Ann M. Richardson, MBA’s Post

The patient flow starts with access to care. Access at the right time, place, and with the appropriate care team is ideal for patients. When patients don't have access to primary care and specialty services, an Emergency Room, Urgent Care Center, delayed care, or no care are the options. The US has a growing number of deserts of care that go well beyond primary care. Patient suffering and preventable death in the absence of clinical care is not uncommon today in the US. Rural hospitals are at significant risk of closure without clinical staff and physicians. More than 60% of rural communities require timely access to a Urologist because there are none. With a Residency graduation rate of less than 400 Urologists annually and more than 60% of practicing Urologists near retirement, the flow of care for patients in need is often nonexistent. The work I'm doing today to support VirtuCare, under the leadership of Joseph Pazona, provides Urology services in a hybrid model to rural hospitals. Healthcare is local, and having access to Urology services, both ambulatory and surgery, allows patients to receive compassionate care when needed. Access to a quality Urology service allows a rural hospital to remain viable and increase the flow of revenue to support other vital clinical services. The goal is to provide much-needed relief to Emergency Rooms and Primary Care physicians challenged with caring for Urology patients. The conversations I'm having today with those in my network reinforce the gravity of rural America's healthcare needs. Please contact me to learn more about VirtuCare for Urology and how we can support your hospital. Healthcare viability is all about the flow of medicine. ❤️ #patientaccess #urology #surgery #telehealth #ruralhospitals #partnerships #transparency #healthcareonlinkedin #primarycare

I came across an insightful article (link in comments) highlighting the remarkable success of single-speciality hospitals in delivering exceptional clinical excellence while achieving impressive growth and financial performance. Inspired by the precedent set by specialized hospitals in fields like IVF, Ophthalmology, Gynaecology/Maternity, and Oncology, the aesthetic healthcare sector follows suit. As the demand for specialized aesthetic services continues to rise, standalone aesthetic hospitals are poised to become increasingly prominent. Key Growth Drivers for India: 1. Surge in aesthetic surgeries, ranking fifth globally.  2. Popularity in medical tourism for affordable and high-quality care  3. State-of-the-art equipment, infrastructure and highly skilled surgeons Better Clinical Outcomes 1. Focused Expertise: Hospitals can attract top talent to develop deeper expertise  2. Standardized Protocols and Collaborative Care: This reduces variability and improves consistency in care. 3. Specialized Equipment: Tailored equipment for specific needs enhances treatment efficacy. Economies of Scale 1. Reduced Costs: No multiple departments which reduces administrative and equipment costs.  2. Increased Volume: Reduced costs per procedure due to a higher volume of patients.  3. Improved Supply Chain Management: Ability to get specialized equipment and materials in larger quantities at lower prices. Operational Efficiency 1. Streamlined Processes: Develop efficient workflows, reducing wait times and improving patient satisfaction. 2. Specialized Staffing: Reduced need for extensive cross-training as all the staff is specialised in aesthetic healthcare.  3. Data-Driven Decision-Making: Hospitals can collect and analyze data specific to their speciality, leading to better decision-making and quality improvement initiatives. Tamira envisioned this about a decade ago and started as a single-speciality aesthetic healthcare hospital. Tamira is currently the only and first single speciality hospital brand in Aesthetic healthcare with NABH accreditation in India. #nabh #singlespeciality #leanoperations #streamline #datadriven #medicaltourism #protocols #collaborativecare #healthcareexpertise #ivf #maternity #spine #aesthetichealthcare #plasticsurgery #wayforward

According to our research the global market for medical devices is estimated at US$ 603 billion in the year 2023 and will be growing at a CAGR of 5% during next six years. #GlobalHysteroscopy #MedicalDevices #HealthcareInnovation #Gynecology #MinimallyInvasive #PatientCare #SurgicalTechnology #HealthcareMarket #MedicalResearch #HysteroscopySystems

“..Either a patient will DNA or we have quite a few patients who will call up our contact centre and potentially have to wait 10minutes to talk to someone to advise they no longer need their appointment…” – Jo Wilder West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 📲 West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has implemented the effective delivery of Wait List Validation forms through its patient portal, ‘PPUK’ (A collaborative portal between Induction Healthcare Group PLC Zesty & Oracle Health). ✨ Since March, this approach has produced impressive results. Among an initial cohort of patients within Urology, Cardiology and Dermatology, who had waited more than 12 weeks for an appointment, the trust achieved up to a 28% reduction across these waiting lists. This solution significantly reduces unnecessary appointments, DNA’s and minimises call centre waiting times, alongside improving utilisation of clinical resource and patient experiences. “The speed of responses has been incredibly exciting, when we first trialled this, we contacted 2492 patients. Within 30 minutes we have had 314 responses” - Jo Wilder 🙌 West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust demonstrates exceptional commitment to patient care by continuously monitoring and reducing their waiting list. Their success highlights the importance of leveraging technology to streamline processes, enhance patient experience, and optimise healthcare delivery. #patientengagement #patientportal #WaitListValidation #WaitingLists

Physicians are finding autonomy to stay in medicine. When physicians secure clinical opportunities with autonomy, patients secure access to care. At VirtuCare, we've successfully recruited and employ board-certified urologists throughout the country to provide on-site surgical services in rural hospitals. The hybrid model allows for synchronous telehealth ambulatory care five days per week with a stable care team of urology-trained professionals. Rural hospitals partnering with VirtuCare are not only filling the gap left by urology vacancies, but volume is growing with enhanced marketing and state-of-the-art procedures. With the shortage of urologists in the country worsening, hospitals are waiting years to fill vacancies, and patients are experiencing delays in care, going without care, or traveling long distances for care. Financially strained hospitals are leaking patients to competitors (no pun intended). More than 95% of urology patients can be cared for in an ambulatory setting with no inpatient stay. Yet, the rural hospitals waiting for the unicorn urologists to cover 24/7 - 365 calls persists. There's a reason newly trained urology residents flock to large hospital practices and PE groups for employment - minimal call requirements, large compensation packages, and tuition forgiveness. The large hospital systems are now strained to support urology in rural regions as the recruitment numbers dwindle, yet they rely on complex urology surgery referrals. What better way to support rural hospitals than to find alternative models of specialty care? We have these conversations daily and the underserved populations continue to wait for care while physician recruiters wait for viable urology candidates. Meanwhile, consultants are called on to identify cost-cutting 'opportunities' to save struggling hospitals. As someone who worked in hospital and medical group leadership for decades, wouldn't we start with assessing the unmet clinical needs of our community and solve for that? A funny thing happens when you provide surgical services in a rural hospital with vacant ORs - patients are cared for close to home and much-needed revenue flows. Not funny, but the reality when you bring in finance consultants with no clinical or operational backgrounds. Healthcare with a heart is well-rounded and asks the right questions. ❤️ #patientaccess #surgicalservices #ruralhospitals #healthcareonlinkedin #innovation

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 In the fast-paced world of emergency #medicine, every second counts. Radiology plays a crucial role in making quick, accurate #diagnoses that can be the difference between life and death. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞 ✅Rapid Diagnosis - #CTscans, MRIs, and X-rays provide immediate, detailed images, helping doctors diagnose conditions swiftly. ✅Stroke Assessment - CT scans can swiftly identify brain bleeding, guiding prompt treatment. ✅Trauma Evaluation - X-rays and MRIs are essential for assessing fractures, internal injuries, and more. ✅Guiding Treatment - Radiologists’ interpretations of images direct emergency physicians in making critical treatment decisions. ✅Emergency Medicine - In emergency scenarios, such as when a female presents with #abdominal pain, radiology plays a crucial role in ruling out conditions like ectopic pregnancy or assessing the status of #cysts, stones in the kidney or ureter, and detecting ruptured abscesses or pus. While radiology plays a crucial role, what's even more important is that the radiologist has to be a clinical radiologist, also known as a clinico-radiologist. This role goes beyond image interpretation. Clinico-radiologists delve into patient histories, review past records, and collaborate closely with clinicians to communicate findings effectively. This integrated approach ensures comprehensive care and accurate diagnosis, particularly in emergency situations. Effective communication between radiologists, clinicians, and #patients is crucial for aligning imaging results with clinical contexts, ensuring optimal patient management in emergency settings. Radiologists work behind the scenes but are integral to the emergency response team. Their expertise ensures that the right imaging techniques are used, and their interpretations guide critical #treatment paths. #EmergencyMedicine #Radiology #HealthcareHeroes #LifeSavingTechnology #MedicalImaging

🩺 The Experts Behind the Consensus of Care (CoC) Guidelines 🩺 Patients with Complex Lymphatic Anomalies (CLAs) often require care from a wide range of specialists. These conditions affect multiple systems, making comprehensive and coordinated care essential. Unfortunately, not all patients—particularly those in rural areas or transitioning to adult care—receive the care they need. That’s why the CoC Guidelines are crucial. These guidelines provide primary care physicians with critical knowledge from leading experts, empowering them with a roadmap for comprehensive care and a clear understanding of when to consult specialists. The experts contributing to this transformative project include: 🧬 Geneticists | 🫁 Pulmonologists | 🦴 Orthopedists | ❤️ Cardiologists | 👨⚕️ Oncologists 🔬 Hematologists | 🧒 Pediatricians | 💉 Vascular Surgeons | 🫀 Radiologists | 👁️ Dermatologists Together, we’re working to ensure every CLA patient gets the care they deserve, no matter where they live. 🌍 📖 Learn more: bit.ly/3YAQkQX 💙 Donate today and help make the CoC Guidelines a reality: bit.ly/CareLGDA #RareDisease #CLACommunity #CoCGuidelines #HealthcareInnovation #CLAawareness #LymphaticMalformation #ComplexLymphaticAnomalies #LymphaticAnomalies #RareDisease #CLACommunity #CoCGuidelines #HealthcareInnovation

🏥 Does the increase in sub-specialist medicine lead to fragmentation of care? 💡Interesting opinion piece in Nature Medicine discussing whether fragmentation in medicine potentially harms patients & hinders research. This is something I often wondered about when I was an attending (consultant) radiologist at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The article by Vivek Subbiah, MD in Nature Portfolio outlines various issues: ➡️ Medical fragmentation is primarily driven by advances in knowledge & technological progress. This sub-specialisation of medicine might lead to less focus on comprehensive & holistic care. Which in turn, might lead to disjointed care pathways, unnecessary investigations & compromised patient outcomes. ➡️ Silo mentality is prevalent in sub-specialties & discourages interdisciplinary dialogue. ➡️ There is a deluge of medical data & each sub-specialty generates vast volumes of it. This data tends to stay within silos, causing duplication, inefficiencies & missed opportunities. ➡️ Could AI help connect disparate sub-specialty data & unlock valuable insights for patients? We need levels of inter-operability, a change in attitude of education & medical training who champion increasing specialisation, policy changes to regulation around data sharing and collaboration of cross-disciplinary teams to make this work. 👩🏽⚕️ Before people start saying "But we have Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) care in the NHS", I want to point out that as an attending radiologist, I was sub-specialised in gynaecological oncology & ran UCLH's weekly gynae-oncology Multidisciplinary Team Meeting which had patients referred to it from around the country. MDT care was truly high quality with many excellent clinicians involved. 🏥 However, even within the context of excellent MDT care, I remember wondering how many silos would be created through more sub-specialisation. Many times, a scan that I could have easily reported had to be redirected to another radiology team as it was technically 'their' sub-specialty (Uro/MSK/GI/Neuro/Head&Neck/Vascular), not mine. ❓What are your views on the increasing sub-specialisation of the medical world? Do you think sub-specialist medicine fragments medicine? #Medicine #NHS #subspecialty #doctor #healthcare -- ♻ Re-share this post to help your network if this resonated with you. 👩🏽⚕️ Follow me Dr Fiona Pathiraja-Møller for more posts about the future of health.

Since HCA Healthcare's $1.5 billion acquisition of Mission Health in 2019, multiple urologists have departed the system, indicating broader physician discontent. An Asheville Watchdog report highlighted the exit of three urologists from Mission Urology between late 2022 and mid-2023. Additionally, urologists from Asheville Urological Associates began relinquishing their practice privileges at Mission in 2022. Former Mission urologist Brian Cohen, MD, mentioned he was terminated without cause and criticized the lack of support staff consistency. He expressed concerns about local patients needing to travel for specialized urological care due to staff shortages. A letter from Mission physicians previously addressed quality of care and corporate culture issues post-acquisition, noting the departure of over 200 physicians and numerous staff. HCA's spokesperson, Nancy Lindell, stated that job departures are due to various reasons and emphasized ongoing recruitment efforts. Asheville Urological Associates declined to comment further on the issue. Our professional team is fully prepared to assist, offering expert guidance and comprehensive support tailored to community and healthcare entities’ needs. We prioritize excellence and responsiveness, ensuring that every concern is addressed promptly and effectively. Trust us to provide the highest standard of service and care in all interactions. We are the One! #revenuecycle #revenuecyclemanagement #priorauthorization #medicalbilling #medicalcoding #healthcare #healthcaretechnology #accountsreceivables #denialmanagement #consulting #management #implementationpartner MedPage Today