  Stay tuned for information on the debate and how we voted.