Pub Date : 2022-12-01DOI: 10.1097/HAP.0000000000000153
Denise Brooks-Williams
For too long, healthcare disparities have negatively affected underrepresented groups in urban areas throughout the United States. Disparities in care and outcomes related to social determinants were known, and efforts were made to address them. Effective change for all moved up to top priority in the wake of COVID-19's arrival, police brutality, social unrest, and the murders of Black Americans, including George Floyd. Henry Ford Health (HFH), working with leading local community organizations, immediately pledged to address social and racial injustices. Unfortunately, many neighborhoods still suffer disproportionately from maternal and infant mortality, food insecurity, and other social vulnerabilities. HFH's commitment to equity includes creatively meeting the needs of the underserved. HFH has developed innovative ways to address the social, economic, and educational challenges to the health of Metro Detroit. Through thoughtful consideration and passionate leadership, HFH is strategically creating authentic and scalable social change to address racism and discrimination in healthcare.
{"title":"An Effective Response to Healthcare Disparities Begins With a Strategic Plan.","authors":"Denise Brooks-Williams","doi":"10.1097/HAP.0000000000000153","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HAP.0000000000000153","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>For too long, healthcare disparities have negatively affected underrepresented groups in urban areas throughout the United States. Disparities in care and outcomes related to social determinants were known, and efforts were made to address them. Effective change for all moved up to top priority in the wake of COVID-19's arrival, police brutality, social unrest, and the murders of Black Americans, including George Floyd. Henry Ford Health (HFH), working with leading local community organizations, immediately pledged to address social and racial injustices. Unfortunately, many neighborhoods still suffer disproportionately from maternal and infant mortality, food insecurity, and other social vulnerabilities. HFH's commitment to equity includes creatively meeting the needs of the underserved. HFH has developed innovative ways to address the social, economic, and educational challenges to the health of Metro Detroit. Through thoughtful consideration and passionate leadership, HFH is strategically creating authentic and scalable social change to address racism and discrimination in healthcare.</p>","PeriodicalId":39916,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Health Services Management","volume":"39 2","pages":"27-31"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10047404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-01DOI: 10.1097/HAP.0000000000000148
Kathy Gerwig
Climate change is a crisis with a devastating impact on health. The warming atmosphere is increasing the tolls of deaths and illnesses from heat waves, extreme weather, poor air quality, insect-borne diseases, and other conditions. Healthcare is connected to climate change in a way that is not fully appreciated by many healthcare leaders-in fact, the sector generates a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. As additional costs, healthcare providers' margins are put at risk from treating more climate-related disease and illness, supply chain disruptions, and damage from severe storms and wildfires. These connections provide a compelling rationale for healthcare executives to create more resilience in operations, lead efforts toward decarbonization, and catalyze for climate action.
{"title":"Climate Change and Healthcare: A Complicated Relationship.","authors":"Kathy Gerwig","doi":"10.1097/HAP.0000000000000148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HAP.0000000000000148","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Climate change is a crisis with a devastating impact on health. The warming atmosphere is increasing the tolls of deaths and illnesses from heat waves, extreme weather, poor air quality, insect-borne diseases, and other conditions. Healthcare is connected to climate change in a way that is not fully appreciated by many healthcare leaders-in fact, the sector generates a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. As additional costs, healthcare providers' margins are put at risk from treating more climate-related disease and illness, supply chain disruptions, and damage from severe storms and wildfires. These connections provide a compelling rationale for healthcare executives to create more resilience in operations, lead efforts toward decarbonization, and catalyze for climate action.</p>","PeriodicalId":39916,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Health Services Management","volume":"39 1","pages":"4-10"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40352515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-01DOI: 10.1097/HAP.0000000000000145
Craig Cordola
The healthcare sector's role in every community is inextricably linked to the health of those it serves. As research and media reports point to the significant impact of people on our planet's ecosystems, Ascension has responded by setting several environmental sustainability goals. Our work is defined by three pillars: Net Zero Places focuses on carbon sources associated with Ascension's physical environments-carbon footprint, operational efficiency of facilities, and sustainable transportation.Responsible Supply Chain focuses on the flow of goods from procurement to disposition-responsible purchasing, product usage management, recycling, and waste management.Healthy Communities focuses on the relationship between sustainability and social determinants of health (SDOH)-linking determinants to Ascension's mission to sustain and improve the health of those we serve, especially the poor and vulnerable. When we think about future generations, we realize that this work cannot wait. That is why we are reimagining today what environmental impact and sustainability could look like through the next decade and beyond. We are setting our corporate sights on net zero carbon and zero waste by 2040 and encourage other healthcare organizations to join us in these efforts. Working together, we can make a difference.
{"title":"How a Faith-Based Healthcare Organization Is Turning the Tide of Environmental Impact.","authors":"Craig Cordola","doi":"10.1097/HAP.0000000000000145","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HAP.0000000000000145","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The healthcare sector's role in every community is inextricably linked to the health of those it serves. As research and media reports point to the significant impact of people on our planet's ecosystems, Ascension has responded by setting several environmental sustainability goals. Our work is defined by three pillars: Net Zero Places focuses on carbon sources associated with Ascension's physical environments-carbon footprint, operational efficiency of facilities, and sustainable transportation.Responsible Supply Chain focuses on the flow of goods from procurement to disposition-responsible purchasing, product usage management, recycling, and waste management.Healthy Communities focuses on the relationship between sustainability and social determinants of health (SDOH)-linking determinants to Ascension's mission to sustain and improve the health of those we serve, especially the poor and vulnerable. When we think about future generations, we realize that this work cannot wait. That is why we are reimagining today what environmental impact and sustainability could look like through the next decade and beyond. We are setting our corporate sights on net zero carbon and zero waste by 2040 and encourage other healthcare organizations to join us in these efforts. Working together, we can make a difference.</p>","PeriodicalId":39916,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Health Services Management","volume":"39 1","pages":"11-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40352516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-01DOI: 10.1097/HAP.0000000000000151
Carla J Sampson
{"title":"ESG and Healthcare's Leading Role in Saving Our Planet.","authors":"Carla J Sampson","doi":"10.1097/HAP.0000000000000151","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HAP.0000000000000151","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":39916,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Health Services Management","volume":"39 1","pages":"1-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40352513","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-01DOI: 10.1097/HAP.0000000000000147
Jonathan J Flannery
The time has come for healthcare organizations to improve their efforts regarding their impact on the environment, particularly on the communities they serve. For years, healthcare has been at the forefront in addressing social needs with public health initiatives but has lagged on environmental concerns. By carefully reviewing their energy usage and aging infrastructures, healthcare leaders and their facility managers can do a better job of controlling healthcare's environmental impact. Green practices are key indicators of an organization's ethically focused sustainability efforts. So, while healthcare has traditionally focused on its social impact-providing healthcare services is, after all, inherently social-it must expand its community engagement by considering the environmental impact of hospitals and health systems on their communities in the context of climate change.
{"title":"The Value of Sound Environmental Practices in Healthcare Facilities Management.","authors":"Jonathan J Flannery","doi":"10.1097/HAP.0000000000000147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HAP.0000000000000147","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The time has come for healthcare organizations to improve their efforts regarding their impact on the environment, particularly on the communities they serve. For years, healthcare has been at the forefront in addressing social needs with public health initiatives but has lagged on environmental concerns. By carefully reviewing their energy usage and aging infrastructures, healthcare leaders and their facility managers can do a better job of controlling healthcare's environmental impact. Green practices are key indicators of an organization's ethically focused sustainability efforts. So, while healthcare has traditionally focused on its social impact-providing healthcare services is, after all, inherently social-it must expand its community engagement by considering the environmental impact of hospitals and health systems on their communities in the context of climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":39916,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Health Services Management","volume":"39 1","pages":"20-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40352517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-01DOI: 10.1097/HAP.0000000000000152
Carol A Gomes
To protect the well-being of their communities and the planet, healthcare organizations must take the lead in correcting the negative impacts of their business on the environment by finding new ways to work cleaner and smarter. Stony Brook University Hospital has been recognized for making the commitment to develop and maintain sustainable practices-from the elimination of mercury to the efficient design of new facilities-that are good for the environment and good for business. With the participation of the entire organization, from the C-suites to the front lines, the results are measurably impressive.
{"title":"Stony Brook University Hospital: Working Cleaner, Smarter.","authors":"Carol A Gomes","doi":"10.1097/HAP.0000000000000152","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HAP.0000000000000152","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To protect the well-being of their communities and the planet, healthcare organizations must take the lead in correcting the negative impacts of their business on the environment by finding new ways to work cleaner and smarter. Stony Brook University Hospital has been recognized for making the commitment to develop and maintain sustainable practices-from the elimination of mercury to the efficient design of new facilities-that are good for the environment and good for business. With the participation of the entire organization, from the C-suites to the front lines, the results are measurably impressive.</p>","PeriodicalId":39916,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Health Services Management","volume":"39 1","pages":"33-37"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40352519","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-01DOI: 10.1097/HAP.0000000000000146
Emily E Wadhwani
At their core, credit ratings are holistic assessments of relative credit risk, inclusive of both quantitative and qualitative factors. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations have always been implicitly incorporated in credit rating methodology as components of a hospital or health system's wider performance. More recently, however, ESG effects have been explicitly identified. While social and governance considerations are important to credit ratings, the impact of environmental factors on rating outcomes in the healthcare sector continues to expand exponentially. This movement reflects the varied ways in which climate change, resource and materials management, energy management, and water management can affect credit profiles. The shift to a lower carbon-dependent economy also presents opportunities for issuers that make meaningful transitions toward renewable energy sources.
{"title":"The Impact of Environmental Factors on Credit Ratings in Healthcare.","authors":"Emily E Wadhwani","doi":"10.1097/HAP.0000000000000146","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HAP.0000000000000146","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>At their core, credit ratings are holistic assessments of relative credit risk, inclusive of both quantitative and qualitative factors. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations have always been implicitly incorporated in credit rating methodology as components of a hospital or health system's wider performance. More recently, however, ESG effects have been explicitly identified. While social and governance considerations are important to credit ratings, the impact of environmental factors on rating outcomes in the healthcare sector continues to expand exponentially. This movement reflects the varied ways in which climate change, resource and materials management, energy management, and water management can affect credit profiles. The shift to a lower carbon-dependent economy also presents opportunities for issuers that make meaningful transitions toward renewable energy sources.</p>","PeriodicalId":39916,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Health Services Management","volume":"39 1","pages":"26-32"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"40352518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-01DOI: 10.1097/HAP.0000000000000143
Darlene Stromstad
Summary Workforce shortages, a dark reality for healthcare organizations even before the arrival of COVID-19, are being exacerbated by the persistent side effects of the pandemic. Burnout, more retirements, opposition to vaccination mandates, and intense competition from other industries are adding to the challenge. Those factors are keenly felt by hospitals and healthcare systems that are located beyond better-resourced major metropolitan areas. Many years will be required to resolve staffing shortfalls, and that work must begin now. Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) is making some noteworthy responses to the healthcare workforce crisis in the Utica, New York, area. Employing a mix of deep appreciation for workers' personal and professional needs—backed by additional financial investment and development of a diverse talent pipeline— MVHS leadership is working to ensure that it will be able to safely deliver care to patients in its communities now and for years to come.
{"title":"Moving Past Business as Usual to Meet Future Hospital Staffing Needs","authors":"Darlene Stromstad","doi":"10.1097/HAP.0000000000000143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HAP.0000000000000143","url":null,"abstract":"Summary Workforce shortages, a dark reality for healthcare organizations even before the arrival of COVID-19, are being exacerbated by the persistent side effects of the pandemic. Burnout, more retirements, opposition to vaccination mandates, and intense competition from other industries are adding to the challenge. Those factors are keenly felt by hospitals and healthcare systems that are located beyond better-resourced major metropolitan areas. Many years will be required to resolve staffing shortfalls, and that work must begin now. Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) is making some noteworthy responses to the healthcare workforce crisis in the Utica, New York, area. Employing a mix of deep appreciation for workers' personal and professional needs—backed by additional financial investment and development of a diverse talent pipeline— MVHS leadership is working to ensure that it will be able to safely deliver care to patients in its communities now and for years to come.","PeriodicalId":39916,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Health Services Management","volume":"38 1","pages":"4 - 8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48415492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-01DOI: 10.1097/HAP.0000000000000142
Paul E Neagle
Summary: The clinical staffing shortages that the US healthcare sector is experiencing are sure to become even more profound as the general population continues to grow and age. With more people living well beyond age 65, more physicians will be needed to provide care.A solution to help fill the gaps in physician coverage is centered on the use of advanced practice practitioners, especially in the ambulatory setting. The growing shortage of primary care physicians could be significantly reduced or eliminated if the appropriate contributions of advanced practice practitioners-including physician assistants/physician associates (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs)-are considered when calculating financial costs.My organization uses a model in the ambulatory setting that emphasizes the use of PAs and NPs who are supported by physician oversight in their clinical practice. Throughout the critical challenges of the recent past, the model has served us well. Other organizations may also see important benefits with this strategy.
{"title":"Deploying Advanced Practice Practitioners in Response to the Healthcare Workforce Crisis in the Ambulatory Setting.","authors":"Paul E Neagle","doi":"10.1097/HAP.0000000000000142","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HAP.0000000000000142","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Summary: </strong>The clinical staffing shortages that the US healthcare sector is experiencing are sure to become even more profound as the general population continues to grow and age. With more people living well beyond age 65, more physicians will be needed to provide care.A solution to help fill the gaps in physician coverage is centered on the use of advanced practice practitioners, especially in the ambulatory setting. The growing shortage of primary care physicians could be significantly reduced or eliminated if the appropriate contributions of advanced practice practitioners-including physician assistants/physician associates (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs)-are considered when calculating financial costs.My organization uses a model in the ambulatory setting that emphasizes the use of PAs and NPs who are supported by physician oversight in their clinical practice. Throughout the critical challenges of the recent past, the model has served us well. Other organizations may also see important benefits with this strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":39916,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Health Services Management","volume":"38 4","pages":"15-20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9984334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-01DOI: 10.1097/HAP.0000000000000140
Jason Lesandrini, David Reis
Summary: Addressing ethics issues in healthcare is essential to living out an organization's mission, vision, and values. In addition to exacerbating existing ethical dilemmas, the COVID-19 pandemic raised many new and complex questions for leaders and their organizations. Ethical issues related to the workforce require a deliberate and comprehensive consideration of values. The case study scenarios presented here demonstrate examples of common ethical staffing challenges that healthcare leaders have faced, notably the allocation of care providers among COVID-19 patients and the balancing of care quality with staff and patient safety. With access to expert resources and a decision-making framework, leaders can build the moral muscle to meet these challenges and reach ethically justifiable resolutions. These staffing issues highlight the need for increased access to ethics resources for organizational leaders, including moral development support and assistance from experts to resolve complex ethical matters.
{"title":"Ethical Challenges in Staffing: The Importance of Building Moral Muscle.","authors":"Jason Lesandrini, David Reis","doi":"10.1097/HAP.0000000000000140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/HAP.0000000000000140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Summary: </strong>Addressing ethics issues in healthcare is essential to living out an organization's mission, vision, and values. In addition to exacerbating existing ethical dilemmas, the COVID-19 pandemic raised many new and complex questions for leaders and their organizations. Ethical issues related to the workforce require a deliberate and comprehensive consideration of values. The case study scenarios presented here demonstrate examples of common ethical staffing challenges that healthcare leaders have faced, notably the allocation of care providers among COVID-19 patients and the balancing of care quality with staff and patient safety. With access to expert resources and a decision-making framework, leaders can build the moral muscle to meet these challenges and reach ethically justifiable resolutions. These staffing issues highlight the need for increased access to ethics resources for organizational leaders, including moral development support and assistance from experts to resolve complex ethical matters.</p>","PeriodicalId":39916,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers of Health Services Management","volume":"38 4","pages":"33-38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9984337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}