On Monday, I had the opportunity to sit down and have a great discussion with leaders from the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Maryland Hospital Association (MHA), and several local health systems. I was grateful that I was included with Dr. Laura Herrera Scott, MDH Health Secretary, and Erin McMullen, MDH Chief of Staff, in this conversation with my peers from Luminis Health, Frederick Health, TidalHealth, Johns Hopkins Health System, MedStar Health, and University of Maryland Medical System.
Each of our medical institutions is different, ranging from academic medical centers to rural community hospitals. Though we all face similar hurdles in this healthcare landscape, we also each have unique barriers and concerns. The purpose of our gathering was to identify strategies to address care delivery challenges and to build a vision for the next phase of Maryland's Total Cost of Care All-Payer Model, also known as the “Maryland Model.”
The Maryland Model is a unique payment system in which hospitals are paid a fixed amount of money for the services they provide, rather than being paid for each individual service or procedure with no limit. This model is intended to control costs and improve the quality of care by incentivizing hospitals to provide efficient, effective care rather than simply selling individual services.
This model aims to truly incentivize what is best for patients – like effectively managing chronic illnesses to keep patients out of the hospital and providing the best care possible in the most appropriate setting. Some organizations, like GBMC, have used the revenue to build a system that can keep people out of the hospital. Others have not. So, there are clearly things we may do differently to make this model more successful.
Regardless of the differences in our healthcare organizations, we must be united in improving the health of those we serve, improving the care experience, and reducing cost. During the meeting, we talked through ways to address issues within our health systems, like behavioral health capacity; post-acute utilization, including opportunities to address discharge delays; care management concerns; and hospital utilization needs. These types of broad and inclusive conversations are critical in helping the state map out how to truly transform the healthcare system and provide better care to our communities.
On Tuesday, I had the privilege of helping to present our inaugural Women of Impact Awards. Congratulations to the following winners whose contributions are making an impact on the greater GBMC community.
Inclusion Champion Award
- Krystina Wales, Associate Director of Direct Response Marketing, GBMC
- Erlene Washington, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of GBMC Health Partners
Leadership Award
- Leticia Armstrong, Senior Manager of Imaging Services, GBMC
- Theresa Nguyen, MD, Chair of Pediatrics, GBMC
- Lisa Walker, Chief Diversity & Learning Officer, GBMC
Lifelong Learner Award
- Evelyn “Eve” Bowmaster, Director of Quality and Patient Safety, Ambulatory Services, GBMC Health Partners
Mentor Award
- Leana Hoover, Chief Integration Officer, Gilchrist
- Rachel Weitzner, Associate Director of Jewish Care and Support, Gilchrist
Unsung Hero Award
- LaKesha Horsey, Anesthesia Supervisor, GBMC
- Jamie Sokolis, SAFE/DV Interventionist, GBMC
I’d also like to congratulate all of our Women of Impact Award nominees and thank everyone who took time to nominate a colleague. We are proud of all the remarkable women who are part of our workforce and who help us accomplish our vision of providing the care we would want for our loved ones. Thank you to Lisa Walker, Chief Diversity and Learning Officer; Angela Wu, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Manager; and JaRee Walker, Senior Organization Development and Change Consultant, as well as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Planning Committee for organizing the event, awards, and all the robust activities for Women’s History Month.
For the second year in a row, GBMC HealthCare has been recognized by healthcare supply chain leader Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX) as a “Best 50” healthcare provider. This list recognizes the top performing hospitals and health systems in North America based on their ability to improve operational performance and drive down costs through supply chain automation, with honorees selected from more than 4,100 provider organizations connected to the GHX digital trading platform.
Congratulations and thank you to Brian Riemer, Director of Supply Chain, and to our entire supply chain team, for ensuring our clinicians are well equipped with the supplies needed to provide safe patient care.
Happy Doctors’ Day!
This Doctors’ Day, we extend our deepest gratitude for the dedication and skill that our physicians bring to GBMC every day. Their devotion to patients reverberates throughout the community. Thank you to all our physicians for going above and beyond with gestures large and small to provide truly personalized care to our patients.
Honoring a Member of the GBMC HealthCare Family
Mary Mangione, a beloved member of the GBMC HealthCare family, passed away on March 15. We will always remember her for her warmth, generosity, and devotion to her loved ones. Her transformational impact will be felt by GBMC HealthCare and this community for generations to come. We are eternally grateful for the advocacy, friendship, and support of Mary and the entire Mangione family through the years.
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