Improving Patient Outcomes Overtakes Reducing Costs as Top Priority for U.S. Health System Leaders

Survey Explores Perspectives of Health System Executives and Clinicians Across the U.S.

SOMERVILLE, N.J., Sept. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthcare leaders from large health systems across the U.S. revealed that improving patient outcomes is a higher priority than reducing costs, according to the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies'* second annual survey of health system executives and clinicians released today. While reducing costs is still a critical focus for health system leaders, patient outcomes has emerged as the top priority, with enhancing the patient experience and improving staff satisfaction also top of mind.

Nearly six-in-ten (57%) health system leaders (both executives and clinicians) ranked improving patient outcomes as a key area of focus in 2019, up from 48 percent in 2018. Reducing costs is still a top concern; however, it has decreased in importance for health system leaders from 2018 to 2019. Seventy-five percent of health system leaders selected reducing costs as a top priority in 2018, and in 2019 that number decreased to 55 percent.

“It’s clear from the survey that health system leaders are looking beyond costs to overcome challenges and improve the outcomes for their health systems,” said Melinda Thiel, Vice President, Health System Value Transformation, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies. “We are seeing a trend among health systems toward more holistic solutions that can truly impact the patient experience, strengthen the wellbeing of healthcare professionals and ultimately improve the bottom line, and our account management team is focused on helping health systems deliver against those goals.”

The survey highlights health system leaders’ perspectives on critical areas of importance including operational efficiency, managing employee burnout, driving improved outcomes and an enhanced patient experience. Key findings include:

• Three-in-four clinicians (75%) and nearly all (95%) of executives say that improving operational efficiency is a high priority for their health system.
• Health system leaders agree an improved supply chain is a key piece of that puzzle: 58% say an optimized supply chain leads to decreased costs and about half (49%) say it drives overall operational efficiency.
• Addressing operational efficiencies to free up more time clinicians can spend with patients not only reduces burnout but can improve the patient experience. Both clinicians and executives agree (73% and 60% respectively) that the lack of time to focus on patient care due to administrative burdens is the top driver of burnout.
• Health system leaders appear to recognize the importance of addressing this problem, with most (82%) clinicians and nearly all (98%) executives reporting their health system is doing something to address burnout and workforce needs.
• Clinicians see employee satisfaction (80%), levels of stress and fatigue (78%), and the quality of patient care (75%) as the areas of a health system that can be most impacted by having a healthy workforce.

The Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies is leveraging its breadth and depth of expertise to help health systems address specific focus areas, including the productivity of their operations, employee engagement and strategies for connecting with healthcare consumers. Through CareAdvantage, a unique customer engagement approach to address heath system priorities, JJMDC helps health systems define their individualized needs, implement tailored capabilities and deliver a measurable impact.

JJMDC recently announced its new Healthy Workforce offerings developed specifically for healthcare organizations. For more information, visit: https://www.jnjmedicaldevices.com/en-US/service/careadvantage/healthy-workforce.

For more information on the survey and to read the full white paper of results and takeaways, click here.

About the Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies
At Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, we are helping people live their best lives. Building on more than a century of expertise, we tackle pressing healthcare challenges, and take bold steps that lead to new standards of care while improving people’s healthcare experiences. In surgery, orthopaedics, vision and interventional solutions, we are helping to save lives and paving the way to a healthier future for everyone, everywhere.

* The Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies comprise the surgery, orthopaedics, vision and interventional solutions businesses within Johnson & Johnson’s Medical Devices segment.

About Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.
Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. (JJHCS) provides contracting, supply chain, business services, and strategic solutions to customers and commercial intermediaries of U.S.-based Johnson & Johnson companies, including hospital systems, health plans, distributors, wholesalers, purchasing organizations, government payer programs, and government healthcare institutions in the U.S. JJHCS also engages with customers to provide streamlined supply chain services for our products that seamlessly integrate with customer operations, address shared evolving market challenges to value-based care, and develop innovative solutions that improve patient care and access.

CareAdvantage from the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies is provided through Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.

Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted by APCO Insight among hospital executives and operating room clinicians from large health systems to understand their attitudes on key issues facing the sector. The survey was conducted online between December 10-20, 2018. Interviews were conducted among 60 executives, including those director-level and above, and 80 clinicians, including an equal number of both surgeons and operating room nurses. The sampling margin of error is ±8.3 percentage points for the total sample size (n=140) but is larger when looking at each audience separately. This is the second survey in a series, with the previous survey being conducted September 7-13, 2017.

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SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies