Welcome to the Silly Season. It’s easy to get caught up in the hysterics of the campaign and forget there are real things at stake this election. Healthcare is one of the biggest.
Arizonans in recent months have seen first-hand the massive changes occurring throughout our industry. The trend of hospital consolidation continues apace, and not always to the benefit of patients and consumers. Residents of Maricopa County have seen their coverage options on the Affordable Care Act health exchange dwindle to a single insurance company. And skyrocketing drug prices remain a concern.
The next President — whomever voters select — is going to have a lasting impact upon the quality and accessibility of healthcare in this country.
As a reader, it’s easy to let the tide of negative headlines fool you into thinking there is no good news in the world of healthcare these days. Not so. The truth is, the standard of care and breadth of health services broadly offered has probably never been better in Arizona. Gone are the days of having to drive to Phoenix or Tucson for a procedure.
The key is to build upon our successes and make improvements wherever possible. That’s our focus as Arizona’s largest association of hospitals and healthcare facilities, and we’re engaged in a host of efforts to improve the standard of care and reduce avoidable harm to patients. One recent collaborative of ours involving multiple hospitals resulted in a greater than 50-percent reduction in the instance of a particularly virulent infection associated with catheters — a breakthrough in patient care with amazing promise for the rest of the state.
See? There is reason for optimism!
Continuing the election theme … just as there are many choices on the ballot, companies and consumers have a range of choices when it comes to selecting health insurance plans. Education is critical!
Just as our blog helps keep readers up to speed on the latest health-related news, the handy Open Enrollment & Healthcare Guide for Business included with this publication is a fantastic way to learn about the various insurance plans and make an informed selection for you and your employees.
My thanks go to In Business Magazine for providing this important reader service to business owners and executives.
Greg Vigdor has served as the president and CEO of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) since March 2013. Over his more-than-35-year career, he has been nationally recognized for advancing health through policy leadership. Evidence of his work in Arizona includes the passage of Medicaid Restoration, and being laser focused on quality care improvement efforts and activities supporting AzHHA’s vision of making Arizona the Healthiest State in the Nation.
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