Strategic Advisory Committee
At the last Compact Implementation Committee meeting the question was asked how would discussion items covered in the SAC be shared with the medical staff. The physicians had discussed the sensitivity and confidentiality of the information at the last meeting. The decision was to feature topics in the newsletter, understanding all content cannot be shared due to the sensitive nature of the discussion. Below is an update on how the group is structured and an example of recent discussion. It is an example of working together in the spirit of the compact.
The Physician Strategic Advisory Committee was established by the CEO of Salem Health to have a forum for physician’s to advise the CEO on strategic questions specific to Salem Health and OHSU Partners. The charter for the committee was reviewed by MEC and ELC, each group asked to provide input and suggestions as to purpose and members. The committee is not a decision-making body; decisions will go through the normal channels, including additional medical staff forums as appropriate.
Four monthly meetings have been held, starting in January, 2016. The Committee has discussed topics including Epic and Community Connect, the 18-month OHSU Partners Transition Roadmap, current legislation, industry/market trends, and the master site plan. The topic for the May and June meeting is understanding opportunities and threats in our local market. During the February meeting the plans for Providence to construct an ASC in Salem was discussed which resulted in a message from the CEO in the Common Ground newsletter.
The last two meetings reviewed the master site plan and considered the complexity of creating Salem Health’s path forward in building and construction, from a strategic point of view. Insight into patient volumes in the emergency room and contingency plans to decant the census was gained. The members had an opportunity to voice their colleague’s viewpoints and concerns about the plan, which will give the CEO important perspective as she reviews the plan.
The committee members are comprised of president and president-elect of the medical staff, physicians who have contracted arrangements with specific non-compete language, clinically integrated contracted network members, and employed providers. Membership will be added as new clinically integrated arrangements are finalized.
Physician Committee Members include: Drs. Lee Vranna, Raghu Kamineni, Michelle Rasmussen, Nicole VanDerHeyden, Ben Miller, Clark McDonald, Paul Gramenz, Swati Mehta, Claire O’Brien, Kendall Graven, Christine Clark, and John Hadley. Drs. Tom Yakel, OHSU Partners Chief Clinical Integration Officer, and Cort Garrison, OHSU Partners Chief Information Officer, are also participants in the discussion.
The insight and perspective of our physician partners is of tremendous value. The Strategic Advisory Committee is another important way in which we continue to build on the positive relationships between medical staff and hospital administration, and work together for the good of our community.