Challenging the Health Care Status Quo

In August 2018, I had the privilege to join Dignity Health as CEO of Dignity Health Medical Foundation. Since then, I have traveled across California to meet our talented employees and providers and to listen and learn about the tremendous work underway as well as the opportunities ahead. 

During that time I was moved by the compassion and humankindness on display as our providers and employees donated their time and energy to help as fires ravaged our communities.

I was impressed by the genuine passion of our providers and employees to deliver high-quality care and I saw our teams working together with strong purpose to put the patient at the center of everything we do.

I was energized by how we used technology to expand access to care and how we found innovative ways to reach our patients.

While we have this tremendous foundation, our work is not over.

As we look forward, it’s clear that the health care landscape will continue to evolve and that health care delivery systems will continue to face headwinds and uncertainty. Additionally, the health care industry is facing disruption by several significant players entering the space and bringing with them new technology and ideas (see Apple, Amazon, and more).

I would argue that disruption can be good and provides a platform for innovation as well as an opportunity to form partnerships, new pathways, and new coverage models. I would also argue there is no one fundamentally better positioned to challenge the health care status quo and fix the complexities than those that live and breathe it every day.

Our vision at Dignity Health Medical Foundation is to do just that. Here’s how:

1. Be guided by one principle: put our patients at the center of everything we do. This means give patients what they want (access, convenience, affordability) and anticipate their wants and needs before they even know they exist.
2. Act like a start-up.
3. Lead with innovation.
4. Double down on developing solutions that deliver high-quality, affordable health care.

Leading with innovation and acting like a start-up aren’t phrases you typically hear from a health system. But as we look to connect more with health care consumers (a.k.a. patients) we should be, because that’s what they are demanding of their systems throughout all areas of their lives. Consumerism has changed the way we receive news, order food, and move from point A to point B. What drives this type of change? Innovative solutions. Consumers are challenging all of us in health care to think differently. Challenge accepted.

I think the future is bright and I am humbled by the profound opportunity we have ahead of us. I look forward to working with our providers, staff, and colleagues throughout this organization, as well as with our partners, to push the envelope, challenge the status quo, and make health care better for all.