There is so much real-life innovation happening at employers and in hospitals and medical practices, but it gets lost in the political debate over whether or not we need a publicly-funded health plan.

It’s too bad, because these things are important and having a real impact on the issues of cost and quality that are under discussion.

As someone with a position right in the thick of the healthcare system, with daily access to nearly all stakeholder groups, I would love to be at the table with a group that can produce real solutions.

You got that right – while changing health policy will help allow healthcare reform to take place, the true reform that is REAL needs to be at the ground, bottom-up changes. That’s why I believe the National Priorities Partnership (NPP), convened by the National Quality Forum, is so critical, and I am surprised none of those interviewed mentioned it. The NPP identifies 6 priorities for reform, and all kinds of organizations are aligning their work with these priorities, including ours, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. I think that SIGNIFICANT progress can be made on these priorities when we get clinical pharmacists involved in providing care to patients, which is demonstrated to improve outcomes, prevent errors, and reduce costs!