Strategies for Improving Healthcare Accessibility

How do you redesign specialty care delivery when geography, workforce limitations, and infrastructure stand in the way?    In this episode, I sit down with Paul Rosen, MD, MPH, MMM, Professor of Pediatrics at West Virginia University, a former official at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the first pediatric rheumatologist to serve both West Virginia and the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, New Mexico.    Together, we explore the structural and clinical realities of rural healthcare and the unconventional strategies that may hold the key to expanding access.     Strategic Takeaways  • Redesign specialist workflows to expand reach.  Hybrid models that combine telehealth with select in-person visits can help specialists serve more patients, especially in underserved regions, without adding full-time capacity.  • Translate national initiatives into local solutions.  Insights from CMS value-based care programs, like pre-op optimization and proactive care coordination, can be adapted to meet the unique demands of rural care delivery.  • Build sustainable models that protect your workforce.  Flexible scheduling, part-time roles, and better triage processes help prevent burnout while making the most of limited specialist availability.  • Use telehealth to strengthen care (not just simplify it).  Virtual care offers more than convenience. It creates new visibility into the patient’s home life and can drive smarter follow-up, better referrals, and reduced travel burden.  • Create systems for sharing what works.  Peer learning communities and cross-institutional collaboration can accelerate innovation in rural care without waiting for national policy shifts.  What creative strategies have you seen work to improve rural healthcare access? 🎧 Listen to the podcast—https://lnkd.in/gg9Yph3T

Time for Common Sense: It's Health Systems, Not Health Silos I have addressed this issue previously, and I am sure I will again! This time, my interest was piqued by reports of African public sector hospitals ceasing services due to drug shortages or a lack of personnel. Simultaneously, there is rightly growing discussion about preparing for the next pandemic (let's not forget that Non-Communicable Diseases [NCDs] are already a pandemic!). Health system planning should no more be the focus of siloed stakeholder influenced programmatic thinking, as it can ultimately results in inefficiency, duplication, and increased costs. Collectively, we need to support health systems by placing the patient at the center and examining the constituent parts together, acknowledging their direct and indirect impact. Here are some examples: Payment Structure: Out-of-pocket payments restrict access. More financial coverage is required. Governments must determine what they can afford. Greater value from each dollar spent is essential. Access Points: Primary care, due to its proximity to the patient, is the ideal solution and can drive prevention and early detection. However, primary care should not be isolated within programs. We should focus on building comprehensive primary care, integrating digitization and embracing diagnostics. Referrals: Primary care alone is not sufficient for those with pre-existing conditions. We must decide where hospital services should be located and how patients can access them, while also addressing payment issues. Staffing: Building healthcare services requires a competent workforce. Staffing planning and training must align with delivery needs. Access to Medicines and Supplies: Ensuring providers have proper access to drugs and consumables is essential. Better demand planning and improved supply chain distribution channels should complement service organization. Local Production: To improve access to affordable medicines and consumables, we need better forecasting and access to data to inform production based on demand. This will help inform what can be made in country. Data Utilization: Historically, there has been a focus on individual programs, resulting in a data mess. We need integrated data analysis to drive synergies and efficiencies. Embracing Digital: Implementing digital health and disruptive technology correctly can catalyze change. System-wide strategy should guide its use to maximize benefits with limited funding. Equipment and Servicing: While more medical equipment is required, successful implementation depends on training and in-country servicing at a reasonable cost. Regulation Alignment: Health policy needs to be updated to support strategy and all the aspects mentioned above. As we transition into an era of pandemic preparedness and required change, let's not continue with siloed programmatic influenced thinking. Let's embrace integrated health system planning. The timing couldn't be more opportune.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, particularly for underserved populations. By leveraging AI, we can address critical gaps in healthcare delivery, improve outcomes, and ensure equitable access to quality care. AI enhances diagnosis and treatment by analyzing medical data to provide accurate and timely diagnoses, even in remote areas, assisting in early detection of diseases for better treatment outcomes. Predictive analytics enables preventive care by identifying health risks from patient data, allowing for early interventions to manage chronic diseases. AI-powered telemedicine platforms and remote monitoring tools facilitate virtual consultations and continuous care, making healthcare accessible to those in rural or underserved regions. Personalized medicine tailors treatment plans based on individual data, improving health outcomes for populations that might otherwise receive generalized care. AI also optimizes healthcare resource allocation, ensuring efficient use of limited supplies and personnel in underserved areas. Additionally, AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants provide health education, breaking down complex medical information into understandable language, empowering patients to make informed health decisions. By integrating AI into healthcare, we can bridge the gap in care delivery for underserved populations, providing them with the tools and resources needed for better health outcomes. #AI #Healthcare #UnderservedCommunities #HealthEquity #InnovationInHealthcare Sources: - [World Health Organization](https://lnkd.in/eMuVREjh) - [NIH - National Library of Medicine](https://lnkd.in/eJA2achj) - [McKinsey & Company](https://lnkd.in/evvGSRh7)

Let's Seize the Opportunity to Address Social Drivers of Health within #medicaid managed care! The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on the critical role that social determinants of health (SDOH) play in influencing health outcomes for our Medicaid populations. Even before the pandemic, states were taking steps to tackle these social factors, but the crisis has amplified the urgency of this work. This Health Affairs blog explores three key opportunities for Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to address SDOH: 1. Invest in data infrastructure to improve care coordination. Robust data collection and sharing are essential for identifying members with social needs and ensuring they receive appropriate interventions. MCOs can leverage data analytics to develop targeted outreach programs and track progress towards population health goals. 2. Incentivize collaboration between MCOs and community-based organizations (CBOs). CBOs are uniquely positioned to address a wide range of social needs, from food insecurity and housing instability to transportation and behavioral health. By partnering with CBOs, MCOs can connect members with vital support services and bridge gaps in care. 3. Embrace flexibility in SDOH service delivery. Medicaid programs should explore innovative approaches to delivering SDOH services, such as telehealth, mobile health units, and peer support programs. These strategies can help to overcome traditional barriers to care access, such as transportation challenges and limited childcare options. By prioritizing these opportunities, Medicaid managed care can play a pivotal role in promoting health equity and improving the well-being of our most vulnerable populations. #medicaidmanagedcare #socialdeterminantsofhealth #populationhealth #healthquity https://lnkd.in/gKeiUTjR