Problem Statement

Healthcare systems around the world are facing challenges related to quality of care, value of care provided, and patient and provider satisfaction with the system. This problem has the potential to impact everyone, but it has the most impact on patients who utilize the healthcare system the most (usually those who have complex health needs), as well as those in medically underserved communities (which are often socially and economically disadvantaged compared to other communities).This problem exists because many healthcare organizations remain wedded to older, more “traditional” ways of approaching the practice of healthcare. Models from decades ago, where the patient is a mostly passive participant in the process who is told what to do by physicians and other healthcare professionals, are simply not adequate in the rapidly changing environments many healthcare organizations operate in. Much better outcomes can be achieved by systems that focus on helping patients achieve overall wellness, rather than simply treating problems as they arise.Broad changes in healthcare policy at a national level are difficult to achieve, however changes to community-based healthcare systems can have a tremendous positive impact for the populations they serve. The problem is that implementing the necessary changes can be difficult. When healthcare systems have another healthcare organization to work with that has already undertaken major reform efforts and made the transition to value-based care that improves quality and patient and provider satisfaction, the task of reforming the system to better serve their communities becomes much easier to achieve.