An Evolving Healthcare System

The Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding the Affordable Care Act ensured that the controversial health care law is here to stay. The ruling dealt with a small, but vital, part of the law, authorizing federal tax credits for those living not only in states with their own exchanges but also in the 34 states with federal marketplaces. This decision was met with strong opinions from both sides of the issue. Regardless of the differing opinions about the Affordable Care Act, what is important for most Americans now is to understand how the future of our healthcare system will be affected by Obamacare, and how hospitals and medical providers are working hard to bring American healthcare successfully into the future.

How Hospitals are Changing

Healthcare providers are still figuring out what changes need to be made in hospitals in order for them to be successful into the future. As more people are covered under health insurance, one natural effect is that more people will be going to see the doctor on regular visits, rather than relying on the costly emergency room for care. This marks a switch from reactive to preventative care, which is hoped to reduce medical costs. More insured patients also should translate to fewer instances of healthcare facilities suffering from uncompensated care. However, there is also a concern that hospitals could be flooded new patients, which would further overburden already busy doctors and hospital staff. In addition, hospitals may receive less money for the same services in the short-term. One thing is clear: hospitals must figure out how to navigate all these changes in a way that makes them both financially stable and able to provide quality care.

Healthcare providers have already learned to adapt to the changing times in many ways. Some are faring better than others. It’s more important now than ever for hospitals to find ways to cut costs so that they can continue to operate smoothly. Implementing smart building technology into hospitals has never made more sense. Finding ways to save energy around a medical facility can be challenging because hospitals have a commitment to uphold quality patient care. Using smart building technology to adjust temperature and lighting is an efficient way to cut costs and save energy. A building automation system can connect all of the mechanical and lighting systems and adjust them based on preferred settings. For example, lights can be programmed to turn off when rooms are unused, and temperatures can be set based on the room’s occupancy. These types of features make hospitals “smarter,” more energy-efficient, and better equipped to handle any changes in the future.

To learn more about how building automation and smart building technology can improve hospitals, call Automated Control Systems in the Kansas City area at (913) 248-8828.