Leaders Discuss “Shaping the New Continuum of Care” with Nashville Health Care Council

Central to the discussion was the use of technology and data to enable a more efficient system of care. As organizations innovate from within or partner with organizations to prepare for the future, there is great potential for companies who are able to collect and effectively interpret data within the health care system.

“When we do the right thing for the patient, the outcomes are better. To do this, we must collect good data and solve problems to achieve interoperability,” Kusserow said. “Data is the key. In my experience, payers are in the best position to do this because they have the most data; but the translation into coordinated execution needs work. There is opportunity for outside players from the provider side to help in this execution.”

“Contessa places tremendous emphasis on support services for providers, whether that be assisting with the interpretation of data or managing the patient’s episode of care. By adding that level of support, providers can efficiently develop patient specific protocols and ultimately have more time to engage with the patient,” said Messina, whose start-up company Contessa Health manages home hospitalization programs.

Vanderbilt has recently created an affiliated network to actively collaborate to provide patients with high-quality, coordinated and cost-effective health care services throughout Tennessee and seven surrounding states.

“Through our network partnerships, we are using big data to engage with patients and track results on a larger scale to provide better care,” Pinson said. “There is also huge potential for medical breakthroughs as we create personalized care through genomics data.”

Patient and caregiver engagement will be an increased focus as the industry faces caring for an aging population and meeting the needs of the millennial generation. Burcham, a serial entrepreneur and health care industry veteran, pointed out that Nashville’s legacy is centered on delivery services, and to stay competitive, companies will need to become technology-enabled service providers.

“Engaging the consumer is about context and presence. We must pay attention to tidal wave trends, such as social media, mobile access and generational shifts that will shape the way people will receive care in the future,” Burcham said.

“There is great opportunity for us as a community to affect culture and understanding for the betterment of the population’s health,” Pinson said.

“Innovations that are developed here in Nashville by startups and large companies alike will have an impact on patient care across the nation,” said Hayley Hovious, Council president. “The Council is proud to host discussion such as these, in order to arm our members with information on the most current trends that are changing the industry.”

The presenting sponsor for today’s program was Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Supporting sponsors were Bass, Berry & Sims, National HealthCare Corporation, and North Highland.

About the Nashville Health Care Council

The Nashville Health Care Council is a premier association of health care industry leaders working together to further establish Nashville’s position as the nation’s health care industry capital. Supported by nearly 300 corporate members, the Council serves as a trusted source for information on trends that influence the health care industry. The organization provides members with one-of-a-kind networking opportunities and access to Nashville’s elite health care business community.

Worldwide, Nashville’s health care industry generates more than 500,000 jobs and $73 billion in annual revenue. The industry is Nashville’s largest and fastest-growing employer. For more information on the Council, please visit www.healthcarecouncil.com.