Veterans Health Administration shows the way to improve outcomes, lower costs

In less than a decade the Veterans Health Administration transformed the way it provides health care.  Now it surpasses America's private system of care in virtually every area of measurement.

So says Greg Anderson, founder and CEO of the Cancer Recovery Foundation International of Hershey.  His comments appear in the September 30 edition of the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

The VHA initiative focused on prevention.  According to Anderson, it "created wellness in the lives of patients.  (The VHA) abandoned the hospital-only model and opened primary-care clinics where prevention came first and illness could be diagnosed and treated early.  That idea saved millions in costs.  It allowed the VHA to reduce the capacity of many of its hospitals and encourage more effective home-based options."

The VHA effort also prioritized computerized medical records and engaged in tough bargaining with prescription drug companies.

"Is there more?  Yes. The needs of the uninsured and underinsured must be met.  Plus we'll soon need to overhaul the way we pay doctors and hospitals.  Both can be accomplished through Medicare.  And we patients simply must take better care of ourselves - no tobacco, less food and more exercise.  That will require a cultural shift.  We all have a part. But start by improving health care quality," says Anderson.