Monday, August 12, 2013

The Pediatric Health Improvement Coalition Announces the Tennessee Valley Strategic Pediatric Health Planning Initiative

The Pediatric Healthcare Improvement Coalition - Tennessee (PHIC-TN) is a community health partnership.  The purpose is to improve the pediatric health of all Tennessee Valley children.  We are currently raising funds to begin a four phase strategic planning initiative.

In Phase I, PHIC-TN plans to complete an analysis of the Chattanooga pediatric healthcare market.  This will include defining the region's population health needs and demographic trends.  The analysis will map market share and quality of current ambulatory and in-patient offerings.  It will also model future demographic shifts, healthcare demand and the impact of healthcare reform.

Using the analysis in Phase I, Phase II will call on community leaders to develop a vision for pediatric healthcare.  A series of presentation forums and inclusive, participatory workshops will be used to bring community stakeholders, medical industry leaders and providers together to plan future goals.  These meetings will lead to a detailed plan for the development of a comprehensive care system over the next five years.  The final step of Phase II will be a gap analysis of the difference between the coalition's vision and the current pediatric healthcare resources.

Phase III will define pragmatic, efficient and sustainable delivery models for the region's comprehensive pediatric healthcare services.  This will include diagramming the options for local and regional alignment of pediatric providers, medical service vendors, in-patient facilities, community health-focused organizations, medical academics and payers.  The future vision of a comprehensive pediatric network in Chattanooga will be explored in terms of the integration of best practices, emerging innovations, impact of health care reform and other financial and regulatory pressures.  In Phase III, similar existing institutional examples will be cataloged.  We will also project community infrastructure modifications and/or expansion requirements.

Phase IV will complete a time and cost accounting of proposed alignment, operating and care delivery models.  Physician and other provider demand will be reconciled with resources and potential outcomes.  The Coalition will define requirements and capital costs of facility and other infrastructure needs.  We will produce a detailed impact plan on region healthcare outcomes.  This impact will be the basis of a development campaign to complete the community accepted recommendations of the Coalition.

Once our strategic planning campaign is complete, we will have a robust picture of our community and its pediatric health challenges.  Our health, cultural, religious, education, business, and political leaders will have a more singular view of the problems and potential solutions.  This data will empower the development of a cost-effective and efficient regional pediatric healthcare system.  This long-term, comprehensive road map will be resilient to the stress of current national changes as it meets the needs of all of our region's children.  Finally, PHIC-TN will begin a development program to implement a pediatric provider alignment, refine delivery of care systems and construct new facilities.


The Chattanooga region's children are among the unhealthiest in Tennessee and the nation.  Because of future progress based on this project, our children and the system that cares for them can become an example of community wellness.  Our city is a national leader in business development, natural beauty and cost of living.  It is time that we continue that narrative of excellence in the story of our children's health.  We have the health provider talent and leadership, we have the community commitment, we have the philanthropic heart, and we have the political leadership.  This project will provide a needed tool to congeal and energize these components so that Chattanooga can be what we desire: 
a world class city for all children.

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