Health Care Reform in Utah

July 6, 2009

A bit from colleague, John Kesler, with whom I have worked a bit to support the evolution of health care in Utah...

The overview is here. The large change priorities follow...
Vision 2010 Sub-Committees

“Large Change” Priorities

Quality and Safety
• Support the IHI 5 million lives campaign. The Campaign’s goal is to protect patients from 5 million incidents of medical harm from December 2006-December 2008. The effort aims to enlist 4,000 hospitals in a renewed national commitment to improve patient safety faster than ever before.

Seamless Technology
• Support the creation of a universally accepted and accessible clinical records exchange tool
• Reduce “fragmentation” in the system and simplify exchange of clinical data.

Access and Affordability
• Link the various conversations related to access and affordability in the State of Utah—the Governor’s Plan, UMA’s committee, Healthcare Coverage Coalition, Salt Lake Chamber, Michael Leavitt plan, other conversations, etc.
• Support a Shared Values Model for a New System:
--A strong public health system
--A reformed insurance market that delivers essential core coverage
--A reformed healthcare delivery market that creates incentives for increasing value
--Systems that fully support the delivery of high quality care
--Transition bridge for existing community and volunteer clinics

Engaged Workforce
• Continue to support and pursue initiatives to support academia. Work in partnership with the Utah State Office of Education and Dept. of Workforce services to promote health sciences careers and “fill the pipeline” for future healthcare needs. Work in partnership with UONL and academia to initiate the USPIN proposal to streamline clinical placements for nursing students.
• Increase interaction with other sub-committees in the areas of safety, wellness and diversity. Focus on efforts to improve employee wellness in our hospitals, both physicially and emotionally, working toward the goal of “Treating the employee better than they treat the patient.”
• Further define levels of professional competence in the healthcare workforce.