Jammed Access: 
Widening the front door to healthcare

• New and existing forces and incentives are limiting access to healthcare services
• Emerging technologies and delivery structures help ease limited access
• Consumers are open to various technology uses and the industry needs to catch up 
• Flexible models of access provide new delivery options for care and have new policy implications

By several measures, access to care is jammed for many Americans, both insured and uninsured. Various studies have shown that more Americans are delaying care or have unmet medical needs, in part because they can’t easily access care when they need it. The reasons are varied: overcrowded emergency rooms; a shortage of physicians; overbooked/understaffed doctors’ offices scheduling six or more months out; inefficient workflows and processes; underutilization of technology. This webinar will examine the issues, analyze the challenges and discuss possible solutions.

As Congress discusses ways to provide the universal coverage that other nations have, discussion of access to care must follow closely behind. Indeed, the ultimate issue is how to expand access without increasing costs. Cranking up supply to increase access is likely not the answer. The U.S. now spends more than any nation on healthcare and has record number of clinicians in the workforce. Instead, solutions will lie in new models to care and in using technology, incentives and behavior change to unclog the jammed access points. A consumer survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute shows that the current system has numerous jammed access points, but that consumers and some providers are open to changes.

This webinar will include a discussion about bringing access to consumers via models of care that use convenience and technology as a foundation for delivering care differently. It will also include proprietary research about consumer behavior and perceptions of various access points including their appetite for shared medical visits, online consultations and telehealth. Technology has made incredible advances in the last several years and will be a key enabler in future patient to physician communication and interactions. Behavioral health needs will also need to be better integrated into care delivery models to meet unmet demands.

Successful adoption of these new models will require physicians and staff to embrace them and the industry to reward them.

The presentation will highlight current industry examples of new models of access and lessons organizations are learning as they look for ways to increase access without adding costs. Business and policy implications will be presented and participants will have an opportunity to participate in this timely discussion of opening up access by challenging and augmenting traditional models of care.
  

• Understand the forces driving limited access to healthcare and why delivery models must change
• Anticipate changing healthcare delivery models designed to help ease limited access care
• Become familiar with emerging technologies enabling new care models
• Know consumer preferences for use of various technologies and how it might affect provider processes
• Understand how to communicate the value of changing care delivery models to stakeholders and the importance of obtaining buy-in from providers and supporting staff.

• C-Suite Executives
• Strategy, Policy and Planning Executives
• Medical Directors
• Clinical and Health Care Delivery Executives
• Physician Recruitment and Development Staff
• Provider Relations and Development Staff
• Managed Care Staff

Attendees would represent organizations including

• Hospitals
• Health Plans
• Third Party Administrators
• Provider Networks
• Medical Groups
• Employers
• Solutions Providers
• Associations, Institutes and Research Organizations
• Media

Corporate Site licensing also available. Click here to register or call 209.577.4888 We look forward to your participation in this event!

Serena Foong, MPH
Manager, Health Research Institute (HRI), PricewaterhouseCoopers

Warren H. Skea Ph.D.
Manager, Health Enterprise Growth Practice
PricewaterhouseCoopers