A message from Dr. S. George Kipa, deputy chief medical officer
A hopeful prescription for a healthy, prosperous, clear and simple future

Editor’s note: This column was written just before Dr. Kipa retired.

As I leave Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan on Jan. 3, 2022, after 25 years, I want to take the opportunity to convey some reflections on the current and past state of health care. I also want to share some thoughts about the possible future of the health care arena in this, the 50th article I’ve written for this publication.

I want to thank Blue Cross for giving me the opportunity to work with the company and participating health care providers for the past 25 years. I’ve truly enjoyed our collaboration and appreciated everything you’ve taught me.

By its very nature, health care is complicated. I’ve been fortunate enough to work directly with some of the amazing pioneers of managed care models. I’ve witnessed the evolution of managed care guidelines and processes, as well as the incredible power of team-based care and registries when accompanied by value-based incentive arrangements.

I stand in awe of the amazing innovations and accomplishments in the field of medicine in Michigan and the rest of the world. Locally, it’s been amazing to see how policy innovations, such as Blue Cross’ enhancements to its telehealth policy over the last several years, have helped us implement telehealth technologies to meet some of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. And, as with many other things, this has provided insights into how much we know and how much more we still need to learn.

Such factors as evidence-based medicine, defining value, paying for value and operationalizing value with team-based care and registries — all populated by multiple streams of data and enhanced through health information exchange — give me great hope for a healthier future, despite the challenges of information overload and what sometimes seems to be a never-ending pandemic.

I encourage you to consider how HIE and integrated population health strategies can help you achieve your health care mission and meet the challenges of the future while enhancing your personal satisfaction.

I want to leave you with a few references to books and websites that I’ve found helpful in organizing my understanding of the challenges that we face today and the tools that may help us engage in the future.

My deepest thanks to all the health care heroes who have sacrificed so much to help those who were most in need.

For more information

• The Social Transformation of American Medicine,* Paul Starr, 1982.

• Information Anxiety (1989) and Understanding Healthcare (2004) by Richard Saul Wurman. For more information, visit wurman.com.*  

• If you haven’t done so lately, visit valuepartnerships.com, mqic.org, mihin.org and chrt.org.

• Participate in the information technology future by visiting the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services website.*

*Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan doesn’t own or control this website.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.