Recently Central Peninsula Hospital CEO Rick Davis shared with us details about how the hospital is preparing for health care reform.
It is obvious that the hospital is in good hands during this period of greater uncertainty in an ever-changing industry. As the law continues to take effect, residents should see more and more changes in how they receive care and the quality of that care.
It is an exciting time to be invested in the industry and when a community hospital like CPH makes strides forward, so do we all.
Instead of the hospital’s main incentive being the number of services it provides, it will be the quality of those services. In that case the consumer wins. Such a system of incentives is a good idea regardless of whether it is required by the law or not.
The hospital is also working to install electronic records connecting all parts of its departments, which will help integrate care. Essentially, records within and outside of the hospital will talk to each other and that has numerous benefits to the patient. Someday on the horizon, the emergency room will be able to know faster than ever your medical history and that could mean lives saved and faster, better care delivered.
Also on the horizon are bundled payments, which is a complicated way of saying that instead of each phase of care generating a bill, a certain amount of money is given to the provider to deliver that care. That should help control and reduce costs in all areas and mean lower rates and bills for consumers.
It is also important to note that the hospital is in a better position to meet the requirements of the health care act than many other hospitals in the state and nation due to its record of quality care indicated by official measures.That speaks volumes to the work the hospital has made over the years.
Comments (1)
Add commentSpeaking of Controlling Costs
Thur 9/6/12
All Peninsula Residents have talk for years about the extremely High Cost of Health Care at Central Peninsula Hospital.
Now there is documented PROOF that we are being charged
above & beyond the usual & customary fees for Medical procedures & services
Feb. 16th,2012 article by Tim Bradner Alaska Journal of Commerce provides the documented Proof.
A recent Guest on KSRM's Talk Show Sound Off stated that it is much Less Expensive to Fly a Patient & their Family to Seattle, Provide the Surgery Procedure.pay for the Air Fare, Hotel & Food Expenses, Fly the Patient & Family back Home then to have that same Surgery procedure here in Soldotna.
A recent Veteran shared a story that the V A would rather provide a Medivac Lear Jet pick up a Veteran Patient & fly them back to Anchorage than pay for Surgery at Our Hospital.
Doesn't that Prove the Fact that We are being Charged Too Much ?
Millions of Dollars in $Profits$ at Our Hospital but no consideration for lowering the Medical Cost for Peninsula Residents.
We Own Our Hospital, We built Our Hospital, We Paid For Our Hospital thru Annual Personal Property Taxes
The Residents of the Kenai Peninsula have EARNED the Right to Much Lower Medical Cost at OUR Hospital.
SPW Soldotna