- The AHA released a three-year strategic plan to adjust priorities, meet immediate needs to respond to the pandemic and work on long-term strategies to advance health.
- The COVID pandemic forced medical practices to keep up with constant changes while providing outstanding patient experience.
- Providing better care and ensuring the financial stability of hospitals and health systems are pillars of this strategic plan.
There was already pressure on the healthcare system prior to the arrival of COVID, but the virus has put even more pressure on it.
With new adjustments to how doctors are paid, and other changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals, and physician groups are struggling to maintain their operations. Sadly, many are facing the need to shut down their businesses because of this difficult economic situation.
In this constantly evolving landscape, the need to keep up with these changes is vital for practices to maintain their businesses while ensuring an outstanding care for their patients.
Read more about this in our blog Relieve administrative burdens to physicians is key in this COVID world.
In this context, the American Hospital Association (AHA) developed a three-year strategic plan to adjust priorities and focus to meet immediate needs of responding to the pandemic while also continuing to work on long-term strategies to advance health.
This AHA’s 2022-2024 Strategic Plan includes five pillars. These pillars work as guidance for the association’s work to advance health in the U.S. These objectives are:
- Provide better care and greater value
- Ensure the financial stability of hospitals and health systems
- Enhance public trust and confidence in hospitals and health systems
- Address workforce challenges: now, near and far
- Improve the health care consumer experience
The strategy also emphasizes that the healthcare workforce challenges are increasing due to the pandemic. This situation has been a leading focus, and it will continue to be so in future years.
According to the AHA, these challenges include resilience and emotional health for the existing workforce and significant labor shortages for many healthcare workforce segments.
The plan also acknowledges that equity and behavioral health cut across each of these goals and that advanced data analytics, leadership and partnerships will be pivotal to achieving success.
To keep up with these changes, medical practices can consider outsourcing some of their services, including medical billing. This can help them get paid faster, reduce overhead expenses, and increase patient satisfaction. Read more about this in our blog 5 reasons to outsource your medical billing.
Stay up to date on this and other industry news through our March 2022 newsletter. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and our Health Prime Blog for ongoing leading industry medical practice guidance and policy updates.
Resources
AHA’s 2022–2024 Strategic Plan | AHA
AHA releases 2022-24 strategic plan (beckershospitalreview.com)
