Obama Health Care

As healthcare costs increase at a faster rate than other products or services, healthcare providers, in particular hospitals, are under continuous pressure to dramatically improve service, reduce costs, improve patient safety, reduce waiting times, and reduce errors and associated litigation.

However, hospitals are not making the necessary improvements in cost, quality, and safety. A report by the U.S. HHS Office of the Inspector General finds that 20% of consecutive inpatient stay sequences were associated with poor quality care, unnecessary fragmentation of care, or both. The current organization and management of hospitals is an imperfect system that cannot effectively address these issues. Major projects to restructure hospitals, dramatically reduce cost, and improve customer care have had little impact on quality or cost.

In simplistic terms, current healthcare systems are not designed to make the process or ‘value stream’ of care flow smoothly. Healthcare services are often ‘batch and queue’, with patients spending most of their time waiting until the Healthcare Professional is ready i.e. push versus pull. As the population matures, patient cycle times in the hospitals, post-care facilities, and laboratories become key measurements that need to improve.

Our belief is that Lean Healthcare can provide a solution to successfully address some of these concerns with minimal cost but maximum benefit.

Lean in Healthcare

The essence of Lean Thinking is to eliminate waste through understanding how the patient defines value and how to deliver that value. Lean Thinking focuses on creating an efficient, waste-free continuous flow built on a pull vs. ‘batch and queue’ approach aligned with the continual pursuit of a perfect system.

Examples of Healthcare Waste:

o Redundant capture of information on admission

o Multiple recording of patient information

o Excess supplies stored in multiple locations

o Excess time spent looking for charts

o Patient waiting rooms

o Excess time spent waiting for equipment, lab results, x-rays etc.

o Excess time spent dealing with service complaints

Hospitals are made up of a series of processes with diverse lines of business. As a consequence, they need to build their delivery systems with these lines of business in mind. Hospitals need to know the businesses that drive 80% of their value proposition. They need to streamline their organization systems and processes to fully support the process required to deliver high quality care.

Commitment and support for any lean initiative needs to not only come from top healthcare management but, even more critically, from the ‘bottom up’ for implementation. Decision making and system development need to be pushed down to the lowest levels of any healthcare organization.

Management consultants are normally engaged as Lean change agents rather than as Lean facilitators. Healthcare staff should lead any Lean implementation program. These people are best equipped to understand the work environment, issues, challenges, what will work and what won’t. An empowered and knowledgeable team is therefore essential to achieve sustainable improvements and long-term success in any Lean initiative. Put simply, Lean will not work without an educated workforce.

Examples of Lean Healthcare Performance Metrics

o Improved patient satisfaction

o Increased operating room utilization

o Reduced time between procedures

o Lower tools and supplies inventory

o Reduced laboratory space

o Improved cost effectiveness

Lean Healthcare Accreditation

A new Lean Healthcare Green Belt Certification program (www.leanhealthcareservices.com) was recently developed to enable effective staff empowerment.

The on-line program represents the first International Healthcare Certification of its kind, and provides an essential ‘first step’ to not only understanding the theory but also the application of Lean tools and practices through detailed work assignments, in-line assessments, and final examination.

The program has been designed in association with the Irish Institute of Industrial Engineers, the Canadian Professional Logistics Institute, Lean Experts, and Healthcare Consultants in conjunction with the Leading Edge Group. It is open to personnel involved in any organization within the healthcare field, particularly those associated with hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, blood banks, laboratories, and pharmacies. Once these people have the ‘appropriate’ knowledge, they will be able to envisage and achieve results and, most importantly, meet the needs of patients now and in the future.

Please contact Joe Aherne CPA, Chief Executive Officer, Leading Edge Group, jaherne@leadingedge.ie; www.leanscm.com; www.leanhealthcareservices.com

Joe Aherne
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/power-of-lean-healthcare-88764.html

Facing extreme pressure to reduce costs and improve service quality and breadth, healthcare organizations, especially those in the United States, are increasingly looking at alternative service delivery models like information technology and business process outsourcing, to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of their back-office and support operations. A just-released EquaTerra Perspective paper, “Emerging Outsourcing Trends in the Healthcare Industry,” examines market challenges the healthcare industry – primarily in the payer, e.g. insurer, segment – is facing, and the demand level for outsourced processes that will help them alleviate some of the pressures.

EquaTerra estimates that, globally, 75 IT outsourcing (ITO) and business process outsourcing (BPO) deals with total contract value of greater than $50 million were signed from 2004 through 2007. This represents a very small percentage of the total number of outsourcing deals, highlighting the relative immaturity of the healthcare outsourcing market compared to other industries such as banking, financial services and manufacturing. However, the healthcare outsourcing market is expected to grow at close to 10 percent over the next five to seven years, faster than the overall market growth of seven to eight percent.

Said Mark Voytek, EquaTerra’s Healthcare Industry Lead and co-author of this paper, “Healthcare organizations that have not recently done so should update and reassess their strategy and action plan for use of alternative service delivery models for both back-office and core operating functions and processes. If successfully executed, outsourcing can play a positive and growing role in helping them address the serious challenges they are facing today. And while they should use caution when exploring and assessing emerging BPO areas, the market is expanding and rapidly maturing, and what was premature in the past could be ready for prime time today.”

Challenges Facing Healthcare Payer Industry

Current challenges the healthcare payer segment is facing include:

* Merger, acquisition and divestiture activity has increased demands on technical and support infrastructures, further driving the need for change

* Many of the larger payers have remained with legacy hardware and proprietary or internally developed applications which no longer meets their needs

* The growing complexity of offerings, as well as government and regulatory changes, have increased delivery and support requirements

* Confidentiality and privacy issues around personal health data has caused an increase in expenses associated with the delivery of services

Healthcare Payer Demand for Outsourced Functions and Processes

Based on a poll EquaTerra conducted with outsourcing service providers in the U.S. healthcare payer space, the process areas that exhibited the greatest level of outsourcing demand included claims adjudication, and claims and enrollment data entry. There was also growing demand in emerging knowledge services, such as reporting, planning and analytics.

EquaTerra sees that buyer demand is outpacing supplier maturity, which is characteristic of an outsourcing market in more of a demand pull than a supplier push mode. This is due to the recent increase in buyer demand levels, coupled with a supplier lag in developing and expanding service offerings as a result of historically weak demand for outsourcing services in this market sector. However, as outsourcing service providers targeting the healthcare space – both legacy multi-national and India-based firms moving beyond IT into business services – are starting to develop more targeted and compelling outsourcing offerings, which should help achieve better demand and supply balance.

Fleming Parker
http://www.articlesbase.com/outsourcing-articles/can-outsourcing-inject-health-into-healthcare-industry-379194.html

According to a new report, “Saudi Arabian Healthcare Market Forecast to 2012”, the Saudi Arabian healthcare market is witnessing rapid growth and will continue to expand exponentially in future. The country’s rapidly increasing population, due to which demand is outpacing supply, can be regarded as the main push for the market. And as the incidences of a number of lifestyle diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension, in the country amongst the highest in the world, these will significantly boost the healthcare spending in future.

Government plays a central role in providing healthcare services in the kingdom, accounting for around 75% of the total healthcare spending in the country. The government accounted for 67% of the total hospitals and 77% of the total hospital beds in the country in 2006. The government expenditure on healthcare, however, is increasing faster than its total income; as a result, government may resort to cost cutting measures in future.

The report says that due to increasing pressure on the public healthcare system, the government is rapidly promoting the involvement of private healthcare in the country. So big investment will be seen from the private sector in the forecasted period, and according to our estimates, the private sector will account for 62% for all new beds installed during 2006-2012.

However, slump in crude oil prices due to economic recession can hit the nation’s economy. But the fast diversification of the country’s economy into other sectors will provide it a buffer against the severe impact of economic turmoil. Despite some challenges such as shortage of skilled workers, dependency on oil and bureaucratic issues, the market’s future will remain bright with all three sectors – hospital services, pharmaceuticals and medicals devices – expected to show sustained growth.

“Saudi Arabian Healthcare Market Forecast to 2012” gives an extensive and objective analysis on the Saudi Arabian healthcare market. It has segmented the healthcare industry into hospital services, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. It provides analytical and statistical information on these segments, including their market size, demand, supply, segmentation and key players. It also features an analysis on the future directions, supplemented with facts and figures. Thus, the report serves as a useful guide for healthcare companies, government officials, consultants and investors who are planning to enter the Saudi Arab healthcare market.

Our report provides forecast on

- Macroeconomic indicators
- Demographic and healthcare indicators
- Healthcare spending
- Demand for hospital beds
- Pharmaceutical market
- Medical devices market

Key questions answered in the report

- Which factors are driving the Saudi Arabia healthcare market?
- What is the past and present size of the healthcare market?
- What is the role of public and private sectors in providing healthcare?
- What is the total supply and demand for hospital services in Saudi Arab?
- What will be the demand, investment and infrastructure scenario in the hospital services market?
- What is the total size and future outlook of the pharmaceutical market?
- Who are the key players operating in the pharmaceutical market?
- What is the total size and future outlook of the medical devices market?
- What are the key challenges faced by the Saudi Arabia healthcare market?

For More detail Please Visit :- http://www.marketsmonitor.com/Report/IM173.htm

Marketsmonitor
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/marketsmonitor-releases-report-on-saudi-arabian-healthcare-market-forecast-to-2012-717775.html

Alternative Medicine is redefining the boundaries of individual health and well being and is beginning to change the definition of what it means to be healthy in today’s fast-paced, stress-filled environment and offers a whole new realm of options for today’s consumer to choose from in the process of determining their healthcare needs.

You may be surprised to discover that Alternative Medicine may be covered in your healthcare policy, which offers a broader scope of coverage than managed care alone, and may well reduce your overall cost of healthcare in general and even improve the future quality of life that you and your family will enjoy in the years to come.

The realization that the definition of health should be, and can be, far better than simply, free from injury or disease, represents a gradual shift in the way of thinking for both the consumer as well as the healthcare provider. It is this realization that is allowing Alternative Medicine to not only enter mainstream modern medicine, but also to partner with Conventional Medicine in a new and profound way as one of many successful avenues of treatment available to today’s consumer of health.

Fifteen to Twenty years ago, there were few recognized, alternatives to conventional medicine, at least not in the West. This is not to say that alternatives did not exist, quite the contrary, they were simply not considered a serious option in improving ones health. This is no longer the case.
Dissatisfaction with the managed care system of the past decade, coupled with one important event and a slight shift in thinking created the perfect conditions for Alternative Medicine to flourish.

First, the cost of healthcare skyrocketed. Rising costs for diagnostic and treatment of injury and disease fueled an inevitable shift in focus, primarily from treatment to prevention, and this created the perfect niche that would soon be filled by the proactive stance that Alternative Medicine prevention provides. Simply put, when costs rise people begin asking questions and seeking alternatives.

Second, with the Information Age in full swing, access to quality information from a variety of sources translated into patients being better informed of healthcare issues and therefore more involved in their treatment options, if for no other reason than as a means to reduce their overall healthcare costs.

Alternative Medicine and Conventional Medicine approach healthcare issues in very different ways.
Conventional Medicine hinges on “the diagnosis of a patient’s condition. This means that conventional medicine enters the healthcare process after the patient has been injured or after an ailment or disease has progressed to the level where an accurate diagnosis can be made. Once made, the diagnosis dictates both the treatment, accomplished via drug therapy and/or surgery, and the cost. Conventional Medicine exits the healthcare process once the malady has been identified, cured, or removed and is normally a temporary fix.

Contrast this to Alternative Medicine, which is focused on “preventing a problem, meaning that Alternative Medicine by its very nature attempts, and prefers, to enter the healthcare process before the patient is injured or becomes ill. Prevention is the first line of defense. When this frontline is penetrated by injury or disease, Alternative Medicine makes every attempt to “assist the body in healing itself, via natural means, whenever and wherever possible.

Alternative Medicine is thus non-invasive, even passive and more long-term, meaning that it becomes part of a consumer’s healthcare regime and does not so quickly exit the health process, if at all. This will translate into lower costs for wellness over the lifespan of an individual. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and at no other time has this statement been more true, especially if the cure requires an expensive antibiotic, surgery and/or an extended, or even brief, hospital stay.

Nutrition and lifestyle changes alone can easily reduce the incidence of costly injury and disease, decrease the need for costly maintenance medications and increase the likelihood of a better quality of life.

The healthcare consumer of today is expected to be both well informed and totally involved in the decisions surrounding their personal health and well being. Not limited to local or even national healthcare options, the patient of this next century will enjoy global access to both information and treatment options.

Healthcare policies are already positioning themselves for this global marketplace and are embracing Alternative Medicine as a means of lowering their own liability and costs as well as expanding their consumer pool. Consumers should make sure their healthcare policies reflect these changing attitudes and include a much broader spectrum of healthcare options.

What is the quality of your health worth? Today’s “non-traditional healthcare programs are the cornerstone of holistic health and the mainstay of the future quality of life that you and your family will enjoy in the years to come. Make sure your policy answers this question to the greatest satisfaction for you and your family.

Petrea Dishman
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/alternative-medicine-and-its-important-role-in-your-healthcare-97654.html

There are many things to consider when caring for an elderly loved one. Now that people are living well and living longer, elder healthcare has become very important. This relatively new area of healthcare and provider services is often referred to as elder care. It encompasses a wide variety of issues which include: choosing an appropriate physician or physicians to care for an aging patient, setting up home care is possible, and making decisions about moving the patient from his or her home to a residential care setting. Persons age 65 and older are the fastest growing segment of America’s population. Many in this population are living a healthy, active, independent life; however, as more and more people reach their 80s and 90s, the number of people who need assistance with daily living is increasing, as are the responsibilities of those who are providing the care. The statistics on elder healthcare may surprise you.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging, the elder population, (those age 65 and older), numbered more than 35 million Americans in recent reports. Since people are living longer, these numbers are constantly increasing and not expected to dip any time soon.

Also reported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging, the number of elders increased 12 percent since 1990, , compared to a 13.3 percent increase of the population under 65 during the same time period. Today, persons who reach age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 17.9 years. This calculates out to 19.2 years more for women, and 16.3 more for men than what was estimated in the year 1900.

In 1900, the average life expectancy was 49.2 years, whereas today, it is 76.9. As you can see, this has dramatically increased. While this is greatly attributed to the advances in modern medicine, it is also in part because people are taking an active stance in their own lives and taking better care of themselves. Still, it is crucial to plan for the time when a great health insurance plan will mean good care and improved quality of life.

One of the biggest problems facing many seniors today is their inability to afford medication. Since many people over 65 take medication on a regular basis, most often more than one type simultaneously, it has become necessary in recent years to address this issue. Many healthcare plans won’t cover various medications, while others cover only a small part. This often means choosing the medications, or in some cases medication, the individual can afford, and which one or ones he or she can do without. This can be met with negative results, since it is presumed the person wouldn’t be taking the medication if it wasn’t necessary. There are, however, companies who have begun addressing this problem by offering prescription plans and insurance targeted for the elderly.

While there are many important aspects of elder healthcare to consider, there are steps that are being taken to help make it easier and more affordable. Legislature is addressing some of these issues and trying to come up with solutions to suit a variety of needs. Perhaps one day, seniors can look forward to retirement without having to worry about how they’ll pay for it.

Gordon Petten
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/healthcare-for-elders-issues-and-decisions-53299.html