Posted by Joacchim Roski on April 09, 2015
Booz Allen has convened an advisory committee of some of the nation’s most prominent experts in delivering high reliability care across the public and private sectors to bring innovative solutions to the Military Health System. The committee aims to improve patient safety, healthcare quality, and access to needed services for service members and their families.
Four experts currently serve on the Advisory Committee. The unique perspectives they bring from their experience in the private sector will help Booz Allen address challenges in moving the Military Health System toward a high reliability organization.
While additional advisors will round out the committee over the next few months, the current advisors are already working directly with Booz Allen staff and military health leaders. To date, they have participated in multiple events and provided valuable insight to Booz Allen staff and its clients.
Looking ahead, the advisors will support Booz Allen in developing innovative solutions to support high reliability care across the Military Health System and beyond.
Advisory Committee Profiles
Peter Pronovost M.D., Ph.D., FCCM
As one of the world’s leading authorities on patient safety, Dr. Pronovost developed a scientifically proven method for reducing the deadly infections associated with central line catheters. His simple but effective checklist protocol virtually eliminated such infections in intensive care units across the state of Michigan, saving 1,500 lives and $100 million annually. These results have been sustained for more than three years and the checklist is now implemented across the United States and in several other countries.
George J. Isham M.D., M.S.
Dr. Isham is responsible for working with HealthPartners’ senior management team on health and quality of care improvement for patients, members, and the community. As a senior fellow, he facilitates progress at the intersection of population health research and public policy.
Barbara Balik RN, EdD
Ms. Balik works with healthcare leaders to build systems and culture for quality, safety, patient/family experience, and staff-provider engagement. Recent partnerships involved developing skills and systems for patient- and family-centered care and patient partnerships, excellent patient experience (physician communication with patients), reliable transitions in care, and development of effective quality infrastructures for population health. The systems developed assure sustained improvement and innovation.
Gary R. Yates, MD
A board certified family physician, Dr. Yates is responsible for the clinical effectiveness programs and physician integration efforts for Sentara Healthcare’s 10-hospital system and 432,000-member health plan. In 2004, Dr. Yates’ leadership of patient safety initiatives led to the American Hospital Association awarding Sentara Norfolk General Hospital with its Quest for Quality Prize. The following year, Dr. Yates’ work was again recognized when the National Quality Forum and the Joint Commission awarded the John M. Eisenberg Award for Patient Safety and Quality to Sentara Healthcare. That same year, Dr. Yates was awarded the 2005 Physician Executive Award of Excellence from Modern Physician and the American College of Physician Executives.
