Using Care Orchestration to Improve Patient Safety and Health System Performance

Traditionally, health systems have operated as unified entities in name only, with different hospitals and facilities within the same system working from an independent perspective rather than an enterprise mindset. As a result, the emphasis has been on maximizing the value of the individual parts rather than sharing resources or optimizing the overall performance of the whole system.

The pandemic illustrated the problems associated with operating as a diverse collection of parts, rather than a single, unified whole, as providers have faced significant challenges in delivering care access to patients and efficiently using all resources, such as people, supplies, and capacity. Uniting as one system of care can yield enormous financial and patient care quality benefits through attracting and retaining patients within the network and delivering an optimal patient care experience. Additionally, as hospitals continue to contend with staffing shortages, rising labor costs, and thin margins, the ability to reimagine patient flow and improve care orchestration may determine their ability to remain in business.

This shift in perspective does not need to be an overwhelming project. Oftentimes, health systems already have most of the ingredients in place, but they may need some help with change management and getting started. As ABOUT CEO Angie Franks outlines in a recent article for Forbes, health system leaders are starting to realize that they must reimagine patient flow and improve care orchestration, enabling them to take control of three key levers – demand, capacity, and throughput. From streamlining workflows and processing data more efficiently to enhancing communication between caregivers, enabling more collaborative and coordinated care expedites the patient journey, enhancing outcomes and improving the overall patient experience.