The future of healthcare
As part of our ongoing discussion series Under the Same Sky, Abner Mason, founder and CEO of SameSky Health, met with Jane Sarasohn-Kahn, health economist, communicator, and “trend weaver” for THINK-Health and Health Populi. The conversation focused on the future of healthcare and innovative approaches to expanding access to care through the intersection of health, technology, and people. View the recording.
According to Jane, there is not a healthcare system in the entire world that's perfect, but the US has the worst in terms of highest spend per capita, and lowest outcome dollar-for-dollar spend. The US is really good at cancer care and research, but in terms of primary care, access to care, equity, and outcomes, we do not have a great ROI when we are spending 20% of our nation’s economy on health. It is time to start being open and realistic about new approaches to healthcare because we currently aren’t getting it right.
With the combination of inflation and other world events, there's a convergence of stressors on household budgets. Add in the current unwinding of Medicaid redeterminations and the complexity of the current healthcare system, and healthcare spending has become a financial burden to millions. If more people are paying for their healthcare services out-of-pocket, then the healthcare industry needs to start transforming into an enchanting, retail-like service. There need to be more healthcare services and products that build trust with members and create good customer service for the overall patient experience.
Many businesses have already started to create disruption within the healthcare industry to bring better healthcare closer to the home. Common retailers have begun engaging in different models to create better patient experiences and access to care. For example, local pharmacists are being identified as one of the most trusted members of a community. Retailers are starting to emphasize their importance and use them to gather better member data and build needed trust among members. Grocery stores also are currently underutilized, but need to start being seen as a health destination.
There will always be a need for doctors, nurses, and hospitals, but there are so many opportunities to take current community resources that are underutilized and build a better health ecosystem for everyone. We still have a long way to go before all the fragmented pieces of healthcare will work together seamlessly, but we have the building blocks with our advanced information systems, interoperability, and health standards to generate better approaches to health. An omnichannel and multifaceted healthcare approach based on lifestyle and preference has never been more desired.
“People have to own their health and not rent it… We have to get back to a feeling of love and community, which is what public health is. That’s what the ultimate driver of health is: love!””
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