Tuesday, February 9, 2016 | Joel Sauer
Over the past three years (so long I now get a cafeteria discount like an employee!) I have been implementing both a cardiovascular service line governance structure and a co-management financial arrangement at a hospital in the South. It will soon be starting its third year of this CV alignment model and the third year of new performance metrics.
Due to the success of the cardiovascular arrangement, I was engaged to help implement a similar governance and co-management structure for orthopedics. This just went live this past fall.
Recently I had the opportunity to attend the inaugural orthopedic Joint Operating Committee (JOC) meeting, which is the overarching dyad governing body for the orthopedic service line. At this meeting, which includes all the top administrative leaders of the hospital, the doctors were discussing improving the time to surgery for hip fracture patients. According to research, outcomes are greatly enhanced if this surgery can happen within a 36-hour timeframe. These patients often need a cardiology assessment to make sure they are OK for surgery.
Very quickly the lights went on and those in the room recognized they now had a platform in cardiology (and in orthopedics) to go have this conversation AND to work through solutions with a formal approval process. In the past, this likely would have been a conversation between two doctors and would probably just die right there. With the two formal structures now in place, the likelihood of success is greatly improved. In fact, at this very first JOC meeting there was already discussion of having incentives in the future that crossed both service lines!!
I wept openly. Ok, not really, but I was genuinely moved to see the evolution.
It's these types of activities that will have great benefit for our patients in the US, and for all of us as funders of health care. We're on the front lines of the revolution! Keep fighting the good fight. It's worth it!
Joel Sauer is Vice President, Consulting at MedAxiom Consulting. He works with organizations across the country in the area of physician/hospital partnerships. His work includes full-service line development, co-management arrangements, and integration transactions. Joel may be reached at [email protected].
Joel Sauer, MBA, is Executive Vice President of MedAxiom Consulting. Joel consults around the country in the area of value-oriented physician/hospital partnerships preparing health organizations for the value economy. His work includes vision and strategy setting, creating and implementing effective governance and leadership structures, co-management development, joint venture and other innovative partnerships, and provider compensation plan design. Beyond the above, Joel has a wealth of experience in service line development, clinical strategy development, provider workforce planning; including care team creation and physician slow-down policies, MACRA and bundled payment planning, and operational assessments.
To contact, email: [email protected]
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Leave a Comment