National Symposium Explores Advances in Health Care Quality

National Symposium Explores Advances in Health Care Quality

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- National leaders in the health care quality movement, including providers and patient- and family-care advocates, came together today in Washington, D.C. to draw attention to the importance of quality care and celebrate the outstanding work of individuals and institutions that are transforming health care in communities across America.

Champions of Change: A National Symposium on Improving Health Care, held at the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, showcased the pioneering work of health care providers and consumers who are struggling to eliminate medical errors which account for as many as 98,000 preventable deaths in hospitals each year. The symposium, which focused on patient empowerment, patient- and family-centered care, collaboration and transparency also served as the culmination of a national outreach campaign on behalf of the PBS series, Remaking American Medicine(TM) ... Health Care for the 21st Century. The four-part series, which premieres October 5, explores the quality crisis.

The series and symposium were supported in part by a grant from the Amgen Foundation. "The series reminds us that significant, positive change can only be achieved when many people come together and work as one. Today's symposium reinforces that theme by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and the forging of new partnerships. It offers an opportunity for each of us to renew our commitment to being champions of change," said Jean Lim, president of the Amgen Foundation.

Symposium keynote speakers included Dr. Mark McClellan, administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); Dr. Donald Berwick, president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI); and Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

During his remarks, Dr. McClellan acknowledged the powerful role providers and consumers, such as symposium panelists, play in ensuring patient safety. "The goals and potential impact of Remaking American Medicine are a natural fit with the commitment of CMS to improve the delivery, transparency and value of American health care," said Dr. McClellan. "This is the foundation for transforming health care and fulfilling the promise of a 21st century health care system that will help people live longer and better lives at a cost we can afford."

Dr. Donald Berwick made it clear that improving health care is a challenging but achievable task. "What we need is outrage. We all need to say, 'No, we don't want to work in or depend on a health care system at any price, let alone one the costs close to two trillion dollars, which is going to hurt patients when it tries to help them.' This series should be a wake-up call to America that we can improve health care."

Dr. Clancy focused on the role the public can play in assuring the quality of their health care. "Patients and their families are becoming increasingly involved in their own health and health care, and they are their own best advocates. However, an empowered patient isn't enough to ensure high-quality, safe health care. The health care system must be willing to accept them as partners. Remaking American Medicine can help to spur that change in our health care system."

"It's easy to focus on what's wrong with health care, said Risa Lavizzo- Mourey, MD, MBA, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, major underwriter of the PBS series.

"But we all have a role to play in making it better. The stories of committed people working to improve the quality of care in Remaking American Medicine should inspire all of us-patients, providers, employers, administrators, hospital CEOs, insurers or whatever role we play in healthcare-to push for better care for all Americans," she added.

Frank Christopher, executive producer, Remaking American Medicine, and his colleagues discussed the series and presented brief clips. "Remaking American Medicine is a television series that will affect all of us. Because, when it comes to health care, we all feel vulnerable. We trust the hospital, the clinic, or the individual doctor or nurse to care for our loved ones and for ourselves when we are most helpless. But too often, our trust is betrayed. The four-part documentary series profiles the people who are struggling to regain our trust."

Among the symposium panelists were several Champions of Change featured in the series:

* Sorrel King - founder of the Josie King Foundation and a nationally recognized patient advocate.

* Dr. Peter Pronovost - medical director, Center for Innovation in Quality Patient Care, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.

* Dr. Marlene Miller - director, Quality and Safety Initiatives, Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Dr. Miller works closely with Ms. King.

* Julie Moretz - a mother energized by her son Daniel's lifelong struggle with heart disease. She has joined the staff at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) Children's Medical Center to help further patient- and family- centered care.

* Pat Sodomka - vice president of Patient- and Family-Centered Care at MCG Health System who is working closely with Julie to help transform the institution.

* Dr Richard Shannon - who as chief of medicine at Allegheny County Hospital in Pittsburgh, successfully confronted an epidemic of hospital- acquired infections.

* Dr. Anne Peters - professor of medicine, who as director of the USC Clinical Diabetes Programs, is working with patients in Los Angeles to effectively control their disease.

* Dr. Jeffrey Guterman - medical director, Clinical Resource Management, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, who has teamed up with Dr. Peters to develop systems to help patients better manage their chronic diseases.

* Gerald L. McClinton - an advocate for greater acceptance of family involvement in the care of loved ones.

* Carolyn Pare - CEO, Buyers Health Care Action Group. Although not profiled in the series, Ms. Pare leads a business organization committed to ensuring quality care.

Panel moderators included Susan Dentzer, health correspondent, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer; Avery Comarow, senior health writer, U.S. News & World Report; and Peabody Award-winning journalist John Hockenberry, who also served as symposium host.

The symposium was seen via a live Webcast and distributed by PBS satellite to thousands of viewers around the country. Led by PBS stations and Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs), more than 500 local coalition members are participating in the outreach activities designed to heighten public awareness and to take positive steps to improve health care.

Crosskeys Media(R) is a group of highly accomplished filmmakers with a long history of creating award-winning theatrical films, television programs, documentaries and non-broadcast videos. Matthew Eisen is Co-Executive Producer. Marc Shaffer is Series Producer.

Funding for the series was made available by lead sponsor the Amgen Foundation, with major underwriting from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation(R). The Nathan Cummings Foundation and the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation provided additional funding. For addition information, log on to www.RAMcampaign.org.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Crosskeys Media

CONTACT: Gail Rubin, +1-505-363-7514, or Barbara Lohman,
+1-714-342-7464, for Crosskeys Media

Web site: http://www.ramcampaign.org/

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