Today’s model of healthcare has persistent challenges with cultural competency, as well as racial, gender, and ethnic disparities. While many health systems and insurers have been working to reduce health disparities, the fact that they still exist in such extremes shows that these efforts have not been fully successful. The increased emphasis on the population health approach, rather than patient- centered illness, is important. Better health outcomes can be achieved by healthcare organizations spending investing in building healthier communities, with social supports and nourishing environments- which will ultimately lead to the containment of costs. Our esteemed panelists will bright light to the factors shaping health outcomes, offer practical strategies to bridge disparities, and delve into the pivotal roles of communities, policies, and data in fostering equitable healthcare for all.

Achieving high-quality, affordable healthcare relies on improved population health, value-based care, and collaborative efforts between payers and providers. The pandemic showcased the benefits of increased cooperation among hospitals and health insurers, however, collaboration should extend beyond crises to enhance care quality and reduce costs during normal times. Transparent and cooperative relationships between hospitals, health systems, and payers are essential for effective case management and care coordination, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and cost containment.

To drive successful value-based care, providers must prioritize interoperability, ensuring timely access to actionable data for quality improvements and performance demonstration to payers. By embracing value-based payment models, providers can achieve sustainable margins while payers mitigate risks and associated costs. The path to true value lies in close partnerships between providers and payers, facilitating seamless data sharing, promoting high-quality care, and reducing inefficiencies. Within five years, value-based care could become the standard for most patient populations, further reinforcing the importance of population health management and cost-effective care delivery aligned with value-based care goals. (Modern Healthcare)

Questions to answer in this roundtable include:

• How can payer/ provider collaboration improve population health outcomes while also promoting value-based care?
• What steps can providers take to ensure they have access to data for quality improvements and performance measurement?
• How do we overcome technological and organizational hurdles needed to embed data and analytics?
• How do we manage trust issues when working with such sensitive data?
• What are the opportunities for using data to deliver better individual care that's predictive, personalized, and preventative?
• Considering the shift towards value-based care, what steps can healthcare organizations take to prepare their teams and infrastructure for this transformative model of care delivery? How can they ensure a smooth transition while maintaining patient-centricity?

According to the 2022 US. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Building a Thriving Health Workforce, “burnout is an occupational syndrome characterized by a high degree of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization (i.e. cynicism), and a low sense of personal accomplishment at work”. Although burnout was exacerbated by the pandemic, it has been around even before Covid-19, and it’s affecting both clinical and non- clinical staff, including receptionists, cafeteria workers, pharmacists, janitors, administrators, and physical therapists, among others. According to a 2023 study by the Journal of General Internal Medicine, the percentage reporting burnout was very similar between nurses (56%), clinical staff (54%), doctors (47%), and non-clinical staff (46%). Most concerningly, the researchers found that many workers intended on leaving their jobs within two years- nurses (41%), clinical and non-clinical staff (32%) and doctors (24%). (UPI).

With the high rates of burnout and intent to leave the job across healthcare roles, it’s of utmost importance to proactively address work overload across both the non- clinical and clinical roles. (Journal of General Internal Medicine). Nadia E. Charguia, MD, Child Psychiatrist with the UNC School of Medicine says leaders must “…encourage [their] employees and staff to speak up and speak out about their needs…. and to help them feel that we’re trustworthy to listen.” (UNC Health Talk). Healthcare burnout poses a serious threat to our country’s health and well-being. So, what can organizations and leaders do to mitigate the risks?

Questions to answer in this roundtable include:

• What are some effective ways to measure and assess burnout levels among healthcare professionals? How can these metrics be used to identify at-risk individuals and teams?
• How can healthcare organizations ensure that their employees feel valued?
• How can healthcare leaders and managers promote a culture of well-being and work-life balance while maintaining high-quality patient care?
• Besides encouraging communication, what other supportive measures can organizations implement to combat burnout among their workforce?
• How have you leveraged technology to reduce administrative burdens and enhance job satisfaction for your team/organization?
• How can healthcare organizations create opportunities for skill development and professional growth to keep employees motivated and engaged?
• How are you using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technology to improve the clinician experience, customize care delivery and keep patients healthy?

Utilizing data and other digital tools efficiently has become an essential strategy in enabling better health outcomes. The latest developments in medical technologies, including artificial intelligence, telehealth, integrated technologies, and data intelligence, are all geared towards improving patient engagement, playing a critical role in healthcare delivery.

According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the COVID-19 pandemic drove the critical need for cutting-edge technological tools, and initiated the big data healthcare market's growth beyond the pandemic stage. Healthcare organizations are increasingly engaged in utilizing big data to analyze patient data and outcomes to better- understand diagnosis and treatment prospects. In addition, digital products like sensors, wearables, and remote patient monitoring provide the infrastructure that is the heart of connected care, by better- connecting patients and their data with their healthcare providers, who can then provide better and more timely treatment recommendations. (Medical Design Briefs)

Dr. Lisa Anderson, CEO and co-founder of Paragonix Technologies says “the future of the healthcare industry is incredibly bright. Every day, a new innovation is being produced or improved, and the industry’s collective momentum ensures that we can improve both the surgeon and patient experience. It is vital to provide our healthcare teams access to high-quality technology that not only allows them to perform their job more efficiently but also raises the standard of care.” If payers and providers can marshal the right technologies and approaches, the opportunities are enormous: better demand forecasting, reduced waste and costs, insights into patient needs and preferences, and the ability to deliver predictive, personalized, and preventative care.

Questions to answer in this roundtable include:

• What are the opportunities for using data to deliver better individual care that's predictive, personalized, and preventative?
• What avenues can be used between provider and payer to facilitate collaboration through better use of patient data to enable better patient/ member experiences and outcomes?
• Data privacy and security are critical when dealing with health information. How can healthcare organizations balance the benefits of data utilization with the need to protect patients' sensitive data?
• In what ways can digital health tools, such as telemedicine and remote monitoring, bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility and improve health outcomes in underserved or remote communities?
• The use of AI & ML in healthcare is growing rapidly. How can these technologies be harnessed to identify health trends and enhance treatment plans?
• Interoperability is a significant challenge in the healthcare industry, with various systems and data formats. How can standardization and data sharing protocols be improved to facilitate seamless data exchange?
• Patient engagement is crucial for successful health interventions. How can digital tools, such as patient portals and health apps, empower patients to take an active role in managing their health and improving outcomes?
• Digital health interventions often require user adoption to be effective. What strategies can be employed to encourage healthcare professionals and patients to embrace these tools?

AI tools consistently surpassing human performance thresholds regularly make headlines, and the pace of innovation continues to accelerate. From deep learning algorithms that can read CT scans faster than humans, to natural language processing (NLP) that can comb through unstructured data in electronic health records (EHRs), the applications for AI in healthcare are seemingly endless. However, like any technology at its peak, the use of AI in healthcare is facing criticism. Despite its potential to unlock new insights and streamline the way healthcare organizations and patients interact with healthcare data, critics feel that AI may create considerable privacy threats, ethical concerns, and even medical errors. Perhaps healthcare leaders will eventually meet somewhere in the middle- where there is a balance between human experience and digital augmentation- both working together to improve the delivery of care. Join this debate to hear from leaders on both sides of the coin: is AI the means to limitless potential, or to limitless risk? (Source: Health IT Analytics)