Governor Lincoln D. Chafee today hosted a discussion at the State House focused on achieving an affordable, high-quality healthcare system in Rhode Island that benefits businesses and promotes economic development while helping all residents of the state.
“Our goal is providing access to high-quality medical care for all Rhode Islanders,” Governor Chafee said. “But this is also an economic development issue. When businesses are deciding whether to locate in Rhode Island or whether to expand, they’re undoubtedly looking at healthcare costs. We are designing a system that is good for employers, employees and providers. Making Rhode Island attractive to businesses while maintaining broad access to quality healthcare is a win-win for all Rhode Islanders.”
The featured participant in the event was Dr. Paul Grundy (biographical information below), Director of Healthcare, Technology and Strategic Initiatives for IBM Global Wellbeing Services and Health Benefits, part of IBM’s Corporate Headquarters Human Resources group. Dr. Grundy emphasized Rhode Island’s already-existing assets in the healthcare field, stressed the importance of primary care, and pointed out the significant work that has already taken place toward improving and expanding primary care within the state. Dr. Grundy expressed his belief that Rhode Island is perfectly positioned to become a national leader in healthcare reform.
Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth H. Roberts also participated in the discussion, urging delivery system reform and the importance of engaging consumers – specifically through primary care. The event was attended by leaders in the business and medical fields.
Paul Grundy MD, MPH, FACOEM, FACPM is IBM’s Director of Healthcare Transformation for IBM Global Wellbeing Services and Health Benefits, part of IBM’s Corporate Headquarters Human Resources group. Prior to joining IBM, Dr Grundy worked as a senior diplomat in the US State Department supporting the intersection of health and diplomacy. He was also the Medical Director for the International SOS, the world’s largest medical assistance company and for Adventist Health Systems, the second-largest not-for-profit medical system in the world.
Dr. Grundy attended medical school at the University of California San Francisco and trained at Johns Hopkins University. He has worked extensively in International AIDS Pandemic, including writing the United States’ first piece of legislation addressing AIDS Education in Africa.
Dr. Grundy’s numerous awards include: the Department of State Superior Honor Award for handling the crisis surrounding the two attempted coups in Russia and the Department of State Superior Honor Award for work on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.
Dr. Grundy presently serves on The Medical Education Futures Study National Advisory Board and is President of the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC), a coalition he led IBM in creating in early 2006. The PCPCC is dedicated to advancing a new primary-care model called the Patient-Centered Medical Home as a means of fundamentally reforming healthcare delivery, which in turn is essential to maintaining US international competitiveness. Today, the PCPCC represents employers of some 50 million people across the United States as well as physician groups representing more than 330,000 medical doctors, leading consumer groups and, most recently, the top seven US health-benefits companies. Dr Grundy is also the Chair of Health Policy of the ERISA Industry Committee.