From Crisis to Transformation:
Central Oregon’s Role in Creating
a New Health Care System
On March 10, 2009 the City Club of Central Oregon will welcome former Governor John Kitzhaber who will present From Crisis to Transformation: Central Oregon's Role in Creating a New Health Care System.
Kitzhaber provides the following perspective: The crisis which has engulfed the financial markets and the auto industry is rapidly overtaking the U.S. health care system – and at 17 percent of the GDP a meltdown of our health care system would have profound economic consequences for Oregon and for the nation.
Although averting this scenario has become one of the top three domestic priorities of the Obama Administration the national “reform” effort to date remains focused on financing rather than on what we are buying and what return on investment we are getting in terms of health. Meeting this challenge requires a fundamental change in how health care is organized and delivered; in our expectations of the system; and especially in our own individual behavior.
To develop a clear path to the future will also require local and regional models from which the Congress can learn. In that regard, Central Oregon is well positioned to help lead the nation in designing an effective health system for America.
This City Club Forum will be conducted from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Eagle Crest Resort Convention Center located at 1522 Cline Falls Highway, Redmond, Oregon 97756. Check-in begins at 11:15.
Members and non-members are wlecomed to attend this event. Cost is $18.00 for member lunches and $25.00 for guests. Pre-registration is required by March 6 at 5:00 p.m.
Registration may be done in the following ways: The Registration Deadline has passed.
1) Pre-pay and register on line with a credit card.
2) Us the " Contact Us " link to indicate your attendance and pay at the door with cash or check.
3) Call the City Club 541-633-7163 and indicate your attendance and pay at the door with cash or check.
Finally, you may phone the City Club office 541-633-7163 for assistance in registering for the event.
Speaker Bio
John A. Kitzhaber, MD Graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Oregon Medical School; practiced emergency medicine in Roseburg, Oregon for over 15 years.
Elected to the Oregon State House of Representatives in 1978 and the Oregon State Senate in 1980; reelected to the State Senate in 1984 and 1988; served as Senate President from 1985 to 1993; elected Governor of the State of Oregon in 1994 and reelected in 1998. Authored and implemented the groundbreaking Oregon Health Plan.
Since 2003 Dr. Kitzhaber has served as President of the Estes Park Institute, which conducts six annual educational conferences for community hospitals; he serves as the Director for the Center for Evidence Based Policy at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland and holds an endowed Chair on Health Care Policy with The Foundation for Medical Excellence, an Oregon based public, nonprofit educational foundation.
Dr. Kitzhaber also serves as a Senior Health Policy Advisor for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. On January 13, 2006 Dr. Kitzhaber launched The Archimedes Movement – committed to building a meaningful opportunity for engagement through which the growing concern over our health care system can be channeled into effective action The goal is to create not only the vision for a more equitable and sustainable system but also the tension necessary for its realization.