Seattle study tour
Seattle is a hub of innovation and home to Starbucks, Microsoft and Boeing, some of the world's biggest and most successful corporations. On this programme you'll get the chance to compare and contrast health care systems on issues such as patient safety, corporate governance, organisational design and the use of technology to transform clinical and managerial practice.
Who is it for?
This programme is particularly relevant to senior clinicians and managers who are leading system, organisational and service change.
Past participants have included chief executives, directors, senior managers and lead clinicians.
We keep the programme small and select to allow maximum benefit to participants.
Benefits of this study tour
If you are serious about finding out how system design can be used to improve clinical quality and patient safety, there is no better place to visit. US health care organisations are early adopters of new technology. The health care organisations we visit on the tour are all not-for-profit, working in a high-pressure, competitive environment with patient safety and clinical quality at the heart of their business.
This programme is also a great opportunity to get the time and space to think about issues such as clinical and corporate governance, and new ways to involve patients in their care.
What will you do on this study tour?
The programme begins in Seattle, visiting six different health care organisations, including Group Health, one of the USA's premier health co-operatives; Swedish Medical Centre, leader in the application of LEAN in all facets of the organisation; and the Veterans Administration, with one of the most sophisticated patient record systems in the world.
At Microsoft, you will be treated as a VIP guest. In discussions with the Head of Health Strategy and other senior staff you’ll get the chance to look at future developments in health care and information technology. It’s a unique opportunity to see some exciting possibilities around how health care can and will change over the next few years.
You'll see how technology is helping these organisations to connect with users and to improve patient access, patient care and clinical quality using robust, evidence-based systems.
Visiting these not-for-profit or government organisations will give you valuable insight into how clinicians and managers can live out their values and provide excellent customer services in a business-orientated environment.