Oula’s Post

Massachusetts Health Policy Commission’s Kate Scarborough Mills presented on health care market consolidation at #NASHPconf24 yesterday. It made me realize that it’s been over 10 years since Massachusetts passed Chapter 224 health reform legislation. Yikes! Where are we now with Chapter 224? Former ch.224 CHIA team Alex Lai, Dorothy Zirkle , Caitlin Sullivan, Nathan Bosdet, Kait O'Brien, Elizabeth Arnold - what do you think? (Miss you all! eReunion?!) Thoughts anyone else? We still can’t clearly determine how much market power drives some hospitals to be higher cost versus other factors like some hospitals providing specialty care, research, and cheerier, art-filled facilities. Surgeries and other services subsidize maternity care like commercial payments balance out lower public payments. Try asking a hospital for a list of costs for how much a stay for heart failure costs versus having a baby. And hospital charges do NOT equal hospital cost. Where do we go from here?

In a siloed healthcare system, it can be difficult to connect the dots between different sites of care, providers, specialties, and resources. That's where sophisticated care management programs come in. Our new e-book on complex care delivery explores the benefits of these programs and how they can help improve patient outcomes. Download it now to learn more. #healthcare #caremanagement #patientoutcomes

I think what is most important about this is that there are clear objectives in the effort to improve access and quality of age-friendly care. Healthcare/medicine/health information management all LOVE their abbreviations and acronyms, but there's a reason for that ;) The 4Ms provide a specific focus for this effort: - what matters - medication - mentation - mobility "The Age-Friendly System-Wide Spread Collaborative is billed as a learning and action community through which systems will focus on embedding four evidence-based elements of high-quality care for older adults: what matters, medication, mentation and mobility, known as the 4Ms."

The rising trend of younger generations seeking care at EDs rather than consulting family physicians is a multifaceted problem driven by factors such as convenience, perception of urgency, cost concerns, lack of awareness, and the influence of online information and social media. By promoting education and awareness, healthcare providers can work towards easing the burden on EDs and ensuring that patients receive appropriate and timely care. Read more in the link below! #healthcare #insights

🌟 Exciting Developments in End-of-Life Care: Hospitals Embrace Dignity Doulas 🌟 Across the country, hospitals are recognizing the invaluable role of end-of-life dignity doulas in enhancing the quality of care for patients facing terminal illness. From coast to coast, healthcare institutions are integrating this compassionate support system into their end-of-life care protocols, with remarkable impacts on patient outcomes. 🏥 Hospital are embracing the practice of incorporating dignity doulas into our end-of-life care team. These dedicated individuals provide holistic support to patients and their families, offering companionship, emotional comfort, and guidance throughout the journey of terminal illness. The presence of dignity doulas has profoundly enriched the end-of-life experience for our patients, fostering a sense of peace, dignity, and spiritual fulfillment during their final days. 📈 Positive Impact on Patient Outcomes: The utilization of end-of-life dignity doulas has yielded several positive outcomes for patients and their families, including: 1️⃣ Enhanced Emotional Support: Dignity doulas offer empathetic presence and companionship, alleviating feelings of loneliness and isolation often experienced during end-of-life care. 2️⃣ Improved Quality of Life: Patients receiving support from dignity doulas report higher levels of comfort, emotional well-being, and spiritual fulfillment, enhancing their overall quality of life. 3️⃣ Enhanced Family Satisfaction: Families appreciate the additional support provided by dignity doulas, which eases their caregiving burden and allows them to focus on meaningful interactions with their loved ones. 4️⃣ Empowered Decision-Making: Dignity doulas facilitate open and honest communication about end-of-life preferences, empowering patients and families to make informed decisions that align with their values and wishes. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the integration of end-of-life dignity doulas represents a compassionate and holistic approach to care that prioritizes the dignity, comfort, and emotional well-being of patients facing terminal illness. By fostering a supportive environment that honors individual preferences and values, hospitals across the country are redefining the standard of end-of-life care and ensuring that every patient receives the dignity and respect they deserve. #EndOfLifeCare #DignityDoulas #PatientOutcomes #CompassionateCare #HealthcareInnovation Robin Bunting

🦷 Top Tips for Healthy Teeth from Healthwatch Warrington’s Tooth & Paste! 🦷 For more detailed advice, visit Healthwatch Warrington’s Oral Health page. Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 👉 Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eW-7_2g6 #OralHealth #HealthyTeeth #DentalCare #HealthwatchWarrington #SmileBright

"As an example, we built a digital bridge across our electronic medical systems. Interoperability saves an hour of paperwork for each Sanford Health patient who’s discharged to a Good Samaritan Society long-term care center, giving our caregivers time back to spend at the bedside. The technology also reduces transcription errors, which means a safer environment for our resident." #ruralhealth #longtermcare #seniorliving #healthtechnology #interoperability https://lnkd.in/grvCXbPt

No, you're not going crazy. Primary care is facing some very BIG and very REAL problems this year. They are all laid out in the 2024 primary care scorecard. 👇 If you haven't seen it yet, we talked with Gary Price, MD, and Yalda Jabbarpour, MD, about what the report means and what the key takeaways are. The report identified five main reasons why access to #primarycare is diminishing across the country: ☑ Primary care is facing a workforce exodus, ☑ The existing workforce is struggling to meet population demands, ☑ Administrative burden, ☑ Federal underinvestment and ☑ Insufficient research funding. “What you’re seeing, what you’re feeling and the stress that you’re under, is backed up by the data and the lack of investment by the United States into primary care. And you’re feeling it in the clinic,” Jabbarpour said. “We spend about 4 cents on the dollar on primary care, but that’s the backbone of our health care system.” Get the full story, covered by our very own Emma Bascom, here. ⤵ https://bit.ly/432f59g Hansa Bhargava MD

"It was really a standard that we put in place and now use for all of our patients to make sure that we're identifying great transition points for each patient in the future, and then the whole care team is informed about that," said Dominica Tallarico,B.S., M.S.,FACHE of Allina Health. ➡ Proud to be part of Allina Health's strategy to ensure patients are getting to the sites of care and treatment they need, without the extra strain transitions can put on families. #valuebasedcare #patientcare #healthIT https://lnkd.in/eYFaJ3gR h/t Becker's Healthcare

"Exploring the Crisis of Primary Care Wait Times" Digging into the pressing issue of primary care access, a striking statistic caught my attention: an unprecedented national average wait time for patients to see primary care physicians. It's clear we're facing a crisis that threatens not only patient health but the foundational principles of our healthcare system. The takeaway for us as healthcare professionals, policymakers, and advocates is multifaceted. This isn't just about numbers; it's a reflection of a deeper systemic failure that requires innovative solutions, strategic policy changes, and a renewed focus on healthcare accessibility. How we respond to this challenge will shape the future of primary care and, by extension, the overall well-being of our communities. For a deeper dive into the dimensions of this crisis and the potential pathways to meaningful reform, I encourage you to read the full article: https://buff.ly/4aXNlWj #healthcare #crisis #policy #hospitals