Alan Sullivan, AIA, is a Healthcare Planning Consultant and a Registered Architect. Since 1981, he has specialized in the planning and design of hospitals, clinics, outpatient facilities and physicians’ offices.
Alan, an owner of CMW, Inc., has served as Director of the firm’s Healthcare Planning & Design Division for the past 13 years. Prior to joining CMW, he was President of Sullivan Design Associates, for nine years.
In addition to the Kentucky Healthcare Strategy Forum, Mr. Sullivan currently serves as Chairman of the State’s Inspector General’s Healthcare Codes Committee, which is charged with updating Kentucky’s healthcare design regulations.
He is currently President Elect of Ashland Terrace Retirement Center in Lexington, and is Past President of AIA Kentucky, the East Kentucky Chapter of AIA, and the Construction Specifications Institute Bluegrass Chapter.
Mr. Sullivan received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Kentucky. He also completed one year of independent study in Florence, Italy and two years in Atlanta, Georgia.
In an effort to shed more light on this rapidly evolving subject, on December 5th KHSF sponsored a symposium called “Consumer Driven Health Plans – Why the Buzz?” A crowd of about 40 people from employer groups, provider groups and managed care organizations gathered at the Marriott East in Louisville and heard presentations on the latest healthcare trends and the growth of healthcare consumerism and CDHP’s. Included were updates from insurers concerning the development of their consumer directed products.
From the conference the following became very clear:
 | Managed care had limited success in addressing the healthcare cost management issue and the development of more consumer-driven health plan products is an outgrowth of that |
| Companies that currently offer CDHP’s are seeing dramatic growth |
| There is a definite movement by insurance plans in Kentucky to have their own CDHP products |
| The movement to a more consumer-centric healthcare system is irreversible |
| Providers will have to adapt to this new environment in order to compete for the consumer’s business. This will include what services are developed and offered in the future and how those services are marketed and delivered. As one presenter stated, “Gee Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore” |
We were pleased with the turnout and content of the symposium and are considering a follow-up for next year. Hopefully you’ll be able to join us.
- Develop an annual calendar of events to communicate to members
- Develop education programs, and communicate those programs, on a timely basis
- Refocus and improve our membership campaign, and improving our mailing lists
- More clearly delineate the responsibilities and accountabilities of each board member
- More frequent board meetings to facilitate board decisions
- Complete semi-annual surveys to determine how we can better serve member needs
- Communicate more effectively with members, through e-newsletters, the web site, distribution of minutes, etc.