It’s as predictable as the sun rising in the morning and setting in the evening. As soon as state and national campaigns for public office begin, the subject of healthcare reform comes up…sometimes even moves to the top of the issues list. It’s already a hot topic for the 2008 national elections. Candidate A wants to completely revamp the nation’s healthcare system and candidates B through Z spend much of their time on the campaign trail shooting holes in candidate A’s proposals. Some even come up with their own versions of healthcare reform, and the subject goes on ad infinitum.

Historically, when it’s all over, very little change ever takes place. That’s the way it’s been. Meanwhile, there are much quieter, less publicized efforts under way to achieve real healthcare reform, and Columbus may play a big part in the movement. To examine Columbus’ role in the reform effort, let’s back up just a bit.

In January 2003, The Center for Health Transformation was established and headquartered in Washington, DC. The center is a project of The Gingrich Group, headed by former congressman
and Speaker of The House Newt Gingrich of Georgia. The CHT’s stated premise is, “Small changes or reactionary fixes to separate pieces of the (healthcare) system have not and will not work. We need a system-wide transformation. Unlike other alliances, the Center unites stakeholders across the spectrum (providers, employers, vendors, trade associations, disease groups, think tanks) and government leaders at both the state and federal level to drive transformation….”

That’s a lofty premise. But when you look at the list of members of this alliance for change, you begin to get the picture. They include General Motors, Chrysler Corporation, The Blue Cross-Blue Shield Association, GE Healthcare, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, AT&T, UPS, The American Academy of Family Physicians, The American Hospital Association, major disease groups, The Georgia Hospital Association and the Georgia Medical Association. This is just a short, representative list of CHT members. It’s an impressive list by anyone’s standards and one capable of effecting change. So where does Columbus fit in?

The CHT is active in all 50 states. The projects range from best practices research and application in healthcare information systems to evaluation of community health and education. The Georgia Project was established in March 2006 and adopted a vision “to… create a healthy Georgia with a 21st century intelligent health system in which knowledge saves lives and saves money….”

Now that we’ve reeled you in, catch the rest of this and many other intriguing local stories and columns in the current issue of Columbus and the Valley Magazine. Click here to find a retail outlet near you, or subscribe online so you’ll never miss a word.

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