Toby Cosgrove, MD, Discusses Strategies for Bending the Cost Curve

Toby Cosgrove, MD, president and CEO, The Cleveland Clinic, says their organization has implemented a variety of strategies to bend the cost curve. He suggests that healthcare organizations should serve as role models for what is required to improve health outcomes. Some initiatives they practice include banning smoking on campus and refusing to hire smokers. As well, they removed sugared drinks and fried foods from company cafeterias. They also offer exercise programs to employees.

“We’re concerned that one of the main drivers of cost in healthcare [are] patients' behaviors,” Dr Cosgrove says. “We know that obesity, sedentary life, and smoking are major drivers of chronic disease and cost.”