Your View: Jefferson is committed to serving the Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania
Two years ago, I accepted the role of a lifetime as Jefferson CEO. It is an honor and a privilege to lead this historic 200-year-old organization through a period of tremendous growth, and to connect with and serve vibrant communities across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Following the recent combination with Lehigh Valley Health Network, I would like to introduce you to Jefferson and share why our union with LVHN will be transformative for this region, and what it means for you and your loved ones.
Jefferson started in 1824 when the founders of Jefferson Medical College – the precursor to Thomas Jefferson University's Sidney Kimmel Medical College – set out to address the critical need for high-quality medical education in the region. Today, this organization has grown to become a national doctoral research university with more than 200 graduate and undergraduate degree programs. It also includes Jefferson Health, a system with 65,000 dedicated professionals, 32 hospitals and more than 700 sites of care; and Jefferson Health Plans, which provides health insurance to approximately 360,000 members in our region.
Through this combination, the Jefferson and LVHN teams will work together to move health care forward like never before. We will transform care with innovative technology, groundbreaking treatments, clinical trials and experienced clinicians you know and trust. The hallmark of our leadership and innovation benefits everyone. For example, LVHN recently brought the region's first and only stem-cell transplant program to the area, fulfilling a great need. In Philadelphia, Jefferson recently opened the Honickman Center, a state-of-the-art, multispecialty outpatient care center that elevates each patient's health care experience. Furthermore, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center received the highest designation by the National Cancer Institute, placing it among only 2% in the country. These are just a few examples that show the best of the best are coming together for you.
Transformative care also requires health systems that understand and stay ahead of the health care trends that are important to patients and the community. What does this look like?
Making primary care easier to access: By 2030, 30% of primary care will be nontraditional," which includes telehealth visits and urgent care clinics. Health systems must ensure there are enough physical sites that offer multiple convenient ways to get access to care close to home, and should prioritize investing in secure, effective telehealth experiences when appropriate.
Changing faces of clinicians: To meet your needs, a strong team of clinicians, including doctors, nurses, physician assistants and technicians, is essential to deliver the care you deserve. Health systems must recruit, retain and develop top talent to manage today's complex needs and provide the continuing education required to maintain the highest level of care.
Engaging new technologies: It is critical to identify, invest in and develop advanced technologies to improve access to care, while maintaining the compassion that comes from human connection. Health systems that advance new solutions in such areas as patient scheduling, virtual check-in/check-out, artificial intelligence and predictive analytics are well positioned to lead.
Jefferson has emerged as a leader in evolving and expanding how we provide care, and in educating, hiring and retaining clinicians through our own university – Thomas Jefferson University – and partnerships with other top-tier educational institutions. We have invested in technology such as advanced imaging as well as innovative systems that can capture visit notes and provide summaries, freeing up clinicians to talk with patients. Most importantly, our ability to establish a personal connection and create healthier communities is the lifeblood of what both Jefferson and LVHN do.
Over the past two years as CEO of Jefferson, some of my proudest moments have been empowering our people to lead, building a culture of volunteerism across the organization and earning the respect of our colleagues and partners. I've been privileged to be a part of an organization that provides financial assistance, research, grants, in-kind donations, professional education opportunities, subsidized health services and more that contribute more than $800 million in community impact.
LVHN has a long tradition of making similar contributions in the communities it serves. I'm excited to make an even greater impact, together. My commitment to you is that you will have more access to groundbreaking research, nationally-ranked specialists, innovative technology and clinical trials closer to home. Our unified team is dedicated and excited to bring the strength of our combined organization – now one of the nation's top 15 not-for-profit health systems – to your community. This combination is a coming together of two organizations that share a common mission to improve lives for generations to come. Together, Jefferson and LVHN are creating the future of care in the Lehigh Valley and northeastern Pennsylvania for you.
Dr. Joseph Cacchione is CEO of Jefferson.
