Geisinger's Glenn Steele: OpenNotes Changing Care At A Fundamental Level

Through initiatives like the OpenNotes project, Danville, Pennsylvania-based Geisinger Health System is aiming to change patient care at a fundamental level, CEO Glenn Steele said during a keynote speech at last week's College of Healthcare Information Management Executives annual fall forum in San Antonio, Texas.

Steele called the current healthcare environment "schizophrenic," saying that despite a push toward care accountability on the part of providers and payers, fee-for-service still reigns.  "We're moving away from a fragmented system," Steele said. "We're moving away from a doctor-centric and hospital-centric approach."

Steele said that, in particular, Geisinger is moving toward primary prevention, but said it's important to understand that moving in such a direction won't happen overnight.  "This transition and turbulence will go on for a number of years," Steele said.  Still, he said, Geisinger's "highest priority" is fundamental innovation. In particular, he said the "next vista" at the health system is to change the behavior of patients...