Hospitals need to implement new solutions to meet the health goals of local community

A new "thought paper" created by one of the healthcare industry's leading business development organizations cautions hospitals against taking a wait-and-see approach to healthcare reform if they are to have a role in determining their own destiny. Instead, the paper argues that hospitals must begin immediately to implement new solutions that drive revenues while meeting the health goals of the local community.

"With the nation's heightened interest in prevention, hospitals are logical, natural leaders to both consolidate the efforts of the local provider community and to actively engage local employers in worksite-based health-improvement initiatives," said Henry Ross, CEO of Aegis Health Group, which published the paper. "By establishing formal relationships with employers now, hospitals can build lasting affinity with consumers, while helping businesses improve their own bottom lines."

Ross believes that the country is ripe for programs that improve peoples' health through education, intervention and motivation, but "they need a partner they respect and trust. Hospitals are the logical solution because they offer the clinical knowledge, personnel and a high level of credibility for engaging people in living healthier," he said.

The thought paper, the third in a series produced this year by Aegis, looks at the magnitude of the problem as healthcare is today the fastest-growing expense for U.S. households, the government and corporate America. It explores how hospitals are perfectly positioned to offer solutions -- with or without legislated healthcare reform -- and provides practical advice for hospitals willing to engage in this manner. Loma Linda University Medical Center's employer-based health management program in Southern California is provided as one example of the effectiveness of such initiatives.

All of Aegis' thought papers -- "Health Management: Taking Charge in the Era of Reform," "Physician Relationship Management: Ensuring the Stability and Vitality of Today's Hospitals" and "Workforce Health Management Programs Bring Bottom-Line Benefits" -- are available free at aegisgroup.com.