- Georgia: The World Economic Forum has selected Atlanta as the location for a large study of heart failure intended to help control costs and improve outcomes. The three-year project involves 20 payer, provider, supplier, and government associations in Georgia, such as Kaiser Permanente of Georgia and Emory Healthcare. While the project is not a clinical trial, it does aim to develop a treatment model for heart failure "that can [be] replicated globally," said Yvonne Yancy, commissioner for Atlanta's Department of Human Resources (Hensley, Atlanta Business Chronicle, 4/27).
- New Jersey: Hospitals across the state practiced for a nuclear attack last week as part of a Federal Emergency Management Agency exercise called "Gotham Shield." St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Bergen Regional Medical Center (BRMC), Trinitas Regional Medical, Hackensack University Medical Center, and other hospitals participated in the drills, which simulated a flood of ED patients, decontamination protocols, coordination with emergency responders, and other activities (Jerde, New Jersey Advanced Media, 4/26).
- Pennsylvania: A new state Department of Health rule will require school students to be fully vaccinated within five days of the start of the school year. Students who don't have all of their vaccinations in time must obtain a written medical plan from a doctor that outlines when the vaccinations will occur. The new rule—which will take effect in August—is meant to ensure accurate reporting to CDC and fight outbreaks of infectious diseases (AP/Sacramento Bee, 4/26).
12 things CEOs need to know in 2017
The continued growth of the consumer-driven health care market threatens the durability of patient-provider relationships—and, at the same time, the push toward population health management and risk-based payment is greater than ever.
Hospitals and health systems must adopt a two-pronged strategy to respond to these pressures and serve both public payers and the private sector.
At the core of that strategy? A formula of accessible, reliable, and affordable care that wins consumer preferences and drives loyalty over time. Below, we share 12 key insights for senior executives working to create a consumer-focused health system.