Nancy Howell Agee, CEO of Carilion Clinic and chair of the Coalition to Strengthen America’s Healthcare, which includes the AHA as founding members, has expressed concerns regarding the future of high-quality patient care in light of recent cyberattacks like the one that affected Change Healthcare. She warns that a combination of complex factors is already posing a threat to patient care quality, and policies from policymakers could exacerbate the situation.
Agee argues that powerful special interests are pushing the idea that healthcare providers are interchangeable and that hospitals are not exceptional. She stresses the importance of recognizing the irreplaceable role that hospitals play in delivering care. Agee emphasizes that patients and healthcare providers know the unique value that hospitals provide in delivering care.
The recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare highlights the vulnerabilities that healthcare providers face in ensuring patient care quality. The extra costs incurred by hospitals as a result of such attacks further strain an already challenging situation for healthcare providers. Agee urges policymakers to consider the special status of hospitals and the critical role they play in delivering high-quality care to patients.
She emphasizes the need for policies that support and strengthen the healthcare system rather than undermine it. Agee believes that policies should prioritize funding for healthcare infrastructure, including cybersecurity measures, to ensure patient safety and prevent future cyberattacks.
Furthermore, Agee calls upon policymakers to recognize the importance of preserving hospital autonomy so that they can deliver quality care without being constrained by government regulations or bureaucratic red tape. She argues that hospital autonomy is essential for providing personalized care to patients and adapting to their unique needs.
In conclusion, Nancy Howell Agee has expressed her concerns regarding the future of high-quality patient care in light of recent cyberattacks like those affecting Change Healthcare. She believes that powerful special interests are pushing an agenda that undermines hospitals’ critical role in delivering quality care. Therefore, she emphasizes the need for policies supporting and strengthening healthcare infrastructure while preserving hospital autonomy to ensure personalized care delivery.
