The current diagnosis for the healthcare care chain is a profound state of dis-ease among the various stakeholders. 

This dis-ease is marked by a lack of stakeholder understanding of the mandates and constraints under which each functions. While all stakeholders presumably hold the same goal – quality of care and patient satisfaction – many have elected to continue with business as usual.  Lacking understanding, there is little collaborative problem-solving between stakeholders and new approaches, while increasing among stakeholders, are regrettably rare.

The results are staggering.  While supply costs, especially among technologically advanced physician preference items, continue to escalate, reimbursements continue to shrink.  The number of providers that are either currently in critical financial trouble or that have filed for bankruptcy continues to escalate.  According to accepted industry estimates, as much as 35% of total care chain costs can be attributed to inefficiencies. 

Business as usual is clearly no longer an option.  Industries across America have successfully undertaken the arduous task of change to become more efficient and economically sound.  A healthy healthcare care chain, guided by the dual goals of quality care and patient satisfaction, requires no less. The time for the healthcare care chain to heal itself is now.