SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – A simple treatment that involves transplanting healthy feces into a patient suffering from a debilitating and sometimes deadly infection of the colon called Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is continuing to show significant promise, according to researchers at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.Continue reading→

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., Tucson, Arizona USA. (Photo: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.) Continue reading→

$45 million in awards to test early interventions, explore new approaches including to the  Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative APOE4 Trial  —  Drs. Eric Reiman and Pierre  Tariot, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, Phoenix, and co-investigators. Fully  funded in fiscal 2013 at $33.2 millionContinue reading→

Health Care Sector Partnership

Executive Summary

Health Care Sector Partnership Launch – July, 2013

The Health Care Sector Partnership met on July 17, 2013, identifying priority opportunities and requirements to grow the sector in the Phoenix region.  Over 44 individuals representing 36 businesses attended the launch identified the following priority opportunities driving growth of the sector:

• Demographic changes are driving increasing demand for health care services in the area (e.g., overall population growth, an aging population, an influx of retirees from outside the area, increasing patients with diabetes/obesity)

• National policy changes will grow demand for health services as well (e.g., the Affordable Care Act, including new emphasis on Medicaid expansion, primary care, and management of chronic illness and disease; a National HIV/AIDS Strategy)

• The emergence of a new health care model will stimulate growth of the sector in new directions (e.g., shift to integrated, primary care delivery; integrated healthcare focusing on the “whole person”; personalized medicine; new wellness models; “triple aim” of improving care and patient experience while reducing costs)

• New technology innovation and application in the sector will drive growth by helping facilitate the transformation to a new health care model  (e.g., integration/exchange of medical records, technology interoperability among institutions, greater patient self-management and engagement through technology)

Three Priority Areas for Action

To capitalize on these promising opportunities to grow the sector in the Phoenix area, participants then identified three priority areas for action, with individuals volunteering to be initial champions in each area:

• Talent/Workforce:  Grow the Local Talent Base to Drive the New Health Care Model.  To enable growth, the sector will require more and new kinds of talent than in the past.  We need to focus on transforming the talent pipeline, from top-level talent (e.g., increasing residence slots for physicians, the number of doctors specializing in elder care) to the broad range of health care professions (e.g., increasing clinical student placements in all disciplines, preparing more students for national certifications, increasing educational capacity in “high demand” occupational fields).  Reshape education at all levels to prepare more talent for the growing “triple aim”/”whole person” integrated health care model (i.e., improve care, improve patient experience, reduce cost).

• Vision/Communication:  Build Broad-based Support for the New Health Care Model.  To catalyze growth, there is a need to articulate the vision and communicate the benefits and requirements for implementing the new health care model.  Develop a unified message and pursue a multi-faceted communications strategy to reach specific audiences:  general public, patients, policymakers, employers, and other system partners.  Focus on increasing enrollment in health care coverage, preparing patients to be partners, encouraging employers to support the wellness of their employees, increasing collaboration among system partners for better “triple aim” results, and encouraging state and local policies to support shift to new Model.

• Technology/Innovation:  Promote Technological Innovation and Adoption in Health Care.  Technology can be used much more effectively to help facilitate the shift to the new health care model.  Focus on health information technology applications, such as standardizing data collection/reporting/measurement, exchanging information, and enabling personalized medicine.

Action Teams – August, 2013

In August, 25 business representatives attended Action Team meetings and drafted outcomes (i.e., what does success look like in measurable ways) and actions (i.e., what needs to happen to achieve these outcomes) in the three priority areas including (1) Talent/Workforce (2) Vision/Communication and (3) Technology Innovation.

Next Step – October, 2013

These draft outcomes and actions will be discussed and refined at the next Phoenix Health Care Sector Partnership meeting for business, education and community leaders on October 2, 2013 from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Center at 302 N. First Avenue, 6^th Floor, Phoenix, Arizona.

For additional information on the Health Care Sector Partnership, please contact Pam Lindley, Program Manager, City of Phoenix, Community & Economic Development Department, at
602-262-6060 or pam.lindley@phoenix.gov.

New hope for breast cancer patients: An FDA panel has backed a pre-surgery drug that doctors say could help women fight breast cancer earlier — and live longer cancer-free. Full FDA approval could come as early as next month. NBC’s John Yang reports.Continue reading→