OhioHealth Fixes Nurse Shortage with Menu Approach

OhioHealth has tackled its nurse shortage by re-framing employment contracts to resemble a 'prix fixe' menu, offering customizable benefit packages that cater to individual nurse preferences. This strategy, inspired by restaurant dining, allows nurses to select options like sign-on bonuses, student loan repayment, or certification assistance, leading to the lowest nurse vacancy rates since pre-COVID.

In parallel, Kaiser Permanente is proactively addressing the needs of an aging population through innovative care models. They are utilizing AI to identify at-risk patients, enabling care teams to provide preemptive support. This "Care Plus" model integrates nurses, pharmacists, physicians, social workers, and navigators to offer tailored interventions for conditions like chronic diseases, falls, or hospital readmissions.

The Permanente Federation is also embracing technology to improve senior care, noting that older adults are increasingly receptive to digital tools. They are exploring AI for dermatology assessments and using ambient AI scribes in clinic visits to enhance doctor-patient interaction. Specialties like orthopedics and cardiology are seeing increased demand, with plans to expand through team-based approaches and ambulatory treatment centers.