By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    stress management for healthcare workers
    3 Tips For Healthcare Professionals: How To Stay Beautiful, Healthy, and Happy
    November 2, 2021
    importance of relaxing on the weekend for your health
    Importance of Relaxing During the Weekend for Optimal Health
    March 25, 2022
    LASIK Eye Surgery
    What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
    May 16, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    The PCMH and Home Care Data: An Interview with Melissa McCormack
    December 19, 2013
    IT Strategy for Health Plans: Interview with ikaSystems CEO Joe Marabito
    August 11, 2014
    A New Kind of Stress Test
    May 26, 2015
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Joslin Diabetes CEO faces ‘big challenges’
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Hospital Administration > Joslin Diabetes CEO faces ‘big challenges’
Hospital Administration

Joslin Diabetes CEO faces ‘big challenges’

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE
It's tough to win in the diabetes business

It’s tough to win in the diabetes business.

It's tough to win in the diabetes business

It’s tough to win in the diabetes business.

Diabetes is a huge health problem, and Joslin Diabetes Center is a renowned, world-class institution. You’d think it would be a good moneymaker, or at least able to break even. But, as the Boston Globe explains in Big challenges ahead for new Joslin CEO, that’s not the case.

Here’s the part of the article where I’m quoted:

Diabetes typically doesn’t require the kinds of expensive treatments or surgeries used to fight illnesses such as eye diseases and cancers. That means Joslin doesn’t have the same opportunities to generate revenues as other specialty clinics in Boston, such as Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

“Diabetes is not as profitable a market as more procedure-oriented specialties,” said David E. Williams, a Boston health care consultant.

Several years into health reform, it seems odd that we’re still rewarding expensive interventions rather than the type of coordinated, prevention-oriented care that Joslin provides. In some fields, prevention has an uncertain payoff, yet for diabetics proper care helps head off terrible and expensive downstream complications such as amputation, blindness, heart disease and kidney failure.

Joslin has a couple other things going against it:

  • Big healthcare systems have focused on keeping all care within their own systems, preventing “leakage” to other providers even when those providers are excellent
  • Joslin derives a fair amount of its revenue from research. Unfortunately for Joslin NIH rules such as salary caps and COLA freezes make research a loser from a purely financial standpoint. There’s also a lot of competition for grant dollars

Joslin has actually done a good job of recognizing these problems, and has built a substantial commercial business to license its knowhow and brand. But that hasn’t been enough to make up for all of the headwinds.

I am wishing new CEO Dr. Peter Amenta the best of success as he tries to turn this ship around.

Image courtesy of smarnad at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

—

By healthcare business consultant David E. Williams, president of Health Business Group.

TAGGED:CEOdiabetes
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

physician survey results
Hospital AdministrationSpecialties

Physician Survey 2013 – Physician Burnout and Stress in Healthcare

March 11, 2013

Cut-Rate Concierge Medicine? One Medical Resorts to Discounting

February 4, 2014

Forecast: Sunny Skies, But Now Is the Time to Protect Your Facility From Future Storms

April 7, 2016
healthcare reform
BusinessFinanceHealth ReformHospital AdministrationPolicy & LawPublic Health

Trend Watch: Obamacare Challenging Community Hospitals

May 16, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?