'The Business of Health Care Report'

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Texas Health has committed itself to using evidence-based approaches to continuously improve quality, patient safety and well-being across North Texas. One of the initiatives we launched in June is our participation in the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare.

Texas Health was invited by the Center to join an exclusive group of some of the nation’s leading health systems that collaborate to solve critical issues of quality and patient safety.

Since the founding of Texas Health Resources 15 years ago, we have been at the forefront in collaborating with other health care organizations to transform the delivery of health services. For example, we were an early participant in the Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration , sponsored by Premier and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That project helped define evidence-based standards for measuring quality.

Last April we announced a 10-year strategic commitment to work with Healthways to shift the model of care toward one that emphasizes keeping people healthy and out of the hospital. Once again, Texas Health is applying evidence-based methods and scientifically-valid measures to help physicians improve the physical health of their patients and enhance overall well-being.

For our faith-based health system — Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Harris Methodist and Texas Health Arlington Memorial — I’m Doug Hawthorne.