Becker's Clinical Quality & Infection Control

18 Sign up for the Free Becker's Clinical Quality & Infection Control E-Weekly at www.beckersasc.com/clinicalquality. of disruptive changes that include broadened access, significant payment reductions, new care settings, advances in information technology and an evolving 'revolutionary' model of population health. Disruptive innovation brings about reduced costs, higher quality and greater access or convenience, often while meeting a significant underserved need. By offering more than what the country and its consumers currently need or want in a way that is simpler and less costly, we are seeing disruptive innovation can be a game-changer and is challenging everything we are doing." Susan Nordstrom Lopez Randy Oostra Larry Anderson, CEO of Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, Calif. "Disruptive innovation is the process of creating a new market by creating new expectations and values and, thereby, replacing an existing market. At Tri City Medical Center, we have used this concept to create value and new processes. More than a year ago, we introduced robotic spinal surgery to southern California through the use of the Mazor Renaissance technology, which allows for a simple pre-surgery scan to serve as the 'roadmap' for the precision placement of rehabilitative hardware. The process, available in only a handful of U.S. hospitals, produces accuracy that cannot be equaled by the most experienced surgeons, and avoids the need for multiple doses of radiation in the surgical suite. Accuracy of placement reaches 99 percent with experienced surgeons. Second, we have used a variety of techniques to reduce the incidence of readmissions in the diagnosis of heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia with amazing success. Essentially, we have put processes in place that ensure every patient [is] followed with hospital resources post-discharge to ensure they have and are using the appropriate medications. We also ensure they have access to a physician, when necessary, irrespective of ability to pay. While this process goes above and beyond our legal obligations, the results are impressive. Tri-City Medical Center now ranks 14th in the nation in lowest readmission rate for heart attack and 84th in the nation for lowest readmission rate for heart failure. It has achieved a rate of 136th in the nation for lowest readmission rate for pneumonia. While this has added some expense, it is the right thing for our community and our patients and will eventually become the 'norm' for all hospitals." Chris Van Gorder, President and CEO of Scripps Health in San Diego. "I prefer to use the term 'sustaining innovation' rather than 'disruptive innovation' because I think it more accurately reflects healthcare as a 'mature' but rapidly changing business. Sustaining innovation refers to evolving an existing market into one that creates better value and, in my opinion, that is the most important thing we can do in healthcare right now. There are many examples of work being performed right now to increase the value equation for our patients, providers, employees and society. Certainly, finding ways to improve quality while lowering costs will require new and innovative processes. Tightly linking ambulatory with inpatient [care] or focusing on 'wellness' versus just 'illness or injury' will require significant change and innovation. And the development of new care management systems both within and outside hospitals will create more value. I suspect many of the changes ahead will be disruptive — certainly when compared to our past —but I prefer to focus on the future ahead as a time to focus our research and innovation so we can both sustain and grow in our importance to patients and society." n Sign Up for the Free Larry Anderson Chris Van Gorder Becker's Clinical Quality & Infection Control E-Weekly at www.beckersasc.com/ clinicalquality.

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