It has been 10 months since we began transforming healthcare in Whatcom County with patients on the design teams, new roles on the virtual care team [ie.Clinical Care Specialists] and a "tool for self-management" called the Shared Care Plan developed within the context of PatientPowered.org website. It was a dream of community health through transformation begun in earnest in June 2002. Today we sat together with healthcare innovators from 4 countries - Sweden, Denmark, England and the United States to review what we've learned, what great ideas and best results we have experienced and of course, the sharing of "one thing we would never do again!". It was an amazing experience to celebrate the work countless people in 13 communities are doing. And to be reminded by Don Berwick that our opportunity to model a new and better way of providing healthcare...a way that will reduce mortality, embrace the use of scientific evidence, provide relief from pain, reduce waste and reduce needless helplessness for patients must produce results. And through this demonstration of results, we can create the experience and hopefulness we all want for our patients, our loved ones and ourselves from the healthcare system.
We focused on three arenas of challenge; True Patient Partnership, Execution of Large Scale Projects, and Working across Organizational Boundaries. In small groups, we shared innovative ideas...ones that are anxiety-provoking and will result in infrastructure change. And we committed to small tests of change next week on BIG IDEAS...so Whatcom County...the bar, it's moving toward perfection and we will be pursuing it...next week, and the next...and we will get results....our patients and WE expect no less. I have confidence that if we do more of what we have learned in 10 short months...and mobilize the assets our community ...the possibilities are bright for our community and for all. See you soon in Whatcom!
