|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Integrating Care Around the Patientby Ruth SoRelle, M.P.H. "I'm excited to see people coming together.... They understand that we need to translate basic science from bench to bedside, and then take that and translate it to the community."
Dr. Stephen J. Spann's education at Baylor College of Medicine in the 1970s encompassed not only medicine but also the humanity and idealism that emerged from the turbulent late 1960s in the United States. When he became chair of Baylor College of Medicine's family and community medicine department in 1997, he found that much of that remained. "Baylor students stand out because they are more humanistic. They care about their community," he said. Today as the College's senior vice president and dean of clinical affairs, Spann seeks to build on those attitudes as he works to strengthen BCM's adult clinical efforts. "One of our fundamental missions is to improve the health of the public," said Spann. "That goes beyond research and individual patient care. It means looking at the population we serve and finding ways to improve the health of that group of people. We need to develop systems of care that improve health." "Dr. Spann's expertise in piloting many of the College's programs in providing better information to patients while making physicians more accessible will prove of immense benefit in strengthening Baylor's clinical efforts," said Dr. William T. Butler, interim president of Baylor College of Medicine. "I believe his clinical experience, his proven leadership and his ability to use many innovative technologies will help forge Baylor's clinical enterprise into one that best benefits patients and the community." BCM's history in Houston began with providing care to those often excluded from the health care system. Its first true affiliation was with what has become the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center. An affiliation with Jefferson Davis Hospital, then the city-county hospital, came soon after. Jefferson Davis and Ben Taub General hospitals became the Harris County Hospital District, a cornerstone of health care in the county today. When Spann discusses his plans for providing better patient care, he takes into account all the institutions with which BCM affiliates. "Our goal is to really strengthen and grow our adult faculty group practice into a highly integrated multispecialty group focused on delivering high-quality care that is centered on patient service," he said. "The key tool for that integration is the electronic medical record. As all of us get on the electronic medical record, we will recognize it as an incredible tool for taking care of patients." 
Spann checks the pulse of patient Susan Howard. He continues to see patients two mornings a week. "There has been a lot of talk about personalized medicine, and I think we are still headed in that direction, but in a broader center. Personalized medicine is evidence-based and uses cutting-edge science and technology such as genomics, but it goes beyond that: it is patient-centered care, focused on the needs and preferences of the individual patient. Preventive care that affects individual patients and populations is going to be increasingly important, and we are gong to find better ways to deliver preventive care." In addition, he said, that means providing better care to patients with chronic diseases. "The key is integration of care, and that means our primary care practices will become patient-centered medical homes to which patients have ready access. I anticipate that family medicine and internal medicine will become focused on becoming medical homes—certified under the National Committee for Quality Assurance." The electronic medical record will be an important part of that. "My Chart," an online tool for patients, allows ready communication between physician, patient and clerical and nursing staff. It offers a secure e-mail form through which patients can send requests and receive results of lab and other tests. Spann and his colleagues pioneered similar tools in the department of family and community medicine, and he knows that they are effective. "I think we've got to facilitate patient-centered care focused on accessibility. That may mean consulting with patients by electronic means or by telephone. I think it is part of a cultural transformation and is simply an example of how we can work as an integrated group," he said. "Patients are clients and customers. We need to make their experience positive and satisfying," he said. "As we try to grow our group practice, we will need some capital investment, which means finding partners to work with us. At some level, a truly integrated group practice involves thinking about the ways funds flow in the organization. We need to develop rewards to incentivize the behaviors we want from physicians—productivity, patient satisfaction and accessibility." Spann hopes to buttress BCM's already strong basic science agenda with programs in clinical and health services research. "I'm excited to see people coming together to put all components of research on the table," he said. "They understand that we need to translate basic science from bench to bedside, and then take that and translate it to the community." "Dr. Laura Petersen's health services group has done an incredible job in that area, looking at how to improve health care through its work at the (Michael E. DeBakey) Veterans Affairs Medical Center. It is spectacular," he said. "We need to look even further," he said. "We are working internationally with the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative and other programs such as Baylor Shoulder to Shoulder in Honduras. I see us trying to improve on that and we are beginning to apply modern managerial techniques and technology to do an even better job in those resource-poor settings." In the end, he sees BCM developing a strong system of care that will benefit individual patients and the community as a whole. Spann holds The Richard M. Kleberg, Sr. Chair in Family Medicine. |
FeaturesGiving Elephants a Fighting Chance Facilitating a Vision for Research Integrating Care Around the Patient Baylor Flu Fighters Take On the Wily "Novel H1N1" (Swine) Flu Virus NewsNew Board Chair has High Hopes for BCM Lynch: A Physician-Teacher with a Humanitarian Twist SpotlightDr. Sean McGuire: Translating Early Lessons into Tomorrow's Treatment Simulated Patient Program Important Part of Medical Training Adding Value to Medical School Training Catalyzing Innovative Research is Mantra for BCM Diabetes Center A Coordinated Effort to Improve Health Care BriefsBCM Researchers Top Texas List of Stimulus Funds Recipients Wang Recognized for Contributions to Genetic Research Dr. Brendan Lee Receives Director's Transformative R01 'Pioneer' Studies Bacteria to Understand Cancer Dr. Mark Kline Selected Chair of Pediatrics Herding DNA to a New Understanding of Cows Development/AlumniBaylor Alumni Help Ease the Financial Burdens of Current Students Development BriefsAlkek Eye Center Celebrates 20th Year Partnership Gala To Fund DeBakey Heart Center® of Baylor College of Medicine Breast Center Advisory Council Funds Imaging Fellow |
||
Volume 5, Issue 1, Winter 2009 |
|||
 |
|
BCM Home | BCM Intranet | Privacy Notices | Contact BCM | BCM Site Map © 2005-2010 Baylor College of Medicine® |
|
| Last modified: December 7, 2009 |
Dr. Stephen J. Spann