_____________________________________________________________________________ West
Tennessee Healthcare individuals, not just expecting results,” she notes. That balance between expectations and support guides Ann’ s leadership.
Pressure points
Healthcare systems continue to face cost and staffing pressures. She views these as ongoing factors that require constant adjustment.“ There’ s always been cost pressures and barriers, so caregivers can work within those constraints.”
She further points to system-wide issues, especially access to care. For a regional provider, access shapes outcomes across communities.“ We have got to figure out how to improve access to care,” Ann asserts.
Distance, delays, and administrative barriers affect patients’ decisions to seek treatment. Even those familiar with the system struggle to navigate it.“ I find myself giving up on prior authorizations,” she admits.
When patients delay care, conditions can worsen before treatment begins.“ The consequence is they don’ t get treated until it’ s way too late,” she warns.
Ann continues to track how regulation evolves, especially in the technology space. She looks to governing bodies to define expectations as systems adapt.“ I look to regulators to tell us where the guardrails are,” she adds.
But even as new challenges emerge, Ann’ s focus remains unchanged. Every decision- whether about partnerships, compliance, or technology- returns to the same starting point:“ What is right for the patient?” Ann concludes. ■
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