Letter From Our CEO
The world of healthcare changed forever in 2010.
Like it or not, national healthcare reform has brought a "brave new world" to healthcare. A tidal wave of changes are on their way and providers and payers alike are faced with a choice: Drown or get on top and ride it to success.
There has never been a more important moment in history for those of us in healthcare to be prepared. Quite honestly, it was time for a change.
Recent years have seen a growing atmosphere of mistrust and fear. The space between payer and provider has typically been filled with rancor, posturing and animosity; and the healthcare delivery and funding system is filled with significant levels of waste and missed opportunity. Payer, provider and patient have all suffered as a result.
However, we at Carlisle & Associates see hope amid the confusion. The team sees tremendous potential to create material and measurable value propositions where each of the stakeholders - provider, payer and patient - has the ability to benefit without disadvantaging the others. We call this "shared value" and we are big believers in the concept.
The way forward is through the voluntary and mutually beneficial design and development of profitable healthcare business models tailored to promote partnership between former adversaries. True partnerships through aligned clinical and economic interests can shift the view towards total cost and coordination of care opportunities, resulting in real containment of costs through shared interest of provider and payer in pursuit of mutually desired outcomes.
My own experience as CEO of Voorhees Pediatric Health System and Weisman Children's Rehabilitation Hospital for nearly two decades, added to my partner Bob McKeown's perspective gleaned from over 30 years in the healthcare field, including 20 years in provider contracting at Independence Blue Cross, gives Carlisle special insight into how to address the problems which have bogged down the current system. We use our collective experience to help streamline the system and to help all parties focus on funding the wellness of patients, as opposed to the number of tests or procedures performed. What we have now is a "sick care" system. We want to help return it to a health care system.
Over the last several years, we have been pleased that so many providers have recognized the need for our services; we have also been pleasantly surprised by how our services have expanded beyond simply negotiating managed care contracts. We're helping our clients understand and embrace a pursuit of value in a way that both insurers and patients can understand and embrace as well. Aligning the interests of each of the stakeholders is key!
It is especially rewarding to be on the forefront of the healthcare industry as its leaders explore new ways to enhance and improve healthcare delivery and service management. Our firm is playing an essential role in getting all of the parties to work together towards innovative healthcare solutions. We invite you to join us on this journey.
Carl W. Underland
CEO & Founder