Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/100670
W HAT IS THE future of health care in Northeast Ohio? Over the past several weeks, we posed this question to hospital leaders in the greater Cleveland/Akron/Canton area. All agree, there are no simple answers. In fact, most feel the current uncertainties of the economy and regulations are generating more questions than answers. One thing they know for sure: today���s healthcare model is unsustainable. And everyone ��� hospitals, healthcare providers and even patients ��� must find ways to do more with less. The question is, how? Read on. From akron Children���s Hospital, William H. Considine, President ��� We see opportunities in the move from traditional disease-focused medicine to a more collaborative system with primary, specialized and critical care providers not only closely monitoring those with chronic illness but increasingly focused on promoting wellness and preventing hospitalization. Health care will continue to do more with less by establishing evidence-based, best-practice protocols, leveraging efficiency tools to make optimal use of resources and implementing new technologies such as data management and telemedicine to promote collaboration and expand access to care. a change from volume-based to value-based reimbursement; a continued shift from inpatient to outpatient care; physician and caregiver shortages; and increased financial pressure. Within our vertically integrated system of Aultman Hospital, AultCare and Aultman College, we see opportunities to integrate healthcare delivery where patient care is coordinated throughout the continuum of services; processes are improved to reduce costs and enhance outcomes; and information technology is used to improve communication. From Cleveland Clinic, David L. Longworth, MD, Chairman, Medicine Institute ��� In the future, health care will increasingly focus on proactive management of populations Clockwise from the top are hospital leaders Thomas A. Selden, Dr. Eric Bieber and Thomas Strauss. From akron General Health System, thomas L. ���tim��� Stover, MD, MBa, President/Ceo ��� The future of health care is not in the sick care, hospital-centric model. This model is the costliest, and reimbursement for these services will decrease every year. Payers, providers and patients must embrace prevention and wellness. Not using high-cost resources is the only real way to decrease the healthcare spend. Because the future is so unclear, the morale of physicians is the lowest I���ve seen in 30+ years. If change must occur, physicians should be driving it and we are not. The result is a disgruntled profession ��� that���s no prescription for a cure. From aultman Health Foundation, edward J. roth III, President/Ceo ��� We believe the next few years will include JANUARY- FEBRUARY 2013 ��� MDNEWS.COM ��� MD News Cleveland/Akron/Canton |9