St. Luke’s, Enriching the Idaho Research Environment
Editor’s note: The article that follows, by St. Luke’s Health System Chief Transformation Officer Tony Tomazic, originally appeared as a column titled “St. Luke’s research gathering creates energy, momentum” in the Idaho Statesman’s Business Insider last month. Tony is a board member for The CORE, which supports research, innovation, and economic development in the health, research and [...]
Public Health: ‘The prognosis for accountable care … is excellent!’
Since 1995, the first full week in April has been National Public Health Week, providing the American Public Health Association and other organizations the opportunity to bring attention to health improvement. I recently met with Elke Shaw-Tulloch, administrator for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Public Health. We discussed the fact that [...]
The Big Question for Health Care: Who is Your Customer, Really?
At our annual St. Luke’s Health System Summit in February, we were honored to have Gary S. Kaplan, M.D., chairman and CEO of Virginia Mason Health System in the Seattle area, provide a keynote address regarding the Virginia Mason Production System (VMPS). Read St. Luke’s Health System Vice President of Performance Excellence Mike Reno’s report [...]
St. Luke’s Infection-Free Future: Project Zero
Project Zero is an example of St. Luke’s Triple Aim in action. Its success is contributing to better care and lower costs. We have many such examples of innovative efforts led by physicians – in this particular case, by Drs. Kevin Shea and Howard King – that we are profiling on the blog. Having [...]
St. Luke’s Outpatient Pharmacies Advance Patient Safety and Care
While picking up a prescription recently, I had the opportunity to tour our St. Luke’s Boise pharmacy and talk to staff members who, I was delighted to discover, are incorporating our vision and strategy every day in all they do. I visited with Pharmacy Operations Manager Mike Griffiths and was so impressed with his clarity [...]
To the St. Luke’s Family …
In light of recent developments and media interest, I want to share with you from my heart about where we find ourselves here at St. Luke’s and where we are going. I’ve had the opportunity to work with many of you and get to know you over the past three years. Others I have had [...]
Update on the FTC Investigation: a Disappointment, but No Deterrent to Right Solutions
I am writing with an update on the investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office. We learned late yesterday that the FTC and the AG have decided to file a complaint in federal court against St. Luke’s. This action is related to the lawsuit filed by Saint Alphonsus and [...]
St. Luke’s Internal Medicine and TEAMwork: ‘I want it to be the best possible …’
TEAMwork works, and St. Luke’s Clinic Internal Medicine (SLIM) Parkcenter has proven just how powerful it can be. TEAMwork is St. Luke’s application of lean principles. It’s our management operating system. TEAMwork stands for timely, effective, accountable, measureable work. And it’s making its way through St. Luke’s Health System as we gain on our Triple [...]
e-Patient Dave: ‘I want the best people … to thrive’
You are in for a treat. We were pleased to have Dave deBronkart, better known by his pseudonym, e-Patient Dave, as one of our two keynote speakers at this year’s St. Luke’s Health System Summit. Dave has become a leader in participatory medicine since he was diagnosed with terminal renal (kidney) cancer. Dave engaged in [...]
