Hospitals face challenges every day while ensuring patients have timely access to services. Some selected, pressing challenges are:

• Continued high cost for technology, equipment and medical devices
• Pharmaceutical costs and many critical drugs in short supply
• Attracting and training physicians, nurses and other health care professionals
• Continued growth in patients with chronic disease or multiple chronic illnesses
• Underpayment from many health programs, including Medicare and Medicaid
• Growing uninsured or underinsured patients
• Increased regulatory and payer requirements

Hospitals are working diligently to coordinate care and deliver efficient health care. However, continued reductions to reimbursement make the situation very difficult. Some thoughts to help alleviate the financial burden rather than reimbursement cuts are:

• Remove legal barriers so we can have integrated care models
• Increase the Medicare eligibility age to 67
• Focus on patient responsibility
• Use comparative effectiveness research to develop evidence-based care guidelines
• Engage in ethical and thoughtful discussions regarding end of life

Let’s transform these challenges and problems into opportunities to deliver the best healthcare for North Texas.