Does Healthcare Need a “Call to Minga”?

In the most recent months, I have experienced a lot of “firsts” since I have joined Wellpepper. Although still in healthcare, I have ventured into the patient engagement space which has opened up a whole to new world. This technology is evolving in the marketplace with the charter of quality, value and engagement, specifically around the patient. This is one of the reasons why I joined Wellpepper…..we are about improving the patient experience.

In the most recent months, I have experienced a lot of “firsts” since I have joined Wellpepper. Although still in healthcare, I have ventured into the patient engagement space which has opened up a whole to new world. This technology is evolving in the marketplace with the charter of quality, value and engagement, specifically around the patient. This is one of the reasons why I joined Wellpepper…..we are about improving the patient experience.

Attending the Institute for Healthcare Improvement National Forum in Orlando (IHI) last week was another “first”. This conference was focused around how we change and improve healthcare for the patient. There was a real sense of community at this conference among the attendees. Everyone was focused on the patient and how to better serve and improve outcomes.

Unlike other conferences I have attended, I was able to participate in several sessions. Even though we exhibited at this forum, attending the sessions provided me with a different perspective on what healthcare professionals are really concerned about and how they are looking to learn from others on how to “fix” it. Again, another “first”.

The atmosphere at the conference was very upbeat and optimistic but there is a transition happening at the helm of IHI. Maureen Bisognano, President and CEO for the last 12 years, she will be retiring after 27 years at IHI. She gave the opening keynote which was very inspirational and echoed the commitment of IHI to improve the quality in healthcare for the better of the patient. Her theme was all about collaboration among the healthcare teams to give care with the patient and not just to the patient. Quality should be everyone’s job and that is why they developed the Breakthrough Collaborative at IHI. This brings together patients, families and health systems to improve the care.

We need to understand what matters to the patient and not what we think matters. In the session, “Thriving in a Value-Based Environment”, Anna Roth, CEO of Contra Costa Health Services, emphasized what matters to patient might not be their health problem but their ability to buy food, pay rent, and job security. So value for that patient goes beyond addressing their health issue but rather access to other life sustaining needs. Furthermore, when you engage with your patients be prepared to act. Lisa Schilling from Kaiser added during this session – “find the problems that really matters and then find an elegant solution”.  This can lead to innovation both from a technology perspective and re-design of care plans for that patient community. As an example, physicians are now prescribing community parks as part of their treatment plans to help address obesity and get their patients moving.

This theme echoed with the other keynote speakers such as Earvin “Magic” Johnson. He was on course with his message of bringing together a sense of community to improve healthcare access and services in the urban cities. He stressed people can make a difference if we just listen to what matters to the community. He has engaged with many charities to address the food deserts that plague our urban cities.  Providing better options to fruits and vegetables will result in healthier communities.

However, the keynote from Craig Kielburger really hit home for me. Craig is the co-founder of Free the Children, an international charity; Me to We, an innovative social enterprise; We Day, a signature youth empowerment event. His journey to where he is today started when he was 12 years old. He was touched by a tragic event with a young Pakistani boy by where he felt compelled to make a difference in children’s lives. Today, he is building schools and empowering our young to make a difference.

So what has this got to do with a “Call to Minga” and healthcare? Craig experienced a “Call to Minga” for the first time more than a decade ago when he and his brother Marc (co-founder of Free the Children) went to Ecuador to build a school with volunteers. Given unforeseen obstacles such as transportation for building materials was difficult and the time to transport was longer than anticipated, his team was falling short of completing the school….in fact, they didn’t even get a chance to start it.  They were two days from traveling back to North American when he and his brother had to explain to the Chief of the village that they would not be able to complete their task. At that moment, the Chief went outside her hut and called “Minga”. The next day, people from surrounding villages ascended upon this village and began to work on building the school and completed it. The “Minga” was a call to action. It is a community coming together to work for the benefit of all.

This is what was happening at IHI, a call to action. We must come together as a healthcare community and work to improve healthcare for patients and overall, our country. Our community consist of caregivers, educators, innovators and the patient. With all the resources available to us, we can have a “Minga” moment. Here at Wellpepper, our “Minga” moment is now. Health systems are hearing the call to action to engage their patient in a fashion that supports their live style along with the technology they use every day.  Our technology allows patients to personalize their care plans that will drive ownership and improve outcomes because we are able to provide them with what matters. This is a “first” for the patient!

Since this is probably my last blog post of 2015, I invite you to consider your call to Minga at your organization for 2016. There is so much we can do together!