NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Jeff Mason, FACHE, president and CEO of Analytics LLC, likened the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to a revolution during a keynote presentation at the Aegis Health Group conference in Nashville. Drawing from nearly 30 years’ experience, Mason reviewed the benefits, problems, opportunities and risks associated with the ACA for the hospital leaders in attendance during his speech entitled “Surviving the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”

“We’re moving toward a revolution in this country. Not a geo-political revolution, rather a healthcare revolution,” he stated. “It will be prompted by the one thing that prompts most revolutions: money!”

He cautioned healthcare leaders to avoid getting sidelined by the uncertainties presented by the ACA and instead focus on conducting business and doing the right thing. “The healthcare industry must put their energies toward improving quality, transparency and cost efficiency; implementing electronic medical records; and forming stronger relationships with employers. Through relationships with local employers, health systems can help improve the health of workers and identify health risks before they develop into costly chronic conditions.

“The ACA has cleared the way for employers to offer rewards to employees for participating in a wellness program and meeting certain health-related standards,” he said. “Hospital-employer partnerships not only help employers reduce their overall health-related costs, they allow hospitals to obtain a baseline for population health and target appropriate programs to the consumers who need them most.”

Mason foresees a challenging road ahead in the implementation of the ACA but believes that it is here to stay. In closing, he cautioned health systems to consolidate carefully, consider the cultural impact of change, and be mindful of the rate of change that stakeholders can tolerate. “Health Systems, like human beings, are stressed by change and can only tolerate so much within a designated amount of time,” he added.

Prior to launching the healthcare consulting practice, Analytics LLC, Mason served in various leadership roles, including CEO for BayCare Clinic and BayCare Health Systems as well as president of the board of directors for Aurora BayCare Medical Center. He also practiced nursing in a variety of settings. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Toledo and an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University. Launched in 2012 Analytics LLC is a healthcare consulting firm that offers strategic planning, physician practice management, and physician integration as well as meeting-facilitation, negotiation and mediation services.

For additional insight into the challenges hospitals face as a result of the ACA, Aegis has produced a comprehensive library of research-based thought papers. They include “Accountable Care: The Focus of Reform,” “Hospitals at a Crossroads: Achieving Success in an Era of ACOs,” and “What Do Employers Want From Hospitals? The Rules of the Road.” All are available at no charge with a brief registration for an Aegis Passport at AegisGroup.com.

About Aegis Health Group

Aegis Health Group has assisted hundreds of hospitals with proven-effective business development strategies for nearly 25 years. Its strategic Population Health Management solutions enable hospitals to grow market share and revenue by identifying and intelligently managing the health risks of local consumers within the community they serve. Complementing this, Aegis’ data-driven Physician Relationship Management strategy creates strategic alignment between hospitals and their medical staff to drive service-line growth, enhance patient care and quality, and provide timely issue resolution. Further information about Aegis is available at www.AegisGroup.com or on their blog at www.aegishi4.com.