St. Vincent’s One Nineteen discusses healthcare changes

Healthcare is changing – that’s the message Brian Massey shared at the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Oct. 1.

Massey, administrative director of business development at St. Vincent’s Health System, started his presentation by discussing the growth in healthcare, including several new buildings going up in the South Shelby County area.

“We see all this going on and I wonder if we ever step back and ask why,” Massey said. “Obviously Shelby County is growing, and it’s a great place to live, but I think it’s something deeper going on when it comes to all these new healthcare offerings.”

Aside from new buildings, Massey said healthcare is changing to include wellness or fitness programs, some online interaction with physicians and other technological changes. Change hasn’t all been positive, however.

Massey said in some ways, healthcare costs have increased and created a fragmented system.

“More than likely, you’re paying more out of pocket when it comes to healthcare, either through higher copays or premiums,” Massey said. “More than likely, your deductibles are rising every year by hundreds of dollars.”

A large issue, Massey said, is runaway spending and other monetary factors. He said that 5 percent of the population is contributing to 50 percent of healthcare spending. That, as well as the role of reimbursement in healthcare decisions, contributes to high healthcare costs.

One way to combat this spending, Massey said, is to create a clinically integrated system of care.

“Are your caregivers talking to one another? Are they connecting? If I put a patient into your system, will they be passed off to each care site seamlessly, or are they going to have to give their information again?” Massey asked.

This clinical integration is an appealing quality to the purchasers and payers in healthcare, Massey said. He added that while it streamlines the process, it also lowers costs. A system that includes primary care, diagnostics, surgeons, rehabilitation and most other healthcare needs is what St. Vincent’s Health System is working toward.

“When we look at One Nineteen and the expansion, that’s what we’re doing is building out those nodes of care,” Massey said.

The goal isn’t far off, Massey said, and said he hopes that One Nineteen’s expansion, which will open before the end of the year, helps employees and healthcare consumers navigate the world of healthcare.

“They’re finally being coached and navigated through the healthcare system,” he said. “That’s where we’re going.”