Engaging policy makers, insurers, businesses and others leads to fresh ideas

Dialogue with John M. Little, Jr., MD, MBA
Vice President Healthcare Services
Chief Medical Officer
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina

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Q. South Carolina’s hospitals have established community partnerships with insurance companies, state agencies, businesses, and other associations to address patient safety and healthcare quality. Why is this important?

A. America’s healthcare system has many stakeholders so it makes sense for all of its stakeholders to work together in addressing its challenges. Most people have recognized that change is of the essence for our healthcare system. By coming at the issue together, we have a better chance of finding solutions that are acceptable to everyone.

About 18 months ago, the South Carolina Hospital Association approached BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina about getting involved in its efforts with the 5 Million Lives campaign. BlueCross was happy to become involved as were many other organizations across the state; it’s truly remarkable to see the diversity of participants. (See our partners page for a complete list.)

It’s also been rewarding in that we’re not just sitting around tables and meeting, we are developing and implementing meaningful programs to improve patient safety and healthcare quality.

Q. What do community partners bring to the table that hospitals might miss?

A. The true value is that we all bring a different perspective and different expertise to the process. There’s also a greater sense of urgency when you get all stakeholders together and working on an issue.

Q. What specific value does BlueCross add to the efforts to improve patient safety/healthcare quality?

A. As an insurance company, we represent thousands of South Carolina companies and their employees. Our customers expect us to be engaged with healthcare providers. By being involved in Every Patient Counts and the South Carolina 5 Million Lives campaigns, we can help bring about change at the ground level. BlueCross is also an important conduit of information back to our members on how to be better consumers of healthcare services as well as educating them on how to interpret hospital quality measures so it is meaningful to them.

Q. What impresses you most about the efforts to improve patient safety and healthcare quality?

A. It’s the energy, the commitment and the action. South Carolina’s hospitals, doctors, payers, and other community partners have become much more engaged in enhancing patient safety and healthcare quality over the last 18 months. As a group, we are very motivated and we’re making progress through a number of programs. I have been very impressed by what hospitals across our state are doing individually and as an industry; it’s happening at the board level and on patient floors. I am glad BlueCross is part of this ongoing effort.