Informed by lessons from the pandemic, the Common Health Coalition has announced a new set of commitments that it says will better equip U.S. healthcare organizations to collaborate with public health systems in preparing for the next public health emergency.
The Common Health Coalition’s founding organizations — AHIP, the Alliance of Community Health Plans, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, and Kaiser Permanente, — have each committed to specific actions they will carry out in partnership with relevant public health agencies and professionals.
The Coalition's founding members are committing to action in four priority areas:
• Coordination between healthcare and public health
• Always-on emergency preparedness
• Real-time disease detection
• Exchange of actionable data, particularly to advance equity
"Only by weaving together healthcare delivery and public health — using the shared experiences of COVID-19 as our stitching — will we ensure that our health system is ready to confront the next crisis," said Dave A. Chokshi, M.D., M.S., who chairs the Common Heath Coalition, in a statement. "Today, five leading healthcare organizations are committing to actions that will help our nation be better prepared for future health emergencies. Together, we'll work hand in hand toward the common goal of health, and we encourage leaders across the health community to join us."
"Kaiser Permanente is ready to take the steps needed to invest in the well-being of our members, our communities, and the broader U.S. public health system," said Bechara Choucair, M.D., senior vice president and chief health officer at Kaiser Permanente, in a statement. "The actions we have committed to taking today will result in foundational improvements to the way healthcare and public health work together — and that will transform how people experience health in our country."
"Communication and collaboration are essential to solving our nation's greatest challenges. The pandemic reinforced this, and as cornerstones of their communities — hospitals and health systems know this. Using this experience to establish better lines of communication with local and state public health leadership will help us be better prepared for whatever lies ahead," said Michelle Hood, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the American Hospital Association, in a statement. "The AHA and our 5,000-plus members know that we can meaningfully improve health and health equity if we join forces and continue to enhance collaboration.”
