Many thanks to Kaiser Family Foundation for hosting and making available this important discussion on health, care and cost.
Uniquely American
1 hour ago
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
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| http://norvig.com/Gettysburg/ |
Click here to view a clever example from Peter Norvig that shows the limits of technology! It was sent to me by a friend who knows how much I fret over PowerPoint presentations.
No technology can compete with this!
No technology can compete with this!
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Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Postcard from the Kaizen Team
Dear Colleagues and Partners,
Please find the "postcard" below from the recent Kaizen team addressed to all of you. The team would like you to know about the Kaizen week and related efforts. I applaud the team for this creative communication test and hope you will provide feedback and suggestions for improvement. Click on the images below and they will appear in full size.
Anna
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Congratulations to the 2010/2011 Contra Costa Regional Medical Center Change Agent Fellows
Friends, family and colleagues
packed our Regional
Medical Center
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| From left to right: William Walker, Vernita Travis, Michael Roetzer, Anna Roth, Kandy Heinen, Miles Kotchevar, Wendy Katchmar, Don Goldmann |
Joining us in celebration of the completion of the first leg of the fellow's journey was Dr. Don Goldmann, Senior Vice President, Institute for Healthcare Improvement; Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Professor of Immunology and Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Goldmann talked about the future of health care and the importance of innovation. His discussion led us through the foundation of improvement and innovation and toward a call to action. His talk was thought provoking and inspiring.
I am grateful to the fellows, their families and colleagues and to all who have helped to make this year a rich experience for each of them. Many thanks to all who came out to celebrate this wonderful milestone for the fellows and for our system.
I'll post the link to the video the fellows put together which demonstrates how creative this group is and reveals their lighter side.
Anna
To find out more about the Fellowship Program, contact Olivia Stringer at olivia.stringer@hsd.cccounty.us
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Into 2012
Welcoming a new year filled with possibility
It’s hard to believe it is already a new year. The fact that many of us have spent time in the last few weeks reflecting on the past year and making resolutions for the new, speaks of the hope that we hold for the future. As Chief Executive Officer of Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) and the Health Centers (HC), it has been my privilege to support the compassionate work performed by all of you this year. Together we have faced unprecedented upheaval in our national, state and local economies. Trying times expose our values because they force us to make critical choices.
This year will be no less trying. Economic crisis continues to clench much of the world. Initially centered on the financial sector, this crisis has caused business failures and job losses and, ultimately, an increased demand for service from the safety net. I will not downplay the fact that once again we will most certainly face another year of immense challenges – because, indeed, much hard work and hard choices are ahead. Yet, before us lies an even bigger opportunity to renew and recommit to our mission in response to the urgency of challenging times. Throughout our county’s history, tough times have seen us not lower our sights but raise them. We need to display an ambition equal to our future. We are in a time of profound change. We must continue to improve and invigorate our system as one that goes beyond a “place of last resort”, to a system that exists within a community where no one is left out.
Together, and in partnership with our community, we will achieve:
I am thankful that this last year provided the opportunity to deeply examine our system. After many months, the sustainability study of our Regional Medical Center and Health Centers was completed. The report described our strengths and the work we have underway to further improve and transform our system in order to continue to care for our community and help implement changes as part of Health Care Reform. The study summarized our current efforts to improve service delivery and patient experience, providing an excellent overview of our planned transition to Health Care Reform into 2014 and beyond. The findings validate that we have been - and continue to be - on the right path.
We are at a critical crossroads in health care in America and here in Contra Costa County. Together we will move forward on the basis on our shared ideals. As our community’s health system, we must continue to focus and prepare for the full implementation of Health Care Reform in 2014. Our goal is to provide care for our patients that is more coordinated and integrated, that will allow for earlier intervention, fewer avoidable emergency department visits and hospital stays and, ultimately, a healthier population while containing costs across our system and our community.
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers (CCRMC & HC) will expand access to health care and enhance quality through our Delivery System Reform program, also known as DSRIP. The improvements we are implementing as part of this plan are seen as key concepts of Health Care Reform. This critical effort builds on the extensive, innovative, work already underway at CCRMC & HC and contributes to important knowledge for our country.
We are also well into the implementation of our electronic health record (EHR): ccLink. Based on the Epic software system, ccLink, which will "go live" in July 2012, is more than a state-of-the-art health record technology — it will help further transform the care experience by linking patients with the best care and people. The implementation of ccLink, increasing access to our delivery system, shortening response times for appointment scheduling, integrating behavioral health and primary care, the realization of landmark health reform concepts and many other improvements are all well underway thanks to your efforts.
There is still much work to be done, but we should not forget how much we have accomplished this past year. Your commitment and partnership are making a difference. Please accept my sincere best wishes to you and your families for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
I look ahead with confidence and optimism.
It’s hard to believe it is already a new year. The fact that many of us have spent time in the last few weeks reflecting on the past year and making resolutions for the new, speaks of the hope that we hold for the future. As Chief Executive Officer of Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) and the Health Centers (HC), it has been my privilege to support the compassionate work performed by all of you this year. Together we have faced unprecedented upheaval in our national, state and local economies. Trying times expose our values because they force us to make critical choices.
This year will be no less trying. Economic crisis continues to clench much of the world. Initially centered on the financial sector, this crisis has caused business failures and job losses and, ultimately, an increased demand for service from the safety net. I will not downplay the fact that once again we will most certainly face another year of immense challenges – because, indeed, much hard work and hard choices are ahead. Yet, before us lies an even bigger opportunity to renew and recommit to our mission in response to the urgency of challenging times. Throughout our county’s history, tough times have seen us not lower our sights but raise them. We need to display an ambition equal to our future. We are in a time of profound change. We must continue to improve and invigorate our system as one that goes beyond a “place of last resort”, to a system that exists within a community where no one is left out.
Together, and in partnership with our community, we will achieve:
• Better Care: Improve overall quality, by making health care more patient-centered, reliable, accessible, and safe.We must rise to these challenges because nothing less will do. I don’t expect that we will always agree with each other or with our colleagues across the public sector about the path forward. This is not a bad thing. Differences of opinion do not need to weaken us, they can make us stronger. Expressing divergent thinking, or raising a question often spurs introspection and brings daylight.
• Healthier People and Communities: Improve the health of the population by supporting proven interventions to address behavioral, societal, and environmental determinants of health in addition to delivering higher-quality care.
• Affordable Care: Reduce the cost of quality health care for individuals, families, employers, and our county.
I am thankful that this last year provided the opportunity to deeply examine our system. After many months, the sustainability study of our Regional Medical Center and Health Centers was completed. The report described our strengths and the work we have underway to further improve and transform our system in order to continue to care for our community and help implement changes as part of Health Care Reform. The study summarized our current efforts to improve service delivery and patient experience, providing an excellent overview of our planned transition to Health Care Reform into 2014 and beyond. The findings validate that we have been - and continue to be - on the right path.
We are at a critical crossroads in health care in America and here in Contra Costa County. Together we will move forward on the basis on our shared ideals. As our community’s health system, we must continue to focus and prepare for the full implementation of Health Care Reform in 2014. Our goal is to provide care for our patients that is more coordinated and integrated, that will allow for earlier intervention, fewer avoidable emergency department visits and hospital stays and, ultimately, a healthier population while containing costs across our system and our community.
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center and Health Centers (CCRMC & HC) will expand access to health care and enhance quality through our Delivery System Reform program, also known as DSRIP. The improvements we are implementing as part of this plan are seen as key concepts of Health Care Reform. This critical effort builds on the extensive, innovative, work already underway at CCRMC & HC and contributes to important knowledge for our country.
We are also well into the implementation of our electronic health record (EHR): ccLink. Based on the Epic software system, ccLink, which will "go live" in July 2012, is more than a state-of-the-art health record technology — it will help further transform the care experience by linking patients with the best care and people. The implementation of ccLink, increasing access to our delivery system, shortening response times for appointment scheduling, integrating behavioral health and primary care, the realization of landmark health reform concepts and many other improvements are all well underway thanks to your efforts.
There is still much work to be done, but we should not forget how much we have accomplished this past year. Your commitment and partnership are making a difference. Please accept my sincere best wishes to you and your families for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
I look ahead with confidence and optimism.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Something to smile about
If you can't see the slides below, click here to view the PowerPoint.
I wanted to share some results from what began as a “small test of change” to improve dental health in children here in Contra Costa County. Fluoride application is one improvement in our health care system that stands out as having a positive and immediate impact.
The protective effect that fluoride varnish provides for kids is remarkable. Just one annual application is dropping the rate of dental cavities as much as 50% and two applications dropping it by 75%. In spite of the fact that this quick, painless procedure has been a covered Medi-Cal benefit for young children since 2006, less than five percent of eligible children received even one annual varnish application in 2009. Unfortunately, few low-income children see a dentist on a regular basis – if at all.
We realized that our young patients didn’t need to be sitting in a dentist’s chair to receive this treatment, but in fact could have it applied during their well-child visit at our primary care clinic. Physicians, nurses and certain other personnel are legally permitted to perform the varnish application, which only takes between 1-3 minutes. Contra Costa County, in partnership with UCSF School of Dentistry’s Center to Address Disparities in Children’s Oral Health (CANDO), embarked on a program to train staff to provide this very basic service to our youngest patients. What started as a pilot in two of our health centers has now been expanded to all eight.
The results have been impressive. More than 70% of eligible children have received the varnish through our primary care clinics. We’ve also increased our education on oral health for parents as well as all patients. Our Health Plan has begun to train community providers about the varnish application.
Although it’s gratifying to be able to make such a significant difference with this simple procedure, we know that it is not enough to protect children’s dental health. We are also moving forward with efforts to expand dental care for children in our dental clinics. There are many negative consequences as a result of not seeing a dentist. If you’ve ever suffered a toothache yourself or been with one of your children while they did, you realize how much children suffer from this pain that we know could be avoided in most cases. They also risk serious and chronic infections and along with the pain are major causes of school absences. I hope to be able to report on our progress in this area in the not-too-distant future.
More very soon.
Anna
 |
| Fluoride Varnish at CCRMC and HC |
We realized that our young patients didn’t need to be sitting in a dentist’s chair to receive this treatment, but in fact could have it applied during their well-child visit at our primary care clinic. Physicians, nurses and certain other personnel are legally permitted to perform the varnish application, which only takes between 1-3 minutes. Contra Costa County, in partnership with UCSF School of Dentistry’s Center to Address Disparities in Children’s Oral Health (CANDO), embarked on a program to train staff to provide this very basic service to our youngest patients. What started as a pilot in two of our health centers has now been expanded to all eight.
The results have been impressive. More than 70% of eligible children have received the varnish through our primary care clinics. We’ve also increased our education on oral health for parents as well as all patients. Our Health Plan has begun to train community providers about the varnish application.
Although it’s gratifying to be able to make such a significant difference with this simple procedure, we know that it is not enough to protect children’s dental health. We are also moving forward with efforts to expand dental care for children in our dental clinics. There are many negative consequences as a result of not seeing a dentist. If you’ve ever suffered a toothache yourself or been with one of your children while they did, you realize how much children suffer from this pain that we know could be avoided in most cases. They also risk serious and chronic infections and along with the pain are major causes of school absences. I hope to be able to report on our progress in this area in the not-too-distant future.
More very soon.
Anna
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