Being an agent of change
I am often asked what motivates me after 27 years in the health care industry.
Knowing the most vulnerable among our population need health care delivered in a completely different way than it is today – that’s what motivated me to get into this business in the first place, and it still motivates me today.
I originally thought I would follow in my father’s footsteps and become a medical doctor, but organic chemistry made me realize that wasn’t the path for me. In 1996, I began my Medicare journey, and I haven’t looked back.
Throughout my career, the thing I have focused on is knowing I can't do it alone. The way the system will change is by leveraging, enabling and empowering everyone to contribute as a team to get this right.
We need to be agents of change, and I am proud of the great work we have done to change the way health care works for the better.
As just one example, it was more than two decades ago that Humana helped solve what was a massive problem in the health care system – the data interchange between health payers and providers. At that time, the receptionists in providers’ offices had separate terminals for each payer. This was, of course, inconvenient and time-consuming, so we worked on a solution: Availity. Where we have gone because of Availity has benefited the system as a whole. It connected health plans and providers, improving communication and collaboration.
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Have we solved all the problems we see today in the ecosystem of health care? No. We are making great strides with our focus on interoperability, but we need to keep advancing what we're doing to improve the system overall.
We must continue to find ways to use digital tools to increase the amount of data interchange in a way that’s safe for members, providers and payers. We must have plans designed around the customers’ needs. We must work to leave a better health care system in the future than we have today.
The old cliché “it takes a village” applies here. Change takes time, and in health care, it will only happen with all the players working together for one common goal: better health outcomes for our entire population.
I am motivated by the people at Humana – the passion, the creativity, it’s all focused on a better future for the people we serve. We can all put health first if we work with each other.
I will leave you to ponder what motivates you. What are you doing to leave things better than they were before you got there? Are you paying it forward?
Director of Special Investigations & Risk Adjustment Integrity Unit at Humana
11moYour comments are so true!
Chief Growth Officer @ Vheda Health | Executive Healthcare Leadership. Senior Healthcare Executive/Growth Strategist/P&L Management/Business Development Leader
11moGeorge, great article. This is why I have always worked for underserved populations across this country, It has a dramatic impact on how they live their lives. Thanks for sharing
Director, Benistar National Accounts
11moAs always, great insight George! For what it's worth, my two cents: across my life's journey, in discussions with stakeholders across the continuum, it's been clear to me that folks very rarely ever want "insurance" - they want security, confidence, and support across all of their well-being as it relates to them: - physically - mentally - emotionally - financially - even spiritually Whether it's a suite of products/services/programs/support mechanisms, working from the end-user's needs inward & having the flexibility to adjust to those needs not only seems like it'd deliver a strong solution but also a differentiating and sustainable business model.
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11moThanks for sharing Ethelle Lord, M.Ed., DM As I read your statement, I wondered if any of the investor driven players that have developed our "Managed Care" system are concerned with our health or the profits in their pockets. Yes, we need better quality, dementia care that improves their quality of life and situational outcomes. BUT, (and this is a BIG BUT) shouldn't we be focusing on preventing dementia in the first place? This is where the food/pharma/healthcare/medicare industries combine to create a culture of chronic diseases that are managed rather then cured...it all comes down to $$$$ Change your diet and Change your physical and psychological wellbeing. Your golden years will be golden.
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11moThis is exciting to me, as it parallels the reasons I left the exploding video game business in the early 80s to try to help improve US healthcare. I still find it challenging and fascinating. I'm convinced that there are transformative companies now in the ecosystem that can make a massive difference. One example, Credo, who can arm every senior in our country with a portable, comprehensive, organized, longitudinal patient record so that ALL providers can know all critical info about each patient before their first visit. I'm counting on my beloved Humana to lead the industry in this remarkable improvement as well as others....after all....they've already shown this type of leadership time and time again.