by Michael W. Cropp, M.D., President & Chief Executive Officer, Independent Health
A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows the U.S. spends more money on healthcare per person than any other country, yet the nation lags in key health indicators, namely life expectancy. Continued skyrocketing healthcare costs, driven largely by specialty drugs, unequal access to care and inefficiencies across the board, point to the need for drastic changes in the way we approach healthcare.
The situation calls for creating a reimagined healthcare system that serves everyone equitably by building trust and meeting patients where they are, and includes a healthcare workforce that is culturally aligned with the patient. We also need to increase capacity and access to primary care. The Massachusetts Medical Society recently issued a warning that primary care in that state is in crisis, which is also true here in Western New York and across the country, requiring actions aimed at recruiting and retaining primary care physicians.
Research shows patient-centered care – which includes personalized discussions about family and social history, nutrition, exercise, and emotional and interpersonal counseling – leads to better health, better care and lower costs. This critical work requires collaboration and consistent investment in meaningful programs that successfully deliver results. At Independent Health, this work is among our company’s highest priorities.
Our Care For You program addresses chronic conditions — which make up 75 percent of medical costs — by dispatching nurses and other health professionals to treat patients in the comfort of their own homes. Care For You has reduced hospitalizations for members in the program by 30 percent, emergency room utilization by 20 percent, and reduced readmissions by 50 percent. It has served more than 4,000 members and has become a leading industry example of how to alleviate stress on hospitals, reduce hospital admissions, improve care and reduce medical expenses.
Our aspirations also demand action on the social determinants of health. The Buffalo News recently wrote about our program that sends a nurse practitioner into the homes of people, often in disadvantaged neighborhoods, who haven’t seen a doctor in a long time. While addressing patients’ immediate health issues, the nurse practitioner also considers factors such as economic well-being, education and access to healthy living conditions. This approach improves health and reduces financial burdens by keeping preventable diseases from escalating.
We must collaborate to place patients at the heart of our healthcare system and meet them where they are. By placing patients at the center and addressing social determinants, we can begin to usher in a new era of healthcare that achieves sustainable solutions that improve access to quality care, which will lower costs.
Photo by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography on Unsplash
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