The Health Task Force of Massachusetts, along with state officials and the Quality Working Group, said the Commonwealth’s health care system must be reformed yesterday at the McCormack Building in downtown Boston.
Boston University professor David Rosenbloom presented the problems and goals of quality care.
“People go to the health system to get better,” Rosenbloom said. “They seek efficient care, safe care and effective care.”
Financial difficulties are a threat to health care for patients, providers and public officials, Rosenbloom said. Some of the problems patients encounter are long waits for service and insufficient answers, he said.
Another problem is a lack of data that can inform the Bay State’s public and private sectors to make better choices, he said.
“We really do not have the information to inform,” Rosenbloom said. “They have nothing to go on but brand names and their brother-in-law’s words.”
More research will be done in the next 30-60 days to look at nursing homes and how reform will affect long term care, said William O’Leary, a representative of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
Gov. Jane Swift offered advice on refining health care records. She suggested research of the effects both residence and labor areas have on these records.
“Preventable medical care is costly,” Rosenbloom said. “In health care, systems provide miracles and mistakes.”
One of the major problems facing the Bay State is a shortage of staff in nursing homes and hospitals, Rosenbloom said.
“Twenty-five percent of nursing homes have faced bankruptcy,” O’Leary said.
Between January and June 2000, 1,031 beds closed, he said.
“Despite the closing of a significant number of beds, occupancy is about 93 percent this year, 93 percent last year,” O’Leary said.
“As nursing homes close, it backs up hospitals and puts pressure on home care and visiting nurses,” said Ned Morse, a representative of Massachusetts Extended Care Foundation.
Complaints about the quality and amount of workers have also increased.
“There is a great difficulty in attracting and retaining staff,” O’Leary said.
“There is national attention, local angst, shortages of staff — but also a willingness to work together,” Rosenbloom said.
The role of the state should be both a partner and a leader, Rosenbloom said. As the largest purchaser of health care, the state has extensive licensing and regulatory power.
Rosenbloom said he believed the state should use its power to review the quality of patient care and should not continue to buy health care if it does not continue to improve.
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