Health and wellness necessarily imply a proactive approach and not a reactive one.
Eager to reflect that focus, Allina Hospitals and Clinics, one of Minnesota’s top health systems, is undergoing a name makeover, reports the Star Tribune. From now on the health system will be known as Allina Health.
The name change is part of an overall narrative that has grown stronger over the years — the realization that just treating diseases is not going to help people be healthy. Nor will it help to lower the cost of healthcare. A more proactive approach to healthcare is needed.
Allina CEO Ken Paulus struck the same note in talking about the name change at Allina, according to the article:
To support its renewed mission as a “health” organization, Paulus said Minneapolis-based Allina will launch a number of initiatives in the next one to two years, including looking for ways to deliver more health care at home and adding more people to help patients with everything from scheduling office visits to answering questions.
While about 10 percent of cancer patients have such a coordinator now, Paulus pledged that every cancer patient will have a health navigator by year’s end.
The company also is rolling out a “health score” assessment that is similar to a credit score that quantifies a person’s financial risk. The health score will help identify risk of certain diseases.
Allina is starting with employees but plans to expand the concept to about 15 rural communities to provide both an individual as well as communitywide score.
Allina’s move also reflects a new financial motivation on the part of hospitals to encourage people to lead healthier lives. In the near future, healthcare providers will be paid not on the volume of treatments they do but on how good they are in keeping patients healthy, thereby preventing expensive hospital stays and emergency room visits.
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