Oregon to learn from Swedish health care authorities
Sweden's health care system consistently ranks among the best in the world for health care outcomes. Yet it costs about half as much, per capita, as the U.S. health system, which reports poorer outcomes.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Portland, Ore. ( July 8, 2008 ) — Sweden’s health care system consistently ranks among the best in the world for health care outcomes. Yet it costs about half as much, per capita, as the U.S. health system, which reports poorer outcomes.
In Sweden’s county-based health care system, Jönköping County consistently ranks as the leader in health care performance and improvement.
Oregon, too, has been a leader in health care reform. This month, a “Learning Summit” in Portland will bring together health care leaders from Oregon and officials from Jönköping County to exchange ideas.
The Jönköping representatives are Sven-Olof Karlsson, chief finance officer and chief executive officer of Jönköping County Council, and Göran Henriks, the County Council’s chief executive of learning and innovation. In his position, Henriks heads one of the county’s unique institutions, Qulturum, a combination of think tank and conference center that has facilitated much of the county’s health care innovation.
During their July 21–23 visit to Portland, Karlsson and Henriks will meet with leaders of health care reform in Oregon, including representatives of the Oregon State Health Fund Board, as well as CareOregon’s Board of Directors, which is hosting the visit.
Jönköping has become a world leader in health care by adopting an intentional commitment to continuous improvement. For example, a project to improve access to services for the elderly population led to a reduction in hospital admissions, a 30 percent decrease in hospital days for heart failure, a reduction in waiting time for referral appointments with neurologists from 85 days to 14 days, and a decrease in the waiting time for referral appointments with gastroenterologists from 48 days to 14 days.
“Even within the Swedish health system, Jönköping is the best,” says Dave Ford, chief executive officer of CareOregon. “What is it that sets Jönköping apart? What can we learn from them that we can apply here in Oregon to get closer to their results?
“Interestingly, the Jönköping health system is a local, county-based system with about 90 elected council members governing it. Are there lessons we in Oregon can learn from them about how to attain world class health care?”
CareOregon has a collaborative relationship with Jönköping County through both organizations’ involvement in a learning group under the leadership of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
“What we’ve learned through working with Jönköping leaders is how similar it is to Oregon,” said Ford. “If they can achieve great results for their community, why can’t we?”
Although no public events are planned for the visit, representatives of the media are invited to attend a discussion with the group at 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22, at the Governor Hotel in Portland.
For information contact Jeanie Lunsford, CareOregon communications manager, ( 503 ) 416-3626 or lunsfordj@careoregon.org.
About CareOregon CareOregon is committed to improving and protecting the health of vulnerable and low-income Oregonians. The not-for-profit health plan serves more than 25 percent of all Oregon Health Plan members. CareOregon is dedicated to providing access to high quality, cost-effective, culturally competent care for members and supporting the providers who care for them. This includes incorporating continuous quality improvement as part of its culture, as well as providing quality improvement training for providers in its network, and funding for quality and access improvement projects. For information about CareOregon, visit www.careoregon.org.
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