At the inaugural Florida State University Business of Healthcare Summit, Florida Blue President and CEO Pat Geraghty called on state and industry leaders to commit to advancing healthcare quality, cost-efficiency, and accessibility for all Floridians. Addressing an overflow audience of over 200 professionals from various sectors, Geraghty emphasized the need for transformative changes in the U.S. healthcare system, which he criticized for its high costs and disparities in care quality.
Geraghty challenged attendees to envision a healthcare system that delivers “the right care in the right setting at the right time” affordably. His remarks were made at the Turnbull Florida State Conference Center, where FSU President Richard McCullough highlighted the university’s $125 million legislative funding to establish an academic health center in partnership with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. This facility will serve as the cornerstone of FSU Health, aimed at revolutionizing healthcare delivery in North Florida. FSU is also collaborating with The St. Joe Company to develop additional healthcare facilities in Panama City Beach.
Stacey Patterson, FSU’s Vice President for Research, emphasized the importance of cohesive leadership and expanded research to impact “health span”—a term describing the goal of living well for as long as possible. Michael Hartline, Dean of the FSU College of Business, noted the university’s new programs focused on healthcare management and advanced nursing degrees.
Panels at the summit addressed critical issues including pediatric and elderly care, staffing shortages, and the implications of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Mary Mayhew, President of the Florida Hospital Association, emphasized the need to evaluate healthcare delivery across the entire lifespan.
Geraghty urged for innovations in cost management and patient service delivery, highlighting Florida Blue’s efforts to leverage AI for more efficient pre-authorization processes. He concluded by advocating for continued collaboration to enhance health span and overall care quality.
Hartline ended the summit with a commitment to future events focused on healthcare business challenges and innovations.
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