Communication Skills

• Writing– Simple

• Short words that convey the message

• Short sentences, no run-on sentences

– Microsoft grammer scale – less than 11

– Readable• Headings• Bullet lists• Bold, Underline

– Use Pictures• Figures• Tables• Graphs

• Charts– Generate Interest

• Pictures• Quote Boxes

– Convincing• Bold Language

– I believe…, It is …, We should…

– No leading phrases– Passion

• Repetition– Introduction, Body, and

Conclusion – tell them 3 times

• Clear Message– Ask someone else to

read it and tell you what they think you are saying

Legislative vs. Market-driven Reforms

• Legislative proposals: try to balance cost, quality, access without risking system strengths to remedy weaknesses.

• Primary market goal: contain costs• Public unable to judge benefits/risks of

proposed remedies.

Dominant Special Interest Groups

• Government - payer, regulator, provider• Employers - Pay for Insurance, lose productivity• Public - AARP, Amer Heart, Amer Cancer, Labor• Major Providor Groups - Doctor, Rx, Hospital• Vendors - IT, Radiology, Premier, VHA

…Unwilling to risk strengths in a radical effort to remedy

admittedly serious defects..

Basic Parameters of Healthcare Deliver

Cost

Quality

Access

Consider some measures for each

• Access– Payment– Distance– Technology– Acceptance

• Cost– Direct Cost

• Out of pocket• Discount

– Indirect Cost• Time• Productivity• Admistrative

– Payment System• Discounts• Bad Debts

Quality

• Mortality Rate

• LOS

• QALY

• Donabedian Model– Structure– Process– Outcomes