As we begin to emerge from the country’s initial response to COVID-19, from every sector comes the question, “What is the new normal”? For healthcare organizations who are at the frontline of this pandemic, it is a pivotal moment to re-examine strategies that will need to adapt for “The New Normal.”
Despite the pause in normalcy, we believe the industry remains on a path to healthcare transformation, which—once we are out of immediate crisis mode—will be accelerated by COVID-19. So how does a transformed Healthytown respond to a pandemic?
First, to be clear: HealthytownTM is not a panacea and cannot solve all pandemic-related problems. Healthytown cannot mass produce testing supplies; Healthytown cannot address a shortage of PPE; Healthytown cannot keep the sickest that have succumbed to a dreadful virus out of its ICUs; and, Healthytown cannot miraculously develop a vaccine overnight. But we would suggest that hospitals and health systems in Healthytown—having experienced healthcare transformation—are positioned much more strategically to withstand the challenges of a pandemic than are most providers in today’s environment. We offer five lessons learned from Healthytown to challenge your organization as we move forward into The New Normal.
The New Normal Challenge: Proactively push to fixed revenue payment models that enable delivery of the right care, in the right place, by the right provider, at the right time and subsequently mitigate downside risk when volume evaporates during a pandemic.
The New Normal Challenge: Sustain the virtual and telehealth platforms established or expanded during COVID-19 to effectuate primary care done right and to improve practice efficiencies.
The New Normal Challenge: Through the lens of COVID-19, re-examine “essential” care to determine what clinical care protocols may need to be modified, particularly once fixed revenue payment does not disproportionately reward high-intensity interventions.
The New Normal Challenge: Avoid re-establishing person-to-person touchpoints that you eliminated during the COVID-19 crisis. Look for ways to expand digital and remote connections.
The New Normal Challenge: Resist the temptation to abandon transformational facility strategies and planning because of the recency effect of COVID-19. Now that you have an active surge plan, keep it active, set a schedule for regular updates, and move forward with transforming your care delivery platform.
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