CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=23","20130614220833","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1371247713"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title> Exciting Times Are Ahead for Health Care | THA.com </title><link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20130614220833cs_/http://www.tha.com/css/main.css"/> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20130614220833js_/http://www.tha.com/js/jquery.min.js"></script> </head> <body> <form name="aspnetForm" method="post" action="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=23" id="aspnetForm"> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="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"/> <div id="site-container"> <div id="header"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/"><img src="/web/20130614220833im_/http://www.tha.com/images/tha-logo.gif" alt="THA logo"/></a> <div id="tp-menu"> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/">THA Home</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/Default.aspx?pid=1">About THA</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/Default.aspx?pid=25">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/members/">Members Only</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/board/">Board Only</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="nav"> <span id="ctl00_spnNav"><ul><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/Default.aspx?pid=4">Advocacy</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/Default.aspx?pid=5">Quality/Safety</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/Default.aspx?pid=6">Communications</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/Default.aspx?pid=9">Information Services</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/Default.aspx?pid=7">Education</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/Default.aspx?pid=20">Rural Health</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/Default.aspx?pid=12">Solutions Group</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/Default.aspx?pid=3">Other Services</a></li></ul></span> </div> <div id="content-top"></div> <div id="content-container"> <div id="content-left"> <div id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder2_fillNav"><h3>Recent Blog Posts</h3><ul><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=26">The Image of Hospitals</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=25">To Expand or Not to Expand, That is the Question</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=24">Physician Changes Critical to Hospitals’ Future</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=23">Exciting Times Are Ahead for Health Care</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=22">Hospitals in Bull’s Eye of Congressional Cost-Cutters</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=21">Accuracy Important for Reporting, Patient Safety</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=20">Mulling Over the Supreme Court Decision</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=19">Fast and Furious</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=17">So What’s Next</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=18">Health Care Already Moving in a New Direction</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=16">Christmas Comes Early</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=15">Less for Less</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=14">Working Together Is the Right Thing To Do</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=13">World Upside Down</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/Default.aspx?pid=12">Déjà vu’ on Balancing Federal Budget on Hospitals</a></li></ul></div> </div> <div id="content-right"> <h1 id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_header">Exciting Times Are Ahead for Health Care</h1> <div id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_body" class="blogpost"><p class="postmeta"><em>Posted on December 3, 2012 by Craig Becker</em></p><br/><p> <em>“You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.”</em><br/> <em><strong>Friedrich Nietzsche</strong></em></p> <p> This time is both dangerous and exciting. We stand on the edge of a changed healthcare system; one I believe will be stronger and more patient friendly. It is more and more evident our country no longer can afford the current brand of hospitalization, but at the same time, can’t afford to lose it, either. What a conundrum!</p> <p> In talking with Tennessee’s congressional delegation, it is pretty clear hospitals are going to be facing significant cuts to their reimbursement. In some of THA’s modeling, hospitals will have 25 percent less dollars by 2019 than they are getting right now. Obviously, something must be done.</p> <p> In looking to a future healthcare system, Tennessee has a rare, once in a lifetime opportunity to help redesign the delivery of care. State government is willing, our payers are willing and I believe THA members are willing. But what will it look like?</p> <p> Joe Landsman, THA’s new chairman and president at the University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC), has such a vision. It calls for hospitals and doctors to stop focusing on the haphazard way they provide care. Through care paths, physicians and nurses can determine and carry out the best course of treatment for their patients by using protocols established by physicians. In this way, the variation is taken out of providing care. It can be standardized, making it safer and more cost-effective, all the while allowing the physician to still make his or her independent decisions.</p> <p> UTMC is focusing on the top 80 percent of its DRG volume. It is in the first year of implementation and already has seen impressive results. Tennessee, through the Tennessee Center of Patient Safety, has seen dramatic reductions in central line infection by using protocols and bundles. Early elective deliveries have pretty much ended through education, data, physician awareness and compliance.</p> <p> Tennessee hospitals are heading into a time of tremendous chaos and change. We must look for many more innovative ways to provide health care in more safe and efficient manner. </p><br/><p><a class="headlink" href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/blog/">«« Back to the THA Blog</a></p></div> <br/> <br/> </div> </div> <div id="footer-2"> <p>© 2010 - Tennessee Hospital Association • 5201 Virginia Way • Brentwood, TN 37027 • Phone: 615-256-8240 • Fax: 615-242-4803 • <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130614220833/mailto:webmaster@tha.com">webmaster@tha.com</a></p> <p><a href="/web/20130614220833/http://www.tha.com/Default.aspx?pid=50">Directions to THA</a></p>  <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20130614220833/https://ssl." : "https://web.archive.org/web/20130614220833/http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-1732062-4"); pageTracker._initData(); pageTracker._trackPageview(); </script> </div> </div> </form> </body> </html>