Inaugural HEMA Journal Club

From left, Dr. Christ Pavlatos, program sponsor Deborah Gracey and Mike Cohen.

Second year student David Nierenberg requests an answer while Deborah Gracey looks for audience responses.

First year student Jonathan Moskaites poses a question while Dr. Michael Ries and Amber Webb contemplate an answer.

06/01/2011 - Under the aegis of the Health Enterprise Management (HEMA) Alumni Organization, the inaugural HEMA Journal Club was held at the Allen Center on Wednesday June 1. The concept was originated by Professor Joel Shalowitz and is modeled on similar activities in graduate medical education. The purpose of the Club is to foster intellectual exchange about healthcare management among alumni, faculty and students. For this first session, participants read two articles. The first was: "Bundled Payments Systems: Can They Be More Successful This Time," from an editorial by Prof. Michael Chernew of Harvard that appeared in the October, 2010 issue of Health Services Research. First-year student, and health club academic co-chair, Jonathan Moskaites led the discussion that addressed such questions as: Do bundled payments really address the drivers of healthcare cost? Which stakeholders are at risk for these bundled payments and how do they share the revenue? and What has been the experience of the attendees with regard to paying and/or receiving bundled payments?

The second article discussed was: "The Trade-off among Quality, Quantity, and Cost: How to Make It-If We Must," by Prof. Mark Pauly of Wharton that was published in Health Affairs in April, 2011. Second year student, and outgoing health club academic co-chair, David Nierenberg led this discussion. The attendees considered such questions as: What is the value proposition for such lower-cost venues like walk-in clinics? What kind of disruptive innovations are currently possible that would lower cost? Do you really agree with Prof. Pauly’s statement that "… a little less quality for a lot less money might be acceptable to consumers and taxpayers…?"

The program was underwritten by a generous unrestricted educational grant from Humana, courtesy of Deborah Gracey, President - Humana Medicare, Great Lakes Region. Jeanne Sheppard, HEMA Program’s Assistant Director, coordinated the logistics.

The HEMA Program will continue the Journal Club in the fall after students return. We welcome comments from alums about other programs and if you would like to have a Club meeting over the summer.