Health & Wellness
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• JUNE 7, 2019 • Midlands Business Journal
A section prepared by the staff of the Midlands Business Journal
June 7, 2018
New models, community partnerships take on access to quality, affordable care by Michelle Leach
Escalating costs of chronic conditions and procedures to treat them are driving transformations in the patient-doctor relationship and community conversations around health challenges. “From greater utilization of high-deductible health plans, ever-increasing premiums and narrowing networks of authorized providers, patients are often left with several thousand dollars of out-of-pocket expenses before their insurance benefit kicks in,” said Dr. John Hallgren, founder of Mission Direct Primary Care. “If they Robertson make a mistake or have an emergency requiring treatment with a non-network provider or facility, they may be on the hook for the entire episode of care, insurance or no.” In turn, Hallgren said patients are turning to “less traditional avenues” (urgent care, telehealth) — cobbling together episodes of care without much coordination. His firm’s approach is in its name — direct primary care. “Our goal is to restore a trusted, direct
Dr. John Hallgren, founder of Mission Direct Primary Care. relationship between the doctor and the pa- parent and reasonable costs for primary care.” tient,” he said. “That includes patients having Mission Direct Primary Care is mema doctor they know and who knows them, bership-based, with monthly payments that who they can contact when needed (including Hallgren said pair well with high-deductafter-hours), and having predictable, trans- ible/wrap-around insurance plans or health
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shares — savings for companies with health benefits, and enabling companies that haven’t been able to have such a benefit to afford one (and to compete for talent in a tight labor market). CHI Health CEO and Senior Vice President of Operations Dr. Cliff Robertson said employers remain concerned about costs despite wellness programming. “Great evidence shows 80% of the costs come from 20% of the people, and if you identify the 20% of the people that have the most medical concerns, you can wrap resources around them and Sjolie lower costs,” he said. “Particularly with corporate wellness, the return on that investment may be a longer horizon. It may take multiple years to see an impact.” CHI Health has reportedly rolled out a direct primary care program for individuals and businesses, and a version for employees. Robertson also referred to how technology — artificial intelligence and machine learning — is impacting the delivery of care and costs. It’s partnering with technology platform MDsave. What Kayak and Expedia are to travel, MDsave is to health care. One may shop for vouchers for medical procedures online, reportedly at up to 60% savings of what health systems bill insurance. Technology is also being deployed, for example, via bots that search patients’ electronic records and notify physicians during their visit of data that informs proactive care. “Historically, with those electronic medical records, the physician had to search through the data,” Robertson said. “Even during a brief encounter, they’ve got the machine helping them to not miss a recommended screening.” Machine learning may inform diagnostics, interpreting tests and X-rays to gain efficiencies among its most expensive resource: caregivers. Robertson said lower costs can then be passed on to consumers. A soon-to-be-announced partnership will allow CHI Health patients to access healthy eating rewards, discounts and coupons at a regional grocery chain via an app. “It’s behavioral economics, the science of using incentives and getting people to change Continued on next page.
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Health & Wellness — inside JUNE 7, 2019
THE BUSINESS NEWSPAPER OF GREATER OMAHA, LINCOLN AND COUNCIL BLUFFS
$2.00
VOL. 45 NO. 23
Baxter Auto Group embraces re-investment discipline
THIS WEEK 'S ISSUE:
by Richard D. Brown
New modern general store, the Dapper Dwelling, centers on sustainability. – Page 2
40 er d Un 40 Renaissance Financial’s Whiteing leads with empathy to serve clients, new employees. – Page 3
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Solar technologies to energy-efficient materials, sustainability-centered innovations flourish. – Page 27
Angela M. Quinn, who along with her brother Mickey Anderson, own and operate Baxter Auto Group, credit a strong focus on re-investing in their business that includes 20 dealership locations and more than 8,000 vehicles, with being the paramount factor in the robust growth of their business. Baxter Auto Group, with about 2,000 employees — approximately 1,600 in Nebraska — hit about $1.5 billion in revenues in 2018 and sold about 40,000 vehicles. Close to a double digit increase in sales is expected this year by the firm that industry publication Automotive News ranked No. 33 in its annual analysis of the nation's largest auto dealerships. Quinn said Baxter — which has added 11 locations in the past 10 years and more than doubled its size — differentiates itself from many competitors, which might focus on “certain stages Continued on page 13.
Owners Angela Quinn and Mickey Anderson at the new Audi dealership … The organization recently opened a new Audi dealership and eye on future growth opportunities. (Photo by MBJ / Becky McCarville)
Little King to recapture national ‘crown’ with social engagement, online orders by Michelle Leach
In its 50th year, Little King is positioning itself to be a national company again, like President Robert “Bob” Wertheim said the locally based deli was in the 1970s and 1980s. It’s taking a big bite out of that goal via the ingredients that have sustained the franchise as others in their space fell by the wayside. “It’s the consistency and qual-
ity of the product that we put out, and throughout those 50 years we’ve used lots of the same product from Hormel, Jennie-O and Frito-Lay,” Wertheim said. “And nobody says they have cruddy service. Everybody says they’ve got great customer service. But we make you feel welcome. We know it’s important to greet people. I say, ‘You can go anywhere Continued on page 9. Dr. Paul Grandgenett, director of UNMC’s Rapid Autopsy Program … Expanding the program to include non-cancer organs through a partnership with Live On Nebraska.
UNMC’s Rapid Autopsy Program advancing breakthrough pancreatic cancer research by Becky McCarville
President Robert “Bob” Wertheim … Locally grown franchise known for its signature “Royal Treat” celebrates 50 years with series of events that bolster net sales, reacquaint customers with brand.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Rapid Autopsy Program (RAP) has expanded dramatically over the past few years, not only in additional lab space and specialized sub-80 degree freezers to store samples, but also in the number of collaborations with cancer researchers at UNMC and outside of UNMC as well as a partnership with Live
On Nebraska. The program provides tissue samples — cancer tissue and normal tissue — to researchers worldwide to help pancreatic cancer patients increase both their life expectancy and quality of life as well as provide samples for other types of cancer research. “It’s called a rapid autopsy program but it’s really a tumor Continued on page 10.