Hospitals Are Evolving

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There has been a big change in medicine. Hospitals are evolving.

Many of them used to be focused on high-acuity care but it is becoming apparent that hospitals need to be part of a bigger system. This is a health care system focusing on both inpatient and outpatient care and day to day health.

For many community hospitals this means a restructuring of the Board of Directors to include people from the community who understand the various barriers to total care of the patient and ways to ensure quality.

Most people are not aware but a local Board of Directors can have a dramatic impact on the direction a hospital follows as well as emphasis on quality care.