About this time each year, healthcare leaders, boards, and advisers pause to reflect upon the year behind and what lies ahead.
In that sense, this year is no different; yet the year in retrospect could not be more different than what most had envisioned. Certainly, most of the key trends and themes cast by industry observers in terms of a 2020 outlook were on point, though the impact or pace of change attributable to many of them was eclipsed by the pandemic.
Few would take issue with the point of view that 2020 was a year that failed to meet expectations, though the pandemic itself and the health, social, economic, and political unrest in its wake have changed the global perception about public health and healthcare. In the US, the pandemic and its disruptive effects have left a lasting impact on the healthcare sector that has set in motion shifts that will perhaps forever change the healthcare delivery and funding model. There will be no shortage of lessons learned and implications for the future; our observations of some of the most important include the following:
1. Mission and People First
The resilience of the provider community and the heroism of our frontline caregivers and support teams illustrate the fundamental truth that health, and healthcare, is about people. Throughout the pandemic crisis, healthcare organizations never lost sight of their purpose—which we sum up collectively across the provider sector as the essential mission to care for those in need and improve the health of their communities. The values of these organizations shone through, and much of the public now see the industry in a more favorable light. We still have dark spots to address, and improvement opportunities abound in areas such as inefficiency, waste, health outcomes, and health status. 2020 has created momentum to address all of these areas.
The ability of a healthcare organization to fulfill its mission is only as good as the people that support it. Now, well into a second surge, we see fatigue on the faces of frontline workers but also a spirt that continues to fight. The reality is that provider workforces have been stressed beyond reasonable limits. Many have left, and others will follow. Organizations must invest in the means to ensure their physicians, nurses, and other frontline caregivers and support personnel are recognized; create a supportive environment that mitigates burnout and brings opportunities for renewal; and encourage future generations to train for careers in the health professions.
The demographics don’t lie. We have an aging workforce and the most ethnically and educationally diverse population in our history, with younger generations showing the least trust in institutions such as healthcare. 2020 has shown we have an industry mandate to reimagine our workforce for tomorrow while not losing any of the best qualities of those who deliver our care today.
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