It was funny timing to be invited to write a blog post about what’s going on in healthcare in the US the morning after Donald Trump appeared at the Club World Cup Final in New Jersey where he joined the celebration on the stage where Chelsea captain, Reece James, and his teammates hoisted the trophy and danced in joy.
It was a truly crazy visual, but it spoke volumes about how the unexpected and the uncertain have become the norm in the US since January. The business, practice, development and receipt of healthcare have certainly been impacted. What’s been going on in healthcare so far this year? Here are a few high- and low-lights.
- The upheaval of the FDA: According to a report from STAT, morale is low. There’s a steady erosion of staff and those who are still there are ‘spooked’ by increasing political involvement in regulatory decisions. The lack of stability leads to compromised work and there’s a sense of ‘reckless destruction’ at this critical government agency.
- Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken numerous actions on vaccine policy since he was appointed to lead HHS in January. He’s gotten rid of the entire roster of experts from the Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP)and replaced them with others, many of whom with a history of criticising vaccines. Some health organisations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians and the American Public Health Association are rebelling, filing a lawsuit against RFK Jr. In the meantime, the AMA, with participation from 60+ medical organisations, has published an open letter to the American public supporting vaccines for influenza, RSV and COVID.
- Tariffs continue to impact the healthcare industry, providers and patient care. Pharmaceuticals, devices, diagnostics, PPE, as well as the small but critical and everyday essentials like syringes, needles and blood pressure cuffs remain at risk of cost increases, shortages and disruption. Further, there are reports that President Trump will impose a 200% pharma tariff very soon.
- US hospitals continue to navigate clinical, financial and digital challenges, according to a survey of hospital executives. Maintaining quality of patient care is the most pressing clinical concern followed by capacity challenges such as extended average length of stay.
- AI is transforming many, if not virtually every, aspect of healthcare—from drug discovery and development, decision-making, predictability, clinical trials, the way everyday people seek care, and much more –widely considered for the better. Additionally, technology that streamlines ‘process’ and enables more time for dialogue between patients and doctors is welcomed, but doctors have long cautioned against relying on ‘Dr. Google’ and they say the same with AI playing a growing role, especially given AI ‘hallucinations.’ Patients have also expressed a clear desire, if not demand for transparency and oversight about AI use in the doctor’s office and if and how the technology is playing a role in clinical decisions. Honesty and openness are needed from all parties, especially given the trend for patients to record consultations, sometimes without the doctor’s consent.
The transformation potential of AI is exciting and the benefits, especially when it comes to access, are clear. One therapeutic area undergoing significant change is mental health, given how AI enables personalised therapy for virtually anyone with a smartphone and an internet connection. Treatment for mental health conditions (apart from crisis care) delivered via technology offers availability, immediacy and scale that has not been possible otherwise.
The benefits of technology, however, are not free of risk or consequence. Recently, I’ve seen stories about how an alarming number of Americans say they prefer virtual people to real ones. I don’t know about you but that seems dehumanising to me.
Amidst all the change, some aspects of healthcare must stay intact, and these are all ‘human’ traits like trust, integrity, empathy and connection. Communications plays a significant role here. No matter how much things evolve, people still respond best to people, companies, institutions like hospitals, they believe in, feel they can rely on, understand and perceive to have their interests and health (in the case of our industry) at heart.
Staying ahead, or at least abreast, of the day-to-day news that seems to progress at breakneck speed is a given. So is agility and, if necessary, reinvention. The business and practice of healthcare doesn’t stand still, whether in the US or anywhere else in the world. But it will be those that get the transition right, as John Chambers, the former CEO (now chairman emeritus) of Cisco, has said, who will be successful.
Sandra Stahl,
Co-founder & Managing Director at jacobstahl,
A Ruder Finn company,
Author, Adjunct Professor, Lecturer
Image Credit: iStock
