Getting to go in managed care

The challenge for leadership and the required changes are great. Our personal limitations include a limited view of the world and the threat of an overwhelming risk if one gets too far out on the limb. "Getting to go" will open up new and strange territories that will provide opportunity and failure for leaders. Capable leaders will pursue the opportunity. Threatened leaders will resist the change. For those leaders who feel that the managed care existing today provides the most cost-effective, quality outcome for the individual, his or her sponsor in the community, they will go no further. Unfortunately for many of us, managed care means a third party trying to micromanage patients (deductions, authorizations, and so on), employers (claims, incentives, and so forth), and providers (approvals, forums, payment, tricks, and the like). Providers need to go ahead and master efficient care. We owe that to the community and the third party nightmare of administrative overkill must be laid to rest. For those healthcare leaders who believe that managed care as a system focused on improving the health status of our communities is superior to our existing system, their individual goals and leadership focus must be changed accordingly. We cannot sit by idly and wait for the system to change us. Instead our obligation is to lead our organizations toward a new era in health care.