It's not always so simple to simplify

There is relatively universal agreement that the business of healthcare needs some serious simplification.  But if simplifying healthcare administrative matters was indeed simple-to-do, it would have been done by now, and you wouldn't be reading this blog at this moment.

The challenges are many. Diverse stakeholders populate the world of healthcare, often with conflicting demands and agendas. For starters, many independent physicians, and other types of providers today don't have the capital or information systems in place to accommodate seamless electronic transactions. In professional jargon, this means the infrastructure and interoperability isn't necessarily there for healthcare services to be transacted in the same manner as your ATM card for financial services.

But, simply put, pinning all the blame on just this one challenge, would be a gross over-simplification. There are many, many challenges in the complex maze of healthcare. Of course, there are a multitude of solutions being advanced  - some competing, many compatible. A number of these solutions have been developed but not universally applied. Others are still on the drawing board. Some still need to be thought of.  

We invite you to share your experiences and perspectives, and put on your thinking caps. Let's get simple-minded. In this case, it could be a good thing. What are the biggest specific problems with the administration of healthcare from your point of view, and how can we make things better?

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Clive Riddle, and I'll be serving as the moderator for this community. If you've ever been a guest at a public campground, you might have noticed a campground host parked in the first lot- there to greet you, provide a little guidance, and generally try to assist so that your stay results in a happy camper. Well, my role here falls along those same lines.

By way of background, I started my career as a junior executive with a hospital system. I then went on to become a CEO of a regional health plan. And for the last dozen years I've served as CEO of a health care business information publishing company, Managed Care On-Line (www.mcol.com ) So I've certainly had the opportunity to observe the bureaucracy from the inside, and I will draw on my continued experiences to help advance the discussions in our community as we travel down this path.