Tony Thrasher, DO, president of the Wisconsin Psychiatric Association and medical director of crisis services for Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division, spoke with Becker’s about less-discussed problems with healthcare consolidation.
Note: Response has been edited lightly for clarity and brevity.
Question: What’s a headwind or obstacle you’re seeing that people aren’t talking about?
Dr. Tony Thrasher: The rise in consolidation of large healthcare system mergers. Much like the NCAA, there may be pros and cons to “super-conferences,” but I worry more about the cons. A dedicated, caring, invested workforce is the focus of all healthcare systems; there is worry that these mergers will lead to more of that work force not working in said systems, or having dissatisfaction that then leads to poorer outcomes.
