Over a long career of clinical practice, physician executive experience, and population health data analysis, I (and many others) have concluded that improved patient engagement and appropriate influence of physician decisions at the point of care have the largest impact on waste. That impact happens when patients are supported in making changes required to live a more healthy life, and when physicians and nurses as patients’ trusted advisors can guide patients with best evidence about the potential effectiveness and cost of a particular test and/or intervention. It is critical to embed support systems in both of these key areas, which are under-supported with accessible, relevant, and efficient tools.

Delivering better care to more people at a lower total cost is a significant challenge facing all of us. By most estimates, unnecessary or not evidence-based care represents the largest cost reduction and quality improvement available to us all. The below graphic estimates $762 B waste in the US healthcare system. Approximately $400 B is identified as unnecessary care and administrative waste. This blog posting is written by two companies that have great solutions to enhance efficiency and effectiveness, and rid of waste, within these nagging buckets.

Healthy Interactions: group learning, self- management education, digital distribution, behavior change and engagement

Patients and families who can openly share their feelings, select what they believe is most important to learn, and are supported in that make the right decisions and change their daily habits, are best equipped to adapt to living with a health condition. Now touching over 25 million people in >120 countries, Conversation Map™tools have been proven to be effective and satisfying in over 50 publications and over 30 independent studies. Now available through digital distribution faster and more global impact is possible. We will share much that has been learned and explore what lies ahead in the self –management education, patient engagement and behavior change landscape.

MedCurrent: Clinical Decision Support (CDS) integrated in provider workflow

Physicians and nurses practicing with best evidence at their fingertips serve as best and trusted advisors for patients and families. The challenge lies in efficiently embedding that in the daily work of our clinicians and evaluating and measuring how we are all doing at providing best advice at the point of care.

What is most exciting to me is that disequilibrium and dissatisfaction among clinicians and patients has made this a great time to innovate our way to better performance. The good news is that it is happening all around, so stay tuned as we introduce you to an inside look at best practices that reduce waste and enhance health.