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Introduction: Quality of life and health care By Douglas Heuck, Post-Gazette Business Editor Welcome to today’s PG Benchmarks, which contains nearly 20 indicators on the Quality of Life in metropolitan Pittsburgh. Although this is the 18th Benchmarks report since 1996, this is the first edition that focuses on health care and efforts to improve its delivery and quality in Western Pennsylvania.
Reporter Pamela Gaynor takes an in-depth look at an initiative led by the Working Together Consortium to eliminate medication errors in regional health care. Her story provides the context for the centerpiece of the section, the Roundtable Discussion The discussion includes the leading representatives of health care in this region: John Brouse, president and chief executive officer of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; Dr. Dennis Hurwitz, president of the Allegheny County Medical Society; Charles O’Brien, president and chief executive officer of West Penn Allegheny Health System; Paul O’Neill, chairman of Alcoa; and Jeffrey Romoff, president of UPMC Health System. They discuss the competition that has evolved locally among insurers and hospital systems. But they spend more time considering how to advance health care from a predictable battle over costs and quality that often pits doctors, hospitals, insurers, companies and patients against each other. And the main thread of that conversation, led by O’Neill, suggests that it is time to bring the practice of medicine up to date with available technology. That could improve quality and decrease costs. This edition also includes articles on the overall picture on Quality of Life in Western Pennsylvania, which for statistical purposes includes Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland counties. Finally, consider whether you are someone who has good ideas on how to improve Oakland. If you are, send them to us for possible inclusion in our end-of-the-year section on making the region’s research and student hub the best that it can be. Contents:
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