Key takeaways:

• A truly connected provider-patient experience is paramount across the continuum of care (CoC); however, not all organizations have optimized or solved for all-important care coordination.

• Vital to every individual’s healthcare journey, it’s imperative we find ways to align the CoC for greater efficiencies, cost savings and the best possible outcomes.

• Through technology, group purchasing and supply chain solutions, advocacy efforts and more, Premier is helping to bridge the gap among patients, providers and suppliers and optimize the care delivery system.

Across the continuum of care (CoC) in the U.S. (i.e., wellness services to chronic care and everything in between), there’s a widening gap between healthcare providers and their patients that’s impacting the delivery of the most-effective care. Many of us have experienced what it’s like to be in that gap through our own healthcare journeys or alongside a loved one. I most recently experienced it with my 87-year-old father who underwent minor surgery.

After the procedure, my father went home with a few new medications, multiple instructions, two new doctors and a wallop of a wound. Within 48 hours, we were back in the emergency department, received more medications, met with more doctors and were given more instructions. Fortunately, all turned out well for my father in the end but, for several weeks, our lives were interrupted, and we were on an emotional rollercoaster due to these experiences.

So, what’s going on behind the scenes that can lead to disconnected provider-patient experiences and lack of care coordination? At Premier, we see CoC providers up against four main challenges.

1. Interoperable healthcare data. A major factor in achieving a cohesive provider-patient experience is a seamless exchange of data among information systems throughout a patient’s journey along the care continuum. The issue? Most of today’s healthcare data lacks interoperability. It’s hidden away in disparate, incompatible systems that make it difficult for providers to share, instantly view, analyze and interpret patient data, and thus, the result can be inefficient, disconnected care.

2. Lack of or outdated technology. While much of our lives can be managed with a simple click, the technology that drives healthcare provider operations has largely not kept pace. And for smaller CoC providers, critical technologies such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and procurement platforms can be difficult and expensive to deploy, putting them out of reach for many.

ERP systems play an essential role in a healthcare organization’s daily operations, including effective supply chain management; however, most are not scaled for the specific needs of CoC providers. A digitized procurement platform can improve processes and efficiencies between CoC providers and suppliers, enabling providers to quickly place orders via mobile devices, easily track and maintain inventory levels and route invoices on one system. Without these technologies, a streamlined workflow that puts essential supplies into the hands of clinicians when they need them is jeopardized. Read more >