At this year's American Hospital Association Leadership Summit, I saw an impressive parade of luminaries shed light on many pressing challenges faced by the health care industry.
Chesley B. Sullenberger, the pilot who landed ill-fated USAirways flight 1549 safely in the Hudson River, advised us that the routinized, safety checklists that made his heroics possible have an important place in health care. Contrary to current complaints, such lists would not rob doctors of their autonomy. Instead, checklists would ensure best practices and allow doctors to excel, while guarding patient safety.
Al Gore, former vice president of the U.S., spoke of sustainability—a challenge faced not only in the economics surrounding our consumption of Earth's resources, but also in the delivery of health care.
Steven D. Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics, reminded us of the role of free market forces in health care. He warned that we may need to "make people decide between taking grandma off life support and paying for their kid's college education."
Dee Dee Myers, former White House press secretary, reminded us of the direct, positive correlation between the percentage of women in top leadership roles and achievement of success. Although health care provides many opportunities for women, leadership roles continue to be scarce.
Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, warned of the enormous competitive pressure coming from China and India. He said health care providers will need to deliver very high quality at a much lower cost or face the prospect of bankruptcy.
Ian Morrison, health care futurist, reiterated that health care reform is moving our industry from focusing on volume to creating value. Glenn Steele, Jr., President & CEO, Geisinger Health System, and his leadership team discussed how they develop programs that simultaneously improve care and provide increased value. They prove that transformation is already in progress.
Many speakers explored approaches to the complexity of implementing changes mandated by new health care reform legislation, as well as the challenges of improving outcomes while squeezing out costs. The convergence of so many experts and accomplished professionals offered enlightenment and some rays of hope in the storm.
— Tom DeSanto
Image: Tom DeSanto
Summit Illuminates Health Care Transformation
Childhood Obesity: Signature Project Sounds the Alarm
Obesity has tripled among America's adolescents. It rose from 5 percent in 1980 to more than 18 percent in 2008. Among children 8 to 11, obesity increased from 6.5 percent to 19.6 percent. (CDC)
Associated risks for obese children include increased incidence of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, breathing problems, sleeping difficulties, low self-esteem, depression and anxiety. (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)
Continuing risks during adulthood are dire. Computer generated forecasts, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007, estimated that by 2035 the prevalence of coronary heart disease will be 5 to 16 percent higher than today due to childhood obesity.
Major culprits for the epidemic include poor dietary habits and a more sedentary lifestyle, most likely learned from parents. A recent study reported the overall obesity rate among adult Americans was 33.8 percent in 2008. (Journal of the American Medical Association, January 20, 2010)
Obesity is an enormously complex issue. Changing the underlying social and cultural causes will require a sea change. Making incremental progress will require the cooperation to implement—and sustain—practical measures that can make a difference.
In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report outlining ten key strategies schools could take to combat childhood obesity. It continues to issue reports, guidelines and tools. Are they working?
A study reported in Health Affairs in March 2010 offers some hope. San Francisco State University researchers compared body mass index data from students in fifth and seventh grades before and after California adopted regulations banning sodas, highly sweetened beverages and junk foods in pubic schools. Based on eight years of data, researchers found that before the measures were enacted, obesity rates were increasing in all groups. In the three years after the ban, obesity rates slowed in all study groups except fifth-grade girls. (UPI)
To stay healthy, children need guidance in schools and at home. Actions speak louder than words. America has been taking some action against childhood obesity with limited success. Maybe what we've needed is the First Lady's words.
— Tom DeSanto
Image: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
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