So, here we are, 2013. We made it. Congratulations to all and happy New Year. Things certainly got off to an exciting start, what with everyone taking a leap off of the proverbial Fiscal Cliff at midnight, only to be pulled back to solid…or, um, still-shaky…ground a few hours later. And just think, we get to enjoy a similar sensation as we rush toward the debt ceiling debate. Oh joy.

 

Here at H&HN's worldwide headquarters, we are excited about the New Year. We are launching a few new editorial packages, which we think will offer some excellent analysis of major trends shaping the field and care delivery (thankfully, none of them include the word "cliff"). All of them will be multimedia. There will be detailed reporting in the print edition of H&HN, accompanied by more personal storytelling and case studies in H&HN Daily, told via blogs, podcasts and videocasts.

The series are:

  • Generations in the Workforce: Kicking off this month with a cover story in the print edition, this series will take a look at the challenge hospital leaders face managing a workforce that, for the first time ever, has four generations working side by side. Each generation has its own idiosyncrasies and presents unique management challenges. The series runs every other month in the magazine; my colleague Bill Santamour will be blogging about it monthly in H&HN Daily, and we'll mix in some podcasts and videocasts along the way.
  • Connecting the Continuum: As health care moves rapidly toward a value-based delivery model, a greater emphasis will be placed on care coordination. Ensuring that patients not only get the right care at the right time at the right setting, but also ensuring that every part of the delivery system is connected will be critical going forward. This multimedia series, done with support from AT&T, will explore how hospitals and health systems are addressing the care continuum. Articles will appear monthly in the magazine and we'll delve deeper into some subjects online.
  • Diabetes Management: Diabetes is perhaps the single biggest epidemic facing health care. According to the National Institutes of Health, 26 million Americans have diabetes — 19 million diagnosed and 7 million undiagnosed. Various estimates show that by 2050 between 1 and 5 Americans will have the disease. Diabetics are at higher risk of heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure than the general population. Each year, diabetes is responsible for $116 billion in direct medical costs and $58 billion in indirect costs, such as disability, lost work and early death, according to the CDC. This series will not only examine the tremendous impact diabetes has on the nation, but will explore solutions being tested by providers and others to improve population health. The series, which starts in February, runs every other month in the magazine. We'll have some compelling blogs, podcasts and videocasts in H&HN Daily as well.

We'll also be continuing our successful Fiscal Fitness series in this year, expanding the scope to look at delivering high-value care.

As the year progresses, we're likely to introduce a few other exciting new elements, but we can't give away the entire game plan yet. You'll have to stay tuned. And as always, email me at mweinstock@healthforum.com with any comments or ideas on these new projects or anything else that appears in our various publications.