UAW-Ford Report on Kansas City Area Focuses on Improving Health Care
31 May 2000
UAW-Ford Report on Kansas City Area Focuses on Improving Health Care
KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 31 The UAW-Ford Community Health
Care Initiative released a study today that gives an overall look at the
status of health care in the five-county Greater Kansas City area.
Called the Greater Kansas City Community Health Care Assessment Fact Book,
the report was two years in the making. It identifies health care segments
that meet or exceed the performance of other large U.S. communities and
identifies areas that need improvement. The two-volume report also recommends
projects that can improve care in the Kansas City area.
"When communities work together to improve care, real strides can be made
to make people healthier, keep them well, and make sure that those who need
care get it," said Dr. Woodrow Myers, director of Health Care Management at
Ford Motor Company. "Benchmarking and identifying gaps between health care
needs and resources are just the first steps. Next, we will work with
interested community groups to improve health care quality and value for all
members of the Kansas City area."
Bob Alpert, executive director, UAW Center for Community Health Care
Initiative, said: "We believe that the data in the Fact Book will be as
helpful in Kansas City as it has been in other communities, where similar
reports have been valuable to coalitions and civic groups. We look forward to
working with the Kansas City community as it identifies priorities and
develops programs to improve health care for all."
Ford has 8,600 employees and retirees in the Kansas City area. The
Greater Kansas City Community Health Care Initiative also is supported by
General Motors Corp., which has 8,500 employees and retirees in the Kansas
City area. GM has been a participant in similar efforts with the UAW and Ford
in other communities.
The report was commissioned by the UAW and Ford and prepared by The Lewin
Group, a strategic health and human services consulting firm based in Fairfax,
Va. Lewin has 30 years of global experience in tracking health care systems
and formulating improvements.
The Greater Kansas City area is comprised of five counties in Missouri and
Kansas, and was benchmarked against comparative U.S. metropolitan areas,
including St. Louis; Indianapolis; Seattle; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; and
Wichita, Kan.
Among the report's findings:
* Residents are hospitalized more often and for longer periods than in
the benchmarked communities, which results in increased costs. This is
particularly true for medical and psychiatric care.
* There is an excess of hospital capacity and oversupply of hospital
beds.
* The overall mortality rate and potential years of life lost is
comparable.
* The region has a more pronounced disparity in health status between
African-Americans and white residents.
* Maternal care and care of children is comparable to the benchmarked
cities.
* Communicable disease results are mixed.
* Hospital payments are higher than in the benchmarked communities.
* Physician service utilization is low.
* Physician fees are lower than in benchmarked communities
* The community has a higher Medicare use rate.
* Chronic conditions are comparable, with the exception of respiratory
and pulmonary diseases due to risk factors such as cigarette smoking.
The report was presented to the health care community, civic leaders,
health care purchasers, elected officials and philanthropic organizations
today at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City.