Scott Becker, JD, CPA, partner at McGuireWoods, moderated the session, which included information about group purchasing organizations and electronic data tracking.
Here are three lessons for hospital leaders from Mr. Gallup and Mr. Hall.
1. Quality beats out costs. Reimbursements are changing, and so is the penny-pinching mentality, Mr. Hall said. As reimbursements become more tied to outcomes, cost-efficiency should not be achieved at the sake of quality. “Hospitals should be looking at what’s the best quality outcomes I can get at the best cost,” he said. “It’s not about saving nickels anymore.”
2. Leaders willing to learn will thrive. The best clinical and operational leaders are the ones who are willing to learn from mistakes and keep going, Mr. Gallup said. Sometimes feelings will get hurt or physicians will be unhappy during changes, but the best leaders will work through and drive to success.
3. Physician engagement is key. The best leaders Mr. Hall has worked with are those who focus on all around engagement, rather than getting too caught up in clinical issues. Health systems work best when they have engaged clinical staff and physicians who can be champions for operational issues as well.
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