Not All “Innovation” Adds Value for the Consumer

On Tuesday, I had the honor of participating in this year’s JMore JBiz “Innovation in Health Care” panel discussion.  

The program was moderated by Gary Stein, and I was joined by Jon Hershfield, MFT, Director of The Center for OCD and Anxiety at Sheppard Pratt; Dr. Helen Hughes, Medical Director for Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Office of Telemedicine; Alan H. Shikani, MD, FACS, Chief of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at LifeBridge Sinai Hospital, and Adam Silverman, DPM, Wound Care Medical Director for MVS Wound Care & Hyperbarics.

The main topic was the current state of health care in this country and highlighting some new advancements in various medical fields and the challenges each of the panel members envision for the next couple of years.  

I highlighted our use of the patient-centered medical home and the accountability we have with our patients, especially those with chronic disease, to maximize their health outcomes and care experience. 

What people want from their care providers is expert care to maximize their health outcome and also to have the best possible care experience. Since most patients are not scientists, it is hard for them to know if the care they receive is truly driving their health outcome. But they can judge their care experience, especially regarding timeliness. Care that did not actually follow the evidence and drive a better health outcome may actually be judged favorably by the patient because it was fast. An example of this would be the patient who is efficiently seen and receives an antibiotic for a viral respiratory tract illness. The patient is receiving care that is not of high value but is perceived as high value by the patient because it was easy. In this case, a system that is seen as “innovative” by the patient because it is faster than other care settings is not actually a value-added improvement.

I enjoyed all of my colleagues’ presentations and I was convinced that their work was truly innovative. The one that interested me the most was that of Dr. Hughes. She described the success of Johns Hopkins in using telemedicine prompted by the pandemic and health insurers lowering the barriers to implementation. We will reach out to Dr. Hughes because GBMC has a lot to learn from her experience. 

If you are interested in watching the discussion, please visit here.

Let’s Thank...
This week, we are celebrating Pastoral Care Week (Oct. 23 – 29). This national celebration provides the opportunity to acknowledge our spiritual caregivers and their ministry with our patients.

Chaplain J. Joseph Hart and all the members of our Spiritual Support team are dedicated individuals who work very hard to meet the spiritual needs of our patients.  I would like to extend a sincere thanks to all members of our Spiritual Support Team, and our spiritual community partners, for always being there to provide compassion and comfort to patients and their families as they face a serious illness or life-threatening injury. To learn more about our Spiritual Support Services, please visit their web page.

Our Emergency Department Staff Demonstrates Their Resiliency
Over the last few years, our adult and pediatric emergency departments have been stretched to their limits. In the face of the pandemic, cyberattack and, now, workforce shortages and the surge of viral respiratory illness, our staff has demonstrated their professionalism and dedication. They have been tireless in their work to serve the community in the face of incredible adversity.

The latest increase of visits by pediatric patients with RSV and other respiratory illnesses has tested our resolve. Our peds ED and inpatient team has done a tremendous job of providing children with great care.  

I want to extend my gratitude to Theresa T. Nguyen, MD, interim Chair of Pediatrics, for communicating with the community by doing many interviews with the media. Laura B. Scott, MD, FAAP, our Director for Pediatric Inpatient & Emergency Medicine and her team have stood up against the surge and provided expert care. I also want to acknowledge Cate O’Connor-Devlin, RN, BSN, Director of Emergency Preparedness, Safety, and Security; Angela “Angie” Feurer, RN, MSN, NEA-BC; interim Chief Nursing Officer, and Mark Fisher, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN; Senior Nurse Manager for Emergency Services, for their great leadership. Way to go team!