Operational Excellence

February 22, 2010

John H. Cochran, MD, Talks Transforming Health Care Delivery with Nation’s Governors

The Permanente Federation Executive Director John H. Cochran, MD, was a leading presenter at the National Governors Association’s 2010 Winter Meeting held Feb. 20 in Washington, D.C. Dr. Cochran spoke on transforming health care delivery and the potential of integrated delivery systems.

Dr. Cochran’s presentation explored the importance of delivery system reform and physician-directed care management in improving outcomes and helping to contain cost. He illustrated his points with successes from Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care model, such as team care, chronic care management, physician leadership and its comprehensive electronic health record, Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect®.

On the subject of health policy, Dr. Cochran addressed the need for payment models that reward quality, not quantity, of care. Before taking questions from the governors, Dr. Cochran recognized states that he believes are leading the way in reform — Vermont, Massachusetts and Minnesota among them. Dr. Cochran concluded by encouraging the governors to act, pointing out that states have powerful levers for change, especially through their roles as safety net provider, health care purchaser (through Medicaid, CHIP, and state employees’ health care coverage), convener of physician leaders and as regulator.

Kicking off Dr. Cochran’s session with an overview of the challenges and possible solutions in transforming health care delivery was Atul Gawande, MD, a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Gawande authored the June 2009 article in The New Yorker, “The Cost Conundrum,” that examined the cost of health care delivery in the United States, and why it varies drastically from one region to another.

The NGA Winter Meeting began Saturday, Feb. 20, when 50 governors from the U.S. states, commonwealths and territories arrived for three days of meetings, including sessions with President Barack Obama, the First Lady, members of the President’s cabinet, academic experts and business leaders.

The meeting was televised on C-SPAN; a replay can be viewed here.

The Permanente Federation is the national umbrella organization for the regional Permanente Medical Groups, which comprise the physician component of Kaiser Permanente. The Permanente Medical Groups employ more than 14,000 physicians who care for 8.6 million Kaiser Permanente members in nine states and the District of Columbia.