Healthcare is on a tightrope. A brutal combination of pandemic burnout and an aging workforce has triggered a staffing shortage. The American Nurses Association estimates 275,000 additional nurses are needed by 2030. At the same time, patient expectations are rising. People want a seamless healthcare experience delivered at a reasonable price, regardless of location or background.
How can healthcare systems deliver high-quality care while controlling costs and ensuring everyone has access? Becker's Healthcare’s 14th Annual Meeting in Chicago earlier this month tackled this question head-on. This event took on the most pressing issues keeping healthcare leaders up at night, and leading healthcare minds came together to offer a roadmap for navigating the industry's current storm.
Here are the key themes that emerged from the conference on how healthcare systems can navigate today’s challenges:
During the pandemic, many healthcare workers chose early retirement or left the field entirely. Hospitals are now feeling the pinch, struggling to fill the growing number of open positions. But amidst the challenge, there is an opportunity for innovation. Attendees discussed exciting ideas like fast-track training programs and partnerships with schools to cultivate a future generation of caregivers.
Technology is also a big part of the solution. Artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to automate administrative tasks like scheduling and data entry could free up valuable time for doctors to focus on what matters most: interacting with patients. The conference showcased creative staffing models that leverage AI as a powerful tool for human workers, making healthcare delivery smoother and more efficient.
The conference also highlighted a crucial shift in healthcare delivery: extending care beyond the hospital walls. A growing trend is the move towards ambulatory care and virtual care, often combined. This presents a challenge for healthcare organizations: They need to find ways to deliver high-quality, financially sustainable care in outpatient settings.
Remote patient monitoring becomes key in this transition. It allows for earlier discharges, improved health tracking outside the hospital, personalized care pathways, and better access to care, ultimately reducing the risk of patient drop-off. With the rising demand for convenience and control in healthcare experiences, providers need to adapt to meet patients where they are, both physically and in terms of their expectations.
Related to both of the above, population health often came up at the conference. This approach looks beyond individual patients to improve the health of entire communities. It fits hand-in-glove with value-based care, which aims to provide high-quality care cost-effectively.
Technology and AI are becoming game-changers for population health management. These tools give us the power to analyze large amounts of data, pinpointing those who might be at higher risk for certain health problems and allowing for earlier intervention and targeted prevention, leading to better health outcomes overall. Analyzing data also helps us understand how well our programs are working and whether we are using our resources wisely. The conference emphasized the potential of AI and technology to reshape healthcare with this data-driven approach.
In a nutshell, population health management and value-based care represent a changing tide in healthcare delivery. The emphasis is shifting towards keeping people healthy in the first place, rather than only treating them once they become ill.
The conference painted a picture of a healthcare system in flux, but also brimming with innovation. For us at Veta Health, the takeaways are clear: technology that combines remote patient care, AI, and automation is key. The future of healthcare lies in reimagining care delivery, and we are committed to building a more equitable, efficient, and ultimately healthier system for all.