Outsourcing payroll helps medical clinics to survive

By Ira Zunin

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 31, 2011

~~<p>The bankruptcy and closure of Hawaii Medical Centers' two hospitals is the biggest health care story of the year. Its impact is being felt in waves throughout the islands. The closure of HMC-East, which housed the only organ transplant center in the Pacific, leaves hundreds in need of organs scrambling for options on the mainland, many in a race against time. Closure of HMC-West, Oahu's most Ewa hospital, results in increased drive times for emergency department services and has placed a burden on Oahu's remaining hospitals and providers. The loss of roughly 1,000 jobs affects countless families in what is already a tough job market.</p>
<p>Although HMC's closure captured the headlines, there were many unsung stories both of closure and survival of smaller health care facilities on Oahu. During a social gathering last weekend, one of our local politicians proclaimed that independent medical practices are a "dying breed." HMSA and Medicare have new initiatives in motion that expect providers to move rapidly to electronic medical records and prepare for the patient-centered medical home. These changes require cash resources, business acumen and attention that busy facilities can scarcely afford.</p>
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The bankruptcy and closure of Hawaii Medical Centers' two hospitals is the biggest health care story of the year. Its impact is being felt in waves throughout the islands. The closure of HMC-East, which housed the only organ transplant center in the Pacific, leaves hundreds in need of organs scrambling for options on the mainland, many in a race against time. Closure of HMC-West, Oahu's most Ewa hospital, results in increased drive times for emergency department services and has placed a burden on Oahu's remaining hospitals and providers. The loss of roughly 1,000 jobs affects countless families in what is already a tough job market.

Although HMC's closure captured the headlines, there were many unsung stories both of closure and survival of smaller health care facilities on Oahu. During a social gathering last weekend, one of our local politicians proclaimed that independent medical practices are a "dying breed." HMSA and Medicare have new initiatives in motion that expect providers to move rapidly to electronic medical records and prepare for the patient-centered medical home. These changes require cash resources, business acumen and attention that busy facilities can scarcely afford. Login for more...