CEO participates in Roundtable
Denver Health CEO Patricia Gabow, M.D., was one of 16 national health care experts gathered to discuss how the next president could reform health care. Health care reform is on the list of priorities for the Democratic National Convention.
Other participants included, among others, the mayors of Boston and San Francisco, CEO of the Mayo Clinic and executives from Amgen, Pfizer and Safeway. More than 900 people attended the event at Boettcher Concert Hall.
The Roundtables are a series of 10 issue-oriented, nonpartistan roundtables sponsored by the Denver 2008 Convention Executive Committee.
The health care group focused on how the system in America could promote wellness to prevent chronic diseases that impact the cost of health care.
Dr. Gabow spoke about the fragmented nature of American health care, noting that there really isn't a "system." She said an integrated, comprehensive, coordinated system with a clear floor and clear ceiling is needed.
The problem in health care is that there are a lot of people, at every level, making a lot of money maintaining this non-system, she noted, and said the new administration would have to have a great deal of courage in studying health care programs to solve the problems in U.S. health care.
Denver Health bike paramedics
Denver Health paramedic Otis McKay explains to Ch. 4 reporter Dr. Dave Hnida all the medical equipment a bike paramedic can carry while on calls for the DNC at Pepsi Center. Hnida's story highlighted Denver Health's bike paramedics providing medical coverage at the convention.
Click here to listen to a story on Denver Health's bike paramedics on Colorado Public Radio. Colorado Public Radio also interviewed emergency department physician Chris Colwell on how Denver Health is preparing for the Democratic National Convention.