It’s not a new question, but the American Medical Association’s decision Tuesday to recognize obesity as a disease is new – and controversial. So, how should we think about this? What is a disease, as opposed to a condition or illness? That’s a tough question. Most medical experts would agree that a disease is a [...]
An inspiring coach with roots in Idaho visited St. Luke’s earlier this week to root on a cause he holds dear. Chuck Pagano, head coach of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, dropped in on St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital and some of our young patients to tape a promotion for the Jessie Rees Foundation’s JoyJars project. Jessica [...]
St. Luke’s has adopted lean principles, which we have branded as TEAMwork: Timely, Effective, Accountable, and Measureable work. Our System-wide goals this year are to create an exceptional patient experience and to create exceptional outcomes through TEAMwork. I have asked Mike Reno, vice president for performance excellence, to be today’s guest blogger and to update [...]
There has been much media attention paid to celebrities’ health issues recently, with Angelina Jolie’s revelation about her genetic risk for breast cancer and Michael Douglas’ remarks regarding his throat cancer. Both have sparked national discussions. Following Douglas’ comments, I asked Dr. Banu Symington, one of our very talented Mountain States Tumor Institute medical oncologists, [...]
It’s National Men’s Health Week, and Father’s Day Sunday. Us dads always need new ties! Most importantly, we need our health. A lot of people count on us. I have asked Dr. Steve Montamat to share what men need to know about health – and what we need everyone else to nag us about! His [...]
Editor’s note: The article that follows originally appeared in the Idaho Statesman’s Business Insider in May. I often am asked how health care can be reformed. Here is St. Luke’s approach. I think it’s the answer – in three really difficult steps. 1. Improve health It is too expensive to be a patient. We must [...]
Hundreds of St. Luke’s friends and physicians, along with several ghosts of Elvis, played the night away at the Boise Centre this past weekend for a really great cause: our youngest patients.This loved annual community party, which raises funds for St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, turned 21 on May 31 with a Las Vegas-themed Casino Night. Thanks [...]
We often hear that health care in the U.S. costs more and delivers poorer outcomes than other industrialized countries. Here is a case where St. Luke’s in Idaho is delivering higher value health care to patients with a very challenging and deadly disease than others throughout the world. This is a great example of the [...]
Editor’s note: The following report first appeared in the mid-May “Gary’s Take” newsletter from St. Luke’s Health System Chief Operating Officer Gary Fletcher for St. Luke’s employees. More and more across St. Luke’s Health System, people are understanding what we are trying to do in focusing on the Triple Aim of better health, better care, [...]
