Let's Talk Meetings at WMHS

Last week, we held our Let's Talk meetings for employees throughout the health system.  Our focus was twofold--sharing a video that highlights our Trauma Program at WMHS to show the importance that we have in our community and making sure that our staff is aware of our industry's financial challenges as health care reform continues to evolve.  It is important to note that the Triple Aim of Health Reform (Better Care, Healthier Patients and Communities and Lower Total Cost of Care) are all positive aspects of where health care is headed.  Unlike the 60 Minutes segment last evening on one for- profit health care provider, Health Management Associates, that is accused of driving increased revenue through "do or die" admission targets.   

WMHS is successfully reducing admissions and readmissions.  We have also implemented measures to reduce hospital-acquired conditions such as infections, pressure ulcers and ventilator-assisted pneumonia while increasing patient satisfaction.  It is true that better care equates to better outcomes resulting in increased revenue through Maryland's pay-for-performance initiative.  We went from losing $1.2 million in revenue last year because our quality scores trailed other hospitals in Maryland to a turnaround of $1.5 million gain this year.  We continue to shift our services by providing the right care in the right place as evidenced by our new Wound Center, our Anticoagulation Clinic, our Diabetic Medical Home, our CareLink Program, our Congestive Heart Failure Clinic and case managing our most chronic patients.  At WMHS, we continue to strive to fulfill our mission of Superior Care for All We Serve through evidence based care, patient centered care, a continued focus on keeping our patients healthy and out of the hospital, collaborating with our physicians and advanced practice professionals, being innovative in all that we do and having a continued awareness of our cost of doing business.  Believe or not, running a health system with annual revenues of over $325 million isn't as easy as some make it out to be, especially in this era of reform.