Daniel Eichenberger, MD, MBA serves as Chief Medical Officer, Chief Medical Information Officer and President for Baptist Health Floyd.
On April 11th, Dr. Eichenberger will speak on a panel at Becker's Hospital Review 9th 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 April 11-14, 2018 in Chicago.
To learn more about the conference and Dr. Eichenberger's session, click here.
Question: Who or what are the disruptors that have your attention? Why?
Daniel Eichenberger, MD: The major disruptors for hospitals are the ever-increasing regulations and the constantly changing metrics placed on hospitals and physicians by CMS and the other 3rd party payers. It contributes to the increasing cost of providing care and many times distracts front-line personnel from being able to provide efficient care. There appears to be no consistency from these outside entities and as soon as you seem to meet the requirement, they change the target.
Q: All healthcare is local. What about your market influences your organization's business or operations most?
DE: We live on the border of Kentucky and Indiana and recently merged with [Louisville, Ken.-based] Baptist Health. We still have at least four other major competing hospitals and/or systems within 15 miles. This creates a tremendous challenge on the local workforce (nurses and others), and at times a wage war that is difficult to manage. The lack of reciprocity for professional licensing contributes to the challenges. Kentucky is a CON [certificate of need] state whereas Indiana is not, and this influences decisions on services and location. Overall, the tremendous competition in the market affects business and operations the most.
Q: When was the last time your organization responded to concerns or needs expressed by physicians? What unfolded?
DE: As both the hospital president and a practicing physician, I have physician concerns brought to me and expressed to me on a daily basis. We appreciate our physicians and the services they provide and strive very hard to maintain excellent relationships with them. We encourage everyone to focus on a patient-centric and physician-centric environment, meaning we'll do whatever we can within the regulatory framework to meet or exceed the needs of patients, families and physicians and make their experience as good as it can possibly be. Our culture with our physicians has improved by our responsiveness and attentiveness to their needs and they trust the administration which is not necessarily the same in all hospitals. Our physicians know decisions we make not only affects them, but also me as a practicing physician. Our philosophy relates to the four A's; approachability, adaptability, accountability and affordability.