What have we learned from the past to present that enables us to be stronger, safer and more successful in healthcare?
In the United States alone we have the most expensive Healthcare in the world, and yet least effective, why? What comes with the various memberships in Healthcare? Clearly some get more while others get less and then not forgetting the least of these who have none, and yet we all share something in common key concerns for the future of healthcare as an industry.
The numbers are more real when you consider China has the largest population in the world followed by the United States and five other countries. However interesting to note China leads with the most population and yet had less healthcare costs in 2018, at $600 Billion, the United States with less population, it soared at $3.5 Trillion dollars in Healthcare costs. One has to wonder when did this start to go in the wrong direction.
I know each year as we review The Joint Commission Report Goals, it reminds us there seems to be no real solution in sight to meeting the needs and demands that are critical to protecting the relationship between Patient and Provider. It seems each year the targeted objectives are merely regurgitated and once again report many of the same findings “to what end” Patients can be heard saying.
Meanwhile, data reveals Patients and Providers are experiencing a disconnect like never before in their engagements. Why, what is changing and shifting in the ecosystem of healthcare that is disabling more than aiding? The most dangerous diagnosis today in healthcare is when the heartbeat is no longer felt in services and found to fail beating from enchantment for Patients.
Not too long ago a group of medical students in 2016 created their own Hippocratic Oath, that they felt addressed more of the human factor in healthcare and not just a Patients number on a chart statistic. I respect that personal pride in their work, we cannot lose sight of the joint mission to make man whole again through care that demonstrates empathy and sincerity. Clinicians are the line of defense for health and wellness and it encourages me daily to see both young and old recognize the value of care and cure in search of ways that bridge the in between.
I want to see Patients have access to their Providers in a new progressive way, that promotes communication and trust. I know most in healthcare dedicate their lives to impacting others in a positive way, and without a doubt that heartbeat still is felt, which always gives me hope.
The administrators must continue to validate Patients with the human factor, and simultaneously support innovative opportunities to advance Patient and Provider engagements that are meaningful and effective. In my view this practice should return in order to maintain the homeostasis necessary to support quality, effective healthcare.
We find so many taking positions on healthcare and certainly politics has had its hand in the narrative that Healthcare is a top priority but for who, the Subscriber’s the Lobbyist.
If the Lobbyist vie for best interest of organizations, the retentions of Patients at some point the numbers will decline, and if advocating only for the Patient, many companies feel the bottom line impacted. I guess what I am saying is you cannot serve who you do not have, and if services and costs are not aligned to needs of Patients at the end of the day the Patient will make the financial decision based on their needs and go elsewhere. We need people making decisions that understand the pain points and engage in open to dialog integrating new technologies that will advance the cause of healthcare and not hinder it.
Recently the White House signed an Executive Order, a first in healthcare to be executed affording real transparency as it relates to the costs of services and options Patients have to choose a physician based on costs and specialty. Within the last few days of this Executive Order it appears to have ignited Patients with a hope for their health and finances, but of course we must see if there will a greater bandwidth of subscribers endorsing this platform or if this wishful thinking. This order intends to allow Patients real transparency and the ability to shop for best care based on competition in the free market, so Patients do not have decide between feeding their family or filling a prescription or having a treatment. I am always open minded to any person, organization or Political affiliation that advances causes such as healthcare with meaningful outcomes, not just fluff and so I certainly look forward to seeing the evolution of this Executive Order take shape in hopes for enabling real time solutions that benefit subscribers and their families. In healthcare there should never be a party line.
Our communities are sick physically, mentally and emotionally from the distress related to the issues surrounding satisfaction of Patient care and quality.
While addressing these challenges there continues to be an escalation of tension on both sides of the Patient/Provider relationship, citing issues from human error in data entry to incorrect Patient records, failures to dose accurately, misinformation and more. When we realize the global responsibilities, it becomes clear something must be done to protect the relationship between Clinicians and their Patients.
With exponential growth rates of Americans traveling outside of the United States in search of more progressive advanced treatments it should truly come as no surprise to those of us that the ecosystem has been tainted by the experience and leaving Patients to take on a more proactive approach to their own health.
Recently the American Cancer Societycame out with their annual report showing the States and stats relating to the yearly totals of Cancer diagnosis’s and here are some startling facts. In California, they lead and have led the State with the most Cancer diagnosis’s in the Nation, with over 186K new diagnosis’s per year, not including Squamous Cell and Basal Cell Carcinoma’s, one can only imagine the exponential figure it would then become. In states such as California we are finding migrations to Mexico and Canada in search of a more progressive treatments after Patients have exhausted all traditional options. The reality is sobering and for those suffering all too true. For such a progressive state it fails to deliver what it once did in science and technology, paling in comparison to other developing Countries. After serving as Director of Communications for a Congressional Candidate I can tell you we must demand progress begin in the campaigns and follow through with real time solutions and deliverables, and right now it feels like many are listening. This will in turn humble the markets if we do nothing.
What must be done to reset the status quo what will it take? It takes politicians understanding the shift in the constituent and finding a resonance with Voters to bridge back integrity. I speak often to those in political offices on the opportunities the technology of Blockchain can afford them, but the reality is this, we must advance the innovative opportunities this is no different than what we do in research.
In viewing just a few of the key issues encompassing health and wellness let me briefly note some of these challenges we at Aegis are targeting in our technology. As you understand what the goals are you likely will be asking yourself, in a digital age how is it possible to not already have this factored in.
Human Error– 3rdleading cause of death in Patient care in the nation as reported by the CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, with 251K deaths due to a number of factors. Let’s explore a few of the goals this year for Patient safety that could significantly impact the outcomes of Patients quality of care. Here are some of the identified ways the commission seeks to improve outcomes.
(a) Use at least two patient identifiers when providing care, treatment and services. This includes the need to identify when administering treatments, medications, or blood samples.
(b) Reporting critical tests results and or diagnostic procedures in a timely manner. A critical area in found in the neonatal departments still today with misidentifying newborns in the nursery, one can only imagine that horror once home.
(c) The commission recognizes that organizations continue to face challenges reconciling medications, with numerous discrepancies affecting Patient outcomes, this includes identifying and resolving errors, or data entry errors or dosing.
(d) Millions of Patients contract infections each year while in acute care at alarming rates. Prevention and controlled strategies need to be tailored to meet real demand and need.
As a Solutionist viewing these pain-points I again am reminded of the various opportunities we have to auto correct the ever-changing landscape and how we can make a difference from a unified front.
At Aegis, it has been our mission and vision in our startup to make a positive impact in the healthcare experience and we look forward to our technology addressing some of these key challenges facing Patients and Providers daily with our application STREM.
Let’s explore some ideas that could solve some of the pain points by helping Patients today as they navigate their course in their own health.
Solutions do matter, and a progressive contender is the Blockchain platform. I love the Blockchain and all of its possibilities to have effective and efficient processes of data to enable safe and compliant workflows for healthcare systems and Patients who subsidize the platforms.
With our desired ability to safely and securely store, share and manage data is vital for the future of integrative healthcare.
The blockchain is able to address and solve critical life support issues within workflow systems easing the challenges facing administrators with accessible data simultaneously defending the security of the block(s) of data. What is clear to most today is that the data has become a business, and so the reality of those wishing to infiltrate silo system servers, storing mass data only ensures one thing, at some point the data will be compromised
If we could transition into a system that could decentralize and distribute data in secure, compliant, anonymized way, not only would Patients find value they might also find safer results in their treatments when safeguarding Patients with immune systems that support a healthy life from the cradle to the grave. Accountability and transparency matter in Patient care and quality of life.
I are confident positive changes are coming and our mission is to be at the helm of the advancements. Patient safety and care stored can preserve retention and participation and restore wellness into systems that support life.
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