Speakers at Aegis Health Group conference address industry implications of health care reform, population health, generational communications

Keynote speakers discussed the dynamics and impact of healthcare reform as it relates to hospitals, employers and other healthcare organizations at the Aegis Health Group semi-annual conference held in Nashville. Attendees to the event heard from some of the nation’s leading healthcare experts.

Keynote presenters included Joe LeValley, senior vice president for planning and advocacy, Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines; Bruce Bradley, faculty at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Cambridge; and Dr. Deborah Tobey, professor at the Peabody College of Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

With healthcare reform at the forefront of the industry’s current and future development plans, each of the speakers addressed various aspects of potential effects of the new healthcare law along with ways to optimize the evolution of the industry.

Drawing from research done through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Bradley presented “The Triple Aim: Better Care of Individuals, Better Health for Populations and Lower Per Capita Costs.” He emphasized the value of partnerships between employers and healthcare providers and the role population health management can play in both arenas. “We must have innovation to improve healthcare performance at all levels,” he explained.

Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines served as an example of innovation and integration. “At Mercy, we see there is both dramatic change and great opportunity within the changes brought on by the new healthcare law,” said LeValley.

During his presentation, LeValley shared how the entire Mercy Health Network is on the forefront of leading the move toward payment for value rather than volume. Through its Accountable Care model, Mercy is maximizing clinical operations, assuming performance risk and managing population health. “We believe working together gives us the best opportunity – the skill and scale – for success,” he added.

Building a better model of care requires careful attention to demographics and an individual’s unique needs. Through her presentation, “Generational Communication: Crafting Messages that Work,” Tobey explored communication nuances that exist among various generations. “We need to not only be cognizant of specific generational traits and habits, but recognize ways to adapt communication styles, messaging and methods to optimize collaboration and organizational success.”

About Aegis Health Group:
Aegis Health Group's strategic Population Health Management solutions enable hospitals to grow market share and revenue by identifying and intelligently managing the health risks of local consumers within the community they serve. Aegis’ Physician Relationship Management strategy fosters stronger and mutually beneficial relationships between hospitals and their medical staff as well as the broader physician community.