Perspective
Perspective is a weekly blog from Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the 黑料正能量 Association, that explores the most important issues facing hospitals and health systems.
The health care community鈥檚 efforts alone are not enough to stem the tide of the opioid epidemic. We need more help from the federal government.
It鈥檚 no secret that health care is changing 鈥 rapidly. And how hospitals and health systems respond to the challenges of today will determine how well they can seize the opportunities of tomorrow. Helping the field navigate this transformation is a key AHA priority.
Every site of care is not the same 鈥 they don鈥檛 all offer the same level of care or have the ability to treat the same types of patients.
We need our government partners to step up and help reduce costs 鈥 especially the costs related to the heavy administrative burden faced by health care providers, costs unrelated to delivering patient care.
It鈥檚 been well established that the health care system is moving from a fee-for-service world to one where payers reward value over volume. This requires care coordination and providers across the health care continuum working together to achieve the best outcomes for patients.
Bending the cost curve to make care more affordable is a complex challenge. But it is a challenge that hospitals and health systems are tackling head on.
Health care is full of unsung heroes. Millions of women and men of America鈥檚 hospitals and health systems are working every day to improve the health and lives of their neighbors and communities
We all want to feel included 鈥 that we are part of a community that supports and nurtures us.
However, many, if not all, of us have had experiences where we haven鈥檛 felt part of the broader group. Why? Because we were seen as 鈥渄ifferent鈥 or 鈥渙ther.鈥
But here鈥檚 the truth: What makes us鈥
We were pleased to see the House of Representatives this week move forward dozens of bills designed to address aspects of the opioid epidemic that costs more than 100 American lives each day and continues to ravage communities across the nation.
For the women and men of America鈥檚 hospitals and health systems, nothing is more important than the safety of the patients for whom they are privileged to care.