Task Force For Ensuring Access In Vulnerable Communities Unveils A Set Of Strategies

ATLANTA, Nov. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Hospital Association (AHA) today unveiled a report outlining a menu of options for communities, hospitals and policymakers to ensure that vulnerable rural and urban communities have access to essential health care services. As the hospital field engages in its most significant transformation to date, one out of three hospitals is fighting to survive – potentially putting communities at risk for losing their access to local health care services. Grady Health System was enlisted by the AHA to serve on the task force that developed today's report. 

"As one of the nation's leading safety net providers, Grady has always been committed to ensuring access to care for all. As a member of the AHA Task Force, Grady supports these efforts to enhance access and bolster the stability of the many hospitals in our state and country who face uncertain futures," said John Haupert, President and CEO, Grady Health System.

In recognition of the challenges facing vulnerable rural and urban communities and the need for new integrated and comprehensive health care delivery and payment strategies, the AHA Board of Trustees created the Task Force for Ensuring Access to Vulnerable Communities. Comprised of 29 hospital and health system leaders and state hospital association CEOs, the task force held meetings, heard from policymakers and conducted field hearings to speak with hospital and community leaders during a 15-month period.

"Many hospitals face challenges maintaining access to health care services in their communities and this report provides a pathway to ensure every hospital has an opportunity to be an access point and an anchor of service," said AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack. "The strategies outlined in this report can serve as a roadmap for all communities as hospitals begin to redefine how they provide more integrated care."

The taskforce report outlines nine emerging strategies that can help preserve access to health care services in vulnerable communities. These strategies will not apply to or work for every community and each community has the option to choose one or more that are compatible with its needs.

The nine emerging strategies are:

• Addressing the Social Determinants of Health
• Global budgets
• Inpatient/Outpatient Transformation Strategy
• Emergency Medical Center
• Urgent Care Center
• Virtual Care Strategies
• Frontier Health System
• Rural Hospital-Health Clinic Strategy
• Indian Health Services Strategies

The AHA will work with Congress and CMS to create new payment models to support the successful implementation of the strategies. The AHA will also provide assistance and tools to communities and hospitals and health systems looking to adopt the task force-recommended strategies.

The report, with more detailed information on each strategy, case studies and a complete advocacy agenda and assistance strategy, is available at www.aha.org 

About Grady Health System
Grady Health System is one of the largest safety net health systems in the United States. Grady consists of the 953-bed Grady Memorial Hospital, six neighborhood health centers, Crestview Health & Rehabilitation Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding, which is operated as a Children's affiliate.

With its nationally acclaimed emergency medical services, Grady has the premier level I trauma center in the Metro Atlanta region and serves as the 911 ambulance provider for the city of Atlanta. Grady's American Burn Association/American College of Surgeons verified Burn Center is one of only two in the state. And the Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center is a Joint Commission designated Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Other key services include Grady's Regional Perinatal Center with its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Georgia's first Cancer Center for Excellence, The Avon Comprehensive Breast Center, the Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, and the Ponce de Leon Center - one of the top three HIV/AIDS outpatient clinics in the country.

About the AHA
The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes more than 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA Web site at www.aha.org.

SOURCE Grady Health System