A message from Bob Milewski
Doing the right things the right way
Throughout my career as a pharmacist, hospital administrator and health care executive, I’ve witnessed incredible changes and advancements in medicine, technology, pharmaceuticals and myriad other aspects of health care.

In Michigan alone, it’s been truly remarkable. Hospitals, physicians and insurers can be proud. We’re doing the right things, and we’re doing them the right way.

The Blue Distinction Centers^® and Project Boost (see related articles in this issue) are just two examples of collaborative efforts to improve the quality of care. Other innovative approaches include incentives for hospitals, physicians and patients.

Through teamwork, Michigan hospitals, physicians and the Blues have built a solid foundation for improving care in Michigan, and in many ways we are leading the way to better health.

But we can’t rest on our laurels. As far as we’ve come, we have an even longer way to go. Think of it as a marathon, not a sprint. So we need to be thinking and looking ahead.

For example, where do we go with incentives? What will they look like five or 10 years from now? How will we ensure people get the “right amount” of care during an admission? And how will it be paid for in a way that’s fair and keeps hospitals financially strong?

Another big challenge is developing ways to take what I call “non-value added costs” out of the system. How do we become more efficient so we’re not wasting dollars on activities that don’t improve care and outcomes? Again, there’s progress being made through efforts to apply Lean principles to the delivery and administration of health care services.

The past has shown that we have the capability and the will to stay ahead of the curve. We’ll need everyone working together to make sure the right things happen from high-level policy to where it matters most — patient care.