Editor’s note: This commentary is by John Powell, who is a member of the board of trustees for the UVM Health Network.
[T]he University of Vermont Medical Center continues to earn national recognition for providing among the highest quality low-cost care relative to its peers across the nation. That is the definition of creating value for the patients served. For the University of Vermont Health Network, serving Vermont and Northern New York through six hospitals, a multi-specialty medical group and a home health agency, this is the foundation for the true reform needed in the world of caring for people’s health.
Vermont is leading the nation in a fundamental transformation of how health care will be delivered. It is a deliberate shift from being the best repair shop — “if you are broken or sick we have the skills to help fix you” — to a focus that prioritizes health and wellness along with being here with the expertise necessary to care for people when they need treatment. And, very importantly, it requires a shift toward working together with all of our partners to keep our communities healthy.
The emerging term for this change is “population health.” Because this is a relatively new term that comes with a fundamental shift of resources and methods of reimbursement, its definition is still forming across the country. The UVM Health Network is integrating health care and other services into a coordinated approach dedicated to helping people live the healthiest lives possible.
Population health challenges our medical professionals to work differently, but it requires that all individuals shoulder the responsibility of making healthy life choices. Success in this area requires an inspired culture shift throughout our communities. That work is already happening and it is incredibly exciting to watch.
Vermont has spent decades making our health care system what it is today: nonprofit and led by local health care providers who are not only committed to the health and well-being of patients, families and communities, but also to the vitality of our state. This system is a collaboration that includes hospitals, community-based organizations, home care, mental health care, substance use treatment and many more. As a state, we have prioritized access to care for all, regardless of one’s ability to pay, and have never shied from an opportunity to show the nation what we can achieve working together for the benefit of all.
The UVM Health Network is at the leading edge of this transformation today as we continue our journey to improve care and control costs. The all-payer model aligns our payment incentives with the objectives of population health. It is designed to move from volume-driven, fee-for-service payments to a system that incentivizes keeping people out of expensive care settings like hospitals. It raises the value of a culture focused on health through prevention, wellness programs and chronic disease management. This is where those community partnerships come in. Hospitals across Vermont, including the ones in the UVM Health Network, and partnering community organizations are already taking the challenging steps to build a more coordinated system for delivering care – one that focuses on new ways of thinking about how care is delivered to meet the needs.
The UVM Health Network is beginning to receive national recognition for accomplishments in this area. Results that truly benefit our patients and communities – while keeping our health care systems strong and stable while delivering the highest quality and most cost-effective care possible – can only be achieved through the continued hard work and valued partnerships with our community partners and in Montpelier.
