Hospital ‘Embracing’ Health Care Reform
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA Vincennes hospital says it is being proactive and maintaining a “positive outlook” on health care reform. Good Samaritan Hospital Chief Financial Officer Jerry Stump says the organization is implementing a health care model based on the Affordable Care Act's policy of Medicare reimbursement based on “the value of care, not the volume of care.” He says the hospital's preparations will allow it to transition into the new payment policies more smoothly.
July 24, 2013
News Release
Vincennes, Ind. — Despite continued controversy and apprehension by many in regards to health care reform law, Good Samaritan Hospital is embracing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by utilizing multiple models and different measures to deliver care, in addition to keeping the public abreast of reform implications. A presentation by Jean Casolaro from Gregory and Appel on the future of employer-sponsored insurance under the ACA given at the hospital's board of governors' meeting last night was another effort from the hospital’s leadership to be proactive and educate the board and the public on health reform.
“We are committed as a hospital to be an engaged partner in health care reform by getting care to more people in the setting that is most appropriate for the patient and their family,” explained Rob McLin, President and CEO. Establishing an Integrated Delivery Network, a Medical Home, a Palliative Care program and continued Quality Improvement efforts were mentioned by hospital leadership as some of the proactive measures that have been undertaken to improve the delivery of care.
In anticipation of the health care reform and to act as a catalyst for change, the hospital has created a framework to transform and evolve Good Samaritan Hospital’s delivery of care model. This framework identifies essential elements that hospital leadership is building upon to make care more safe, timely, effective, efficient and patient centered.
“The current national health care system rewards volume over quality, and often times care is delivered in silos and not integrated across all settings. At Good Samaritan, we have been working very hard for a number of years to improve care coordination at all levels, while using best practices to improve quality of care while reducing costs,” added McLin.
Health Reform has moved toward value based payments versus volume payments. This delivery reform means making sure the right patient gets the right treatment at the right time in the most efficient way possible. “Medicare will reward the value of care, not the volume of care,” explained Jerry Stump, Chief Financial Officer. “The fact that Good Samaritan has historically had a high percentage of Medicare patients, over 50%, and the fact that we have been preparing for value based payments while still operating efficiently will enable our hospital to transition into the new payment models with less difficulty.”
In continued reinforcement that the hospital is thriving in spite of health reform, hospital leadership updated the board about the $109 million dollar hospital BEACON project, the upcoming opening of a new Sleep Disorders Center, the recent expansion of the Rehabilitation Unit and the addition of a Center for Wound Healing. Physician Recruitment also reflected continued success with the addition of 16 new physicians in the past 12 months and six more doctors to arrive in the coming months. “I am very optimistic about how Good Samaritan will perform throughout the impending changes in health care reform,” stated McLin. “We have become a leaner, more innovative health care organization and we continuously are learning and striving to become better every day.”
ABOUT GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL
Good Samaritan Hospital, Knox County’s largest employer, is licensed for 232 in-house patients. Annually, Good Samaritan Hospital has more than 333,700 outpatient visits and an additional 33,800 plus visits to its emergency room. The hospital offers a wide scope of medical services.
From thoracic surgery to the birth of a baby, this growing health care provider balances quality patient care with preventive education to fulfill its mission. Consistently ranked in the top 10 percent in the nation in patient satisfaction, Good Samaritan Hospital provides a superb level of care while maintaining fiscal integrity and expanding facilities to meet the needs of the community. For more information, visit www.gshvin.org.
Mission: Provide excellent health care and promote healing through trusting relationships.
Vision: To be recognized as the regional center of excellence for health care.