Health Beat: Initiative to reshape nation’s medical schools moves forward

Editor’s note: Each Wednesday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Health Beat,” a round-up of health-related topics.
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MANY U.S. HOSPITAL EXECUTIVES RECOGNIZE PRESSING NEED TO TRANSFORM BUSINESS MODELS
Almost 60% of U.S. hospital executives say their institutions must substantially change their business models in the near term if they are to survive financially, according to new research sponsored by Prudential Retirement released on Tuesday (March 15). The research report, “Tipping Point: Hospital Resilience in a Perfect Storm,” surveyed more than 300 executives at rural, urban and suburban hospitals of all sizes and across the country about trends and challenges affecting the U.S. hospital sector. Some of the pressures stem from longstanding trends, while others are a result of requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

While the report examined several issues facing U.S. hospitals, executives agreed there’s an urgent need to address the following three priorities: business model innovation, putting data to work and focus on talent. This research indicated less than half of hospital executives believe they are well-prepared to weather mounting challenges such as margin pressures, rising costs, non-traditional competitors and the shift to value-based payments. For more information about the research report, visit here.

AMA MOVES FORWARD WITH INITIATIVE TO RESHAPE NATION’S MEDICAL SCHOOLS
Since announcing the expansion of its Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium last fall, the American Medical Association (AMA) recently kicked off the next phase of its work to ensure that future physicians are prepared to care for patients in the rapidly changing 21st century health care environment. The AMA, along with Penn State College of Medicine, convened the now 32 medical school Consortium in Hershey, Penn. last week to further the innovative efforts underway to reshape medical education across the country.

Only a year and a half after launching its new Systems Navigation Curriculum in August 2014 thanks in part to a $1 million grant from the AMA, Penn State’s new curriculum has sparked interest from several medical schools that plan to adopt similar programs, including Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Sophie Davis Biomedical Education/CUNY. To learn more about the AMA initiative, click here.

HHS AWARDS $94 MILLION TO HEALTH CENTERS TO HELP TREAT THE PRESCRIPTION OPIOID ABUSE AND HEROIN EPIDEMIC
The U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $94 million in Affordable Care Act funding to 271 health centers in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to improve and expand the delivery of substance abuse services in health centers, with a specific focus on treatment of opioid use disorders in underserved populations.

The abuse of and addiction to opioids, such as heroin and prescription pain medication, is a serious and increasing public health problem. Approximately 4.5 million people in the U.S. were non-medical prescription pain reliever users in 2013, and an estimated 289,000 were current heroin users.

The ACA awards to health centers across the country will increase the number of patients screened for substance use disorders and connected to treatment, increase the number of patients with access to treatment for opioid use and other substance use disorder treatment, and provide training and educational resources to help health professionals make informed prescribing decisions. To view a list of the award winners, visit here.