On May 25th, Kevin will give a presentation on “Using Variation Analysis to Lower Costs and Improve Clinical Outcomes –” at Becker’s Hospital Review 11th Annual Meeting. As part of an ongoing series, Becker’s is talking to healthcare leaders who plan to speak at the conference, which will take place on May 24-26, 2021 in Chicago.
To learn more about the conference and Kevin’s session, click here.
Question: How can hospitals reconcile the need to maintain inpatient volumes with the mission to keep people healthier and out of the hospital?
Kevin Fleming: I think that hospitals or health systems, through a focus on truly connecting with the communities that they serve, will be able to navigate the changing priorities and conflicting incentives of a healthcare environment that is constantly changing. By focusing strategies (inpatient, outpatient, or otherwise) on the unique needs of the patients in their service area as opposed to chasing broad national trends, hospitals and health systems will be able to serve as a true health partner for the individuals that they care for.
Q: What’s one lesson you learned early in your career that has helped you lead in healthcare?
KF: I’ve had the opportunity to serve as a leader in a variety of care settings, and it’s been important in each one of them to always keep my eyes on the Mission. Mission is such a connective force, in any organization, to bring teams together regardless of background, role, or geography. I’ve found much more can be accomplished for patients and communities when your teams are focused on serving together towards a common goal.
Q: Healthcare has had calls for disruption, innovation and transformation for years now. Do you feel we are seeing that change? Why or why not?
KF: I do think we are living in a time of truly transformational change in healthcare. Traditional approaches and solutions just aren’t enough anymore…creative partnerships, unexpected solutions, and game-changing competitors have revolutionized everything about delivering health and health care. It’s challenging but equally exciting to be a part of a health system like Providence that is leaning into these changes to meet the needs of our patients and communities.
Where do you go for inspiration and fresh ideas? Beckers, of course! In all seriousness, the conference speakers are the best in the industry and the sessions are relevant to leaders in hospitals both large and small. And I don’t have to look any further than my inbox daily for the most recent healthcare news and best practices.
What do you see as the most exciting opportunity in healthcare right now? The most exciting opportunity in healthcare today is the move to value-driven care with the patient at the center focusing on wellness and prevention instead of treating signs and symptoms with volume-driven sick visits and hospitalizations. Accountable care, the merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS) and value-based payment programs are driving providers from volume to value-based care with incentives to reward both the physician and the patient!
Healthcare has had calls for disruption, innovation and transformation for years now. Do you feel we are seeing that change? Why or why not? Yes, hospitals that are driving change and transformation are receiving high marks in quality and patient-satisfaction. They are investing in technology to coordinate care and making access easier for their patients. At the same time, they are educating and preparing their workforce to be responsive to innovative change. The age of volume-driven fee-for-service medicine is gradually giving way to value-based care. Hospitals must transform to become organizations that reward value instead of volume and develop delivery methods that use evidence-based practices, procedures and technologies to attain optimal outcomes and achieve greater efficiencies. Many primary care providers have heard the call for value and are joining ACO’s and working to meet this demand. Sadly hospitals that haven’t transformed to ensure the highest quality patient-centered care and the most competitive prices are being bypassed by the primary care physicians, the patients and the payers. “
At Becker's 4th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, taking place November 2–5 in Chicago, more than 1,500 hospital and health system executives tackle decisions that determine whether organizations thrive or merely survive: protecting margins under cost pressure, choosing where to grow, renegotiating payer relationships, stabilizing the workforce and proving real ROI on technology. This is where leaders work through them together, face-to-face. Apply for complimentary registration now.
