Committee holds briefing focused on innovation and improving access to care through technology
PITTSBURGH, September 19, 2016 – TeleTracking Technologies, Inc. was one of four healthcare companies to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health last week. The hearing, entitled “Exploring the Use of Technology and Innovation to Create Efficiencies, Higher Quality, and Better Access for Beneficiaries in Health Care,” focused on how to improve the quality and efficiency of our health care system while reducing costs.
Michael Gallup, President of TeleTracking, was one of the experts invited to the hearing. Other panelists included Jared Short, Chief Operating Officer, Cambia Health Solutions; Paul Black, Chief Executive Officer, Allscripts; and Greg Long, Chief Medical Officer, Senior Vice President, Systems of Care, ThedaCare.
The Subcommittee on Health, chaired by Rep. Pat Tiberi [R-OH], has been working with TeleTracking for a number of months and has seen the impact of the outcomes-based solutions first-hand at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Tiberi said, “I have heard from providers back in Ohio about clinician shortages that are jeopardizing access for Medicare beneficiaries who need care.”
Ranking Member Rep. Jim McDermott [D-WA] built on the Chairman’s sentiment, “In my opinion, this could be one of the more important hearings we’ve held during my time as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee. Innovation will be central to our efforts to address rising health care costs.”
A shifting healthcare landscape has put more pressure than ever on clinicians, whose central focus should be on providing patients with quality, compassionate care—yet every day they face an avalanche of complex documentation and care coordination tasks. This is the point where healthcare and technology intersect and where a collaborative approach to finding efficiencies to address the more than $1 trillion in waste is critical. It is incumbent upon the vendor community to break down barriers and remove administrative burdens by developing groundbreaking tools that create revolutionary change.
“Creating efficiency in healthcare goes beyond digitized records,” said Gallup. “By improving visibility and streamlining logistics through the implementation of centralized command centers, patients have access to timely care—and caregivers are providing the compassionate care they were trained for. The bottom line is our solutions make it possible to get more patients through the system without cutting resources or increasing costs.”
The concept of access was also a key discussion point for the Subcommittee members, especially those representing constituents in rural districts. They expressed concerns regarding the ability of patients who are not located near major cities to access quality, cost-effective, necessary care. They also focused on the access issues facing under-served populations with chronic conditions, as well as how new technologies, such as telehealth, will complement existing regulations.
Gallup explained that TeleTracking has currently implemented more than 100 command centers that serve as health systems’ central nervous system, with real-time snapshots of the system’s resources and capacity. The command centers’ global view also makes it possible for large health systems to work closely with smaller facilities in rural areas—as well as providing a strong foundation for technologies like telehealth—to help close service gaps. Consequently, patients are able to receive the care they need, in the right place, at the right time and capacity that is already available in the system is unlocked.
Referencing documentation submitted by TeleTracking, Rep. Mike Kelly [R-PA] emphasized the importance of solving the issue of waste and lack of access—including the fact that the U.S. ranks 44thout of 51 countries in operational efficiency. Other key metrics related to access include:
“Is it about policy? Yes. But more importantly, it’s about people,” said Kelly. “We can put a guy on the moon, but we can’t get him through the emergency room. We can invent the internet, but we can’t get people through the hospital system.”
TeleTracking will feature their full suite of patient flow solutions at their Annual Client Conference, October 9-12 in Naples, FL. In addition, nearly 40 clients will share outcomes and best practices in patient flow. Members of the media are encouraged to attend. For more information please send an inquiry to inquiry@teletracking.com.
About TeleTracking
For more than 25 years, TeleTracking Technologies, Inc., has been at the forefront of providing caregivers with the tools to deliver quality, purposeful care. TeleTracking’s robust suite of patient flow solutions maximize capacity, enhance efficiency and drive outcomes—and as a result, TeleTracking has been honored as the KLAS Patient Flow Category Leader for five consecutive years. To learn more visit www.teletracking.com.