In a few years, the concurrence of events for the week of 20 September 2010 potentially will highlight the rationale for reform and change within the healthcare system.
The news feeds were bustling with the turf battles between the City of Hope National Medical Center and City of Hope Medical Group. A proposed reorganization of hospital operations has caused tempers to flare; resulting in lawsuits, lack of confidence votes by the physicians for the hospital CEO, and more. Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich wrote in a letter to City of Hope “(that the raging quarrels) “has escalated beyond a simple contract negotiation and now threatens the research and patient care.”
My understanding of the City of Hope comes from my childhood. Growing up, my grandmother and her friends would raise funds for City of Hope. Their national reputation as a cancer mecca was fueled with national fund raising efforts, publically recognized physician leaders, and outstanding outcomes. All these years later, City of Hope’s leadership plan for a subsidiary — a nonprofit foundation to oversee business matters at its Duarte campus, created consternation from the medical group providing 90-pervcent of the 184 physician medical staff. Hospital leadership and physician group leadership have pitched accusations of “power grab” under the cloak of healthcare reform.
23 September 2010 is a milestone in implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. As of the 23rd insurance companies are not allowed to put lifetime limits on the amount of coverage they provide, parents will be able to keep children on their insurance through age 26, children with preexisting conditions are to be covered, and other changes that President Obama said “would offer basic protections for people so they won’t go bankrupt or lose their home in order to pay for healthcare.”
The debate over reform is continuing. Some pundits on the 24/7 news cycle claim a major party-shift at mid term elections could force repeal or change of some of healthcare reform that has not been implemented to date. Concurrently, hospital leaders and physicians battle over decision-making power and profits.
There is universal agreement that our healthcare system requires change. Change requires experimentation – there will be successes and failures. Change requires leadership – someone to assume ultimate responsibility for vision, cheerleading, and action. Most importantly, change requires a clam understanding that the status-quo will no longer be accepted.
Not being privy to the inner discussions by City of Hope physicians or leadership, it is inappropriate to label one party correct and the other wrong. When oncologists at Indiana University Medical Center began experimenting with testicular cancer treatment, some in the physician ranks that felt it was impossible. The status quo was challenged; ask Lance Armstrong if challenging the status quo was worthwhile. We are in an era of change and reform. Before jumping into legal battles, everyone should keep their focus on the ultimate outcome – improving the health of our communities.
The choice is simple – in twenty years will healthcare leaders look back at the third week in September 2010 was a precursor to ongoing battles lasting two decades with no absolute improvement or will it be a blip in time?
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