CanadaNews’ Reporter Notes

AcademyHealth held their annual National Health Policy Conference this week at the Capitol Hilton here in Washington, D.C.  The three day conference attempted to debate the state of health care in America.     Over 600 persons who are interested in the industry were present for the conference. 

AcademyHealth is the professional home for health services researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners.  The non patrician non-profit is known as a leading resource for the best in health research and policy. This top organization promotes interaction across the health research and policy arenas by bringing together a broad spectrum of players to share their perspectives, learn from each other, and strengthen their working relationships.

Medical experts from Harvard University, Emory University, The University of Arkansas for Medical Services and University of Texas were just a few organisations that had top speakers in their field.  Panelists included: Lieutenant General James G. Roudebush, United States Air Force; Donna Shalala, University of Miami and former Secretary of Health and Human Services; Gail Wilensky, Project HOPE.  AcademyHealth made way for the inclusion of one field of study that had previously been ignored:  mental health. 

Mental health is an important area of healthcare; but unfortunately it sometimes becomes the more unlooked division.  AcademyHealth gave an official statement in reference to the addition of this branch:  “We want to focus more on mental health because of the issues that have taken the spotlight in the media.  We are talking about the Virginia Tech shooting, the shootings also in Colorado and Illinois.  And let’s not forget about the constant stream of imagines about Britney Spears.  For these reasons, we need to give mental health the spotlight.”

Health services research is the multidisciplinary field of scientific investigation that studies how social factors, financing systems, organizational structures and processes, health technologies, and personal behaviors affect access to health care, the quality and cost of health care, and ultimately our health and well-being. Its research domains are individuals, families, organizations, institutions, communities, and populations.

Those who attended the conference examined how people get access to health care, how much care costs, and what happens to patients as a result of this care. The main goals of the conference was to identify the most effective ways to organize, manage, finance, and deliver high quality care; reduce medical errors; and improve patient safety.

AcademyHealth attempts to push to improve health and health care by generating new knowledge and moving knowledge into action.

As the preeminent professional society for health services researchers and health policy analysts, AcademyHealth collaborates with the health services research community and other key stakeholders to support the development of health services research by expanding and improving the scientific basis of the field; increasing the capabilities and skills of researchers; and promoting the development of the necessary financial, human, infrastructure, and data resources.

AcademyHealth was established in June 2000, following a merger between the Alpha Center and the Association for Health Services Research (AHSR). Founded in 1976, the Alpha Center grew to be recognized as one of the nation’s leading health policy resource centers providing research analysis, facilitation, education and training, strategic planning, and program management. AHSR was formed in 1981 as a non-profit professional society for individuals and organizations with a commitment to health services research. AHSR’s mission included educating consumers and policymakers about the importance of health services research, disseminating information generated by health services researchers, securing funding for the field, and providing networking and professional development opportunities.

AcademyHealth, drawing upon the strengths of its two predecessor organizations, is advancing the fields of health services research and health policy through the transfer of relevant information across the research and policy arenas.