Vision for 2020 – Looking back to go forward

The future of healthcare is difficult to predict, although most futurists agree that how and where care will be provided, is likely to change.  Healthcare organisations should learn to spot the infliction points in the environment; do a reality check and reposition their organisations to face a brand-new decade.

In 2020, the Intercare Group will be celebrating 20 years in business, and it is valuable to look back at the critical lessons learned, the success stories and changes made in the past 20 years that allowed us to continue providing innovative healthcare solutions.

Here are some of the most critical lessons learned that will position us for continued growth into the next decade.

♦  A healthcare company's goal must be societal and not just economic.

♦  Putting patients first made it easier to personify our vision and create a great healthcare experience for patients.

♦  Creative collaborations, partnerships, and meaningful connections can change people’s health. Be willing to invest, collaborate and partner to make that change a reality.

♦  Curiosity is the key to great leadership. Use every opportunity to listen, learn new things and try something different. Curiosity breeds innovation.

♦  Innovative healthcare solutions are the result of the relentless pursuit of better ways – better ways to change relationships, services and the experiences we create for all our stakeholders.

♦  Keep up with trends – globally, nationally and locally.

♦  Become a leader in delivering value to patients. We strive to and are committed to consistent levels of excellence and professionalism in service delivery.

♦  The value lies within the prosocial behaviours such as structuring services around the health status and patients’ needs and not merely the traditional levels of care.

♦  Personalise care by offering healthcare consumers accessibility and convenience through the location of their facilities, extended operating hours and high-quality clinical care. This creates more impact for patients, systems and care organisations.

♦  Communication is a major facilitator of successful patient engagement. To connect with patients at the right moment and in a meaningful way is the sweet spot for patient experience.

♦  Optimise how patients can access care services via online booking capabilities and call centres dedicated to making bookings, and coordinate patient care.

♦  Complacency is a disease and it should make you uncomfortable. The only cure is to constantly evolve and change.

♦  Be bold and have the guts to take risks. Growth and innovation happen when you try new ideas, products, and processes.

The vision for Intercare for 2020 and beyond will not just focus on radical changes in the interface of health i.e. ease of access, location of care, quality, and affordability, but also on predictive, preventive, and collaborative care models promoting social and financial inclusion. We are on the verge of entering a brand-new decade of change globally, as well as locally and an exciting year for healthcare. We are ready to embrace the proposed national healthcare initiative and to increase our sphere of influence and impact.