Blue Cross to Continue Support of Improving Patient Safety, Hospital Innovations Through Keystone Center
Daniel J. Loepp
| 3 min read
Daniel J. Loepp is President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Michigan Health & Hospital Association Keystone Center share a common vision: to achieve the highest-quality health care outcomes in Michigan hospitals. Since its establishment in 2003, the MHA Keystone Center has led numerous initiatives that have tangibly improved health outcomes for patients, developed best practices for hospital-based clinical care and saved lives through improved safety protocols. To advance this important work that is directly improving care in Michigan hospitals statewide, we are proud to announce another milestone in our longstanding partnership. Blue Cross will contribute $5 million to the MHA Keystone Center over the next three years, adding to the $16 million Blue Cross has provided since 2009. This funding will directly support new programs and hospital-led innovations related to women’s and children’s health, maternal care parameters, and the safety of both patients and health care workers. The funding will also support Blue Cross and the MHA Keystone Center’s work encouraging Michigan hospitals to offer medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorders to help combat the opioid epidemic. Since its creation 18 years ago, the MHA Keystone Center has performed critical work that has positioned Michigan as one of the leading places to receive hospital-based care. Blue Cross and MHA have mutual interest in promoting hospital-based care that safe and delivers the best outcomes patients count on when they first arrive at their community’s hospital. Delivering safe, high-quality care to every patient every time is at the core of every Michigan hospital’s mission. The investments from Blue Cross for the ongoing quality and safety work of the MHA Keystone Center has allowed hospitals across the state to collaborate on issues that directly impact our patients and employees. Together, this work has saved lives and prevented health care errors and additional expenses. Along with the MHA Keystone Center, we will align the work of our organizations to improve care through data available because of the Michigan Health Information Network. MHA Keystone will also participate more closely with Blue Cross’ broad array of Collaborative Quality Initiatives – clinically driven work that addresses the cost and quality of common medical procedures and promotes best practices in patient care. The efforts of Blue Cross to promote value in health care delivery along with physicians and health systems have resulted in more than $2.2 billion in savings to date and have – along with the work of the MHA Keystone Center – directly affected Michigan gaining stature as one of the best and safest places in the nation to receive hospital-based care. Learn more about the history of the MHA Keystone Center and Blue Cross’ partnership here. Daniel J. Loepp is the CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Brian Peters is the CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. More from MIBluesPerspectives:
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