Hi Team –

 

Summer is in full swing and, in spite of some soggy days, I hope you are enjoying the return of your favorite summertime traditions with family and friends. As we begin our new fiscal year which follows one of the most unusual and challenging times of our lives, it’s important that we all take time over the next few months to relax and recharge so that we are refreshed and ready to begin the next phase of our transformational journey to Get Healthcare Right!!! 

 

We remain encouraged by the relatively flat and stable number of new COVID cases and hospitalizations across our region and here at TriHealth (see COVID sidebar), though concerned by the surges that are occurring in other states across the country with low vaccination rates. As our clinical experts keep a close eye on the Delta variant – which is driving the rapid spread in other parts of the country – we are reassured by the scientific evidence that the vaccines are safe and effective in protecting us from COVID and all its current variants. Vaccines are our only sure way to end this pandemic. So, with slightly less than 60% of our eligible population vaccinated, we are redoubling our efforts to fully vaccinate every eligible patient and member of our community.  Please do your part and encourage your family and friends to get their vaccine if they have not already done so. 

 

Understandably, much of our attention over the past year has been rightly focused on preparing for and managing safely through multiple surges and waves of COVID infections that tragically took more than 600,000 American lives. But that does not mean the mission-critical work of adopting value-based care and financing models to deliver on the Triple Aim Plus One – better care, better health, and better value, plus an enhanced practice and work environment for doctors and team members – has ever stopped. In fact, we have been hard at work throughout the pandemic to continue to evolve and hardwire TriHealth’s population health infrastructure with a focus on ambulatory care management, use of big data and analytics which provide actionable insights to better manage the health of our nearly 600,000 patients, adoption of innovative “health” versus disease focused care models, and many more exciting initiatives. Thanks to these efforts, TriHealth is today increasingly being seen regionally and nationally as a model for getting healthcare right – whether its recognition as one of the country’s top performing ACO’s by United Health Care and Anthem, or our innovative Blue Connections partnership with Anthem Blue Cross to bring more affordable health insurance options to the community, or sharing our story with other healthcare leaders at this year’s ACHE Congress on Healthcare Leadership, the largest such meeting in the world. So, beginning with this Weekly Update and continuing on a regular basis, we will highlight the many meaningful ways our population health work is making a difference for those we serve while showcasing our amazing team of doctors, nurses, and other care givers and support staff. 

 

During the worst of the pandemic, many patients delayed routine care out of fear of COVID, including a number of women who held off on their annual mammogram screening. Our multi-disciplinary care management team collaborated to identify and proactively outreach to these patients to encourage their return to TriHealth for this important and often times life-saving screening. As a result of this effort, most patients responded immediately to schedule their appointment, but some required multiple calls and outreach. And one of these patients, Sarah, recently shared with us:

 

 

Thanks to our proactive population health processes and practices, we were able to target Sarah’s intervention which resulted in early diagnosis, successful treatment, and a life being saved – something that does not consistently occur in many health systems. And there are hundreds of patients just like Sarah each month whose lives and health have been improved through the more proactive and coordinated care now provided at TriHealth because of our collective work to “get healthcare right”! A big shout out to our Ambulatory Care Management, Breast Center, and TriHealth Cancer Institute teams for making such a difference with Sarah and many patients just like her!!!

 

It’s not too late to get your two free tickets to an upcoming Reds game. Don’t “swing-and-miss” on a chance to join TriHealth team members, physicians, volunteers and trustees at one of our 12 upcoming games. And while you’re cheering on the Reds, be sure to share your photos on our TriHealth Way Facebook page for a chance to win a $100 gift card to the Reds team store. We’ll be giving away these gift cards – redeemable at the stadium and online for really cool Reds gear – to 15 lucky team members who send us their photos from the Reds game they attend. I hope you’ll take part in this “grand slam” experience as we root for the Reds and gather together through the wonders of social media with our “Virtual TriHealth Day at Great American Ball Park!” Visit Bridge for full details…and Go Reds!!!

 

Thank you for doing the hard work, day in and day out, to get healthcare right for our patients – patients like Sarah – our community, and one another. You are the reason our community is increasingly turning to TriHealth for their healthcare needs, and you are making such a difference for all those we serve!