Managing Access to Care at Ascension Health: Strategies, Partnerships, and IT Enablers

JoAnn Webster, Senior Director, Access Leadership, Ascension Health, St. Louis. A major strategic direction for Ascension Health is “Healthcare That Leaves No One Behind”. The health system has developed the “5 Steps to 100% Access” and is implementing them in various communities through a program titled the Access Leadership Planning Program. Coalitions of competitor healthcare providers and others are the coalition members who work together to serve the uninsured population. The goal of achieving 100% access by 2020 will be attained if the “5 Steps” and the community plans are supported by an IT infrastructure. There are over 10 communities that have already developed the infrastructure, have a shared data system and are producing outcome data. It is anticipated that each health ministry will serve as a catalyst for developing the IT infrastructure in all 28 of Ascension Health’s communities. The “5 Steps to 100% Access”, the Access Leadership Planning Program and what is involved in developing the IT infrastructure for a community coalition are reviewed.