Our health care system is the most expensive in the world, but many are excluded and our health outcomes are not the best. This month, Ed O’Neil identifies three factors we must address to slow the growth of a sector that is already 15.5% of our GDP. To read this essay, visit: http://www.futurehealth.ucsf.edu/from_the_director.html.

Now open for comment: EMS Workforce Agenda for the Future. The comment period is open through August 22, 2008, and a final document will be submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on November 30, 2008. To view the document and get details for submitting comments, please visit: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/emsworkforce/

The Center’s latest study on workforce diversity was conducted as part of The California Endowment’s Connecting the Dots Initiative. “Diversity in California’s Health Professions: Current Status & Emerging Trends” presents a quantitative assessment of the diversity in California health professions education institutions and among practicing professionals.  Read the report here: hhttp://www.calendow.org/uploadedFiles/Publications/By_Topic/
Culturally_Competent_Health_Systems/Workforce_Diversity/
Diversity%20in%20California%27s%20Health%20Professions%20Current%20Status
%20and%20Emerging%20Trends.pdf

The Center is now accepting nominations for the inaugural class of the Institute for Physician Leadership, a nine-month program designed to improve the ability of physicians in junior positions to bring about change within their organizations and improve job satisfaction. For more information, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1262

The National Foundation for Medical Education has created the NFME Outstanding Speaker in the Health Professions award to pay for a prominent speaker at a national event of any group with the purpose of advancing the cause of improving health and health care. For more information: www.futurehealth.ucsf.edu/nfme.html

The Pharmacy Leadership Institute (PLI) welcomes the fifth Kaiser Permanente cohort, which will begin the year-long leadership program in September. For more information on the PLI, click here: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Program/pli/

On September 3rd, 2008, the Center is offering a workshop entitled, “Managing Conflict Effectively,” which will help participants understand their own and others’ conflict handling modes in order to improve their interactions with others. To register, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1116

On September 23, 2008, the Center is offering the workshop, "Working Across Personality Differences: An Introduction to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator." Using the MBTI, participants will come to a greater understanding of their own and others’ styles and learn ways to bridge the gap when those styles differ. To register, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1114

On October 20th, 2008, the Center is offering a three-hour workshop on Change Management that will help participants facilitate change in their organization by clarifying and using core values, developing creative responses and strategies, building alignment and effectively communicating their vision. For more information and to register, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1086

Have a project to manage but unsure where to start? Join the Center on November 6th, 2008 for a four-hour workshop entitled "Project Management: The Basics". Using your own project, you will learn the basic skills from defining to closing your project. For more information and to register, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1095

On November 13th, 2008, the Center is offering a seminar entitled, "Coaching Employees for Growth and Success." In this three-hour seminar you'll learn how to coach your employees to improve their performance as well as provide them a development path. For more information and to register, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1115

Our health care system is engaged in a process of reinvention that requires current interest groups to find common ground and build upon it. This month, Ed O’Neil discusses the skills leaders need to guide these groups in finding common ground and working together for a better system of care. To read this essay, visit: http://www.futurehealth.ucsf.edu/from_the_director.html.

How can you use quality improvement tools to eliminate language or cultural barriers to care? Check out materials from the LEAD program that helped safety net hospitals improve the delivery of culturally competent care. The first session emphasizes how to improve teamwork and use rapid cycle improvement.  Visit:  http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/TheNetwork/Default.aspx?tabid=110 

The Center is now accepting nominations for the inaugural class of the Institute for Physician Leadership, a nine-month program designed to improve the ability of physicians in junior positions to bring about change within their organizations and improve job satisfaction. For more information, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1262

Beth Mertz presented findings and recommendations from her recent study on alternative practice dental hygiene [http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/cchws/rdhap.html] at a Sacramento policy briefing entitled “Responding to California’s Dental Health Care Crisis,” sponsored by The California Program on Access to Care (CPAC) and the Dental Health Foundation. See a copy of the brief: http://www.ucop.edu/cpac/publications.html.

The Center for the Health Professions worked with a national stakeholder group on a national assessment of the EMS workforce. The report details critical policy issues and makes recommendations regarding the EMS workforce. To access the report at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website www.ems.gov, go to: http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/DOT/NHTSA/Traffic%20Injury%20Control/Articles/
Associated%20Files/EMSWorkforceReport_June2008.pdf

The RWJF Executive Nurse Fellows Program has selected its new cohort.  Twenty nurses in senior executive roles nationwide have been selected for the 2008 cohort of this advanced leadership program sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. To view a roster of the new cohort of fellows, click here: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Program/rwj/Default.aspx?tabid=341

In response to California’s increasingly diverse population, there is increased attention to the need for a culturally competent physician workforce. The Health Workforce Tracking Collaborative’s newest issue brief, “Diversity in California’s Health Professions: Physicians,” highlights the racial/ethnic composition of California’s physician workforce and medical students. Read the brief here: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/pdf_files/Physician%20diversity%20brief_FINAL.pdf

Jason Glick, Pharm. D., participated in the CHW Pharmacy Leadership Institute Class of 2006-2007 and is applying his enhanced leadership skills to meet the ever growing needs of his hospital’s population. To read more, including the two questions that Dr. Glick believes need to be asked in health care, visit: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/leadership/

Are there conversations you avoid because you feel anxious or frustrated? Or, you engage in them, but to no avail? On August 12, 2008, the Center is offering a workshop entitled "Skillfully Engaging in Difficult Conversations," which will focus on learning and practicing skills. For more information and to register, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1107

On September 3, 2008, the Center is offering a three-hour workshop entitled “Managing Conflict Effectively.” Using the Thomas-Kilmann Inventory, participants will learn about different approaches to dealing with conflict in order to manage conflicts more effectively. For more information and to register, go to http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1116

Our system of health care needs fundamental reform. How can hospitals meet this challenge without destructively impacting the ongoing delivery of health care services? This month, Ed O’Neil identifies the critical characteristics of successful innovations that can improve hospitals incrementally, without harming patient care in the interim. To read this essay, visit: http://www.futurehealth.ucsf.edu/from_the_director.html.

The California Board of Registered Nursing Survey of 2008 has been mailed! This survey is managed by staff at the Center for the Health Professions. If you receive the survey, we hope you will complete it and return it soon.

As participants in the 2006-2008 Integrated Nurse Leadership Program, Kim Costello, RN, Virginia Okayayshi, RPh, and their multidisciplinary team reduced medication errors while simultaneously increasing nursing professionalism. Read more about their work, including their team quote, at: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/leadership/

A comprehensive report on the labor market for licensed nurses in California has been published. This report was written as part of our evaluation of the California Nurse Workforce Initiative. Detailed tables describing the RN and LVN workforces in regions of California are also available. Find the report here: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/publications/index.html and the regional appendix here: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/pdf_files/NWILaborMarketReport_FINAL.pdf

The Center for the Health Professions Seminar Series, held the third Wednesday of every month, features presentations and discussions led by CHP staff and colleagues. June’s seminar, The Effects of Health IT on Patient Safety in the Veterans Health Administration, will be led by Joanne Spetz, PhD. Read more at: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/

On June 11, 2008, the Center is offering a three-hour workshop on Change Management that will help participants facilitate change in their organizations by clarifying and using core values, developing creative responses and strategies, building alignment, and effectively communicating their vision. For more information and to register, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1086

Baby Boomers, Gen X'ers, and Millenials, oh my! On June 26, 2008, the Center offers "Managing a Multi-Generational Workforce," a three-hour workshop focusing on developing awareness and building skills in managing employees from different generations. For more information and to register, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1222

Feeling pressured to come up with innovative solutions on the job? On July 9, 2008, the Center is offering "Creativity & Problem Solving," a three-hour workshop where you can learn to generate more creative ideas. For more information and to register, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1223

Workshop Registration is Open! The Network for Multicultural Health invites you to attend "Addressing Health Care Disparities: Cultural Competence Faculty Development Program" on August 8 and 9, 2008, at the University of California, San Francisco. For more information and to register for the meeting, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/TheNetwork/Default.aspx?tabid=110

Are there conversations you avoid because you feel anxious or frustrated? Or, you engage in them, but to no avail? On August 12, 2008, the Center is offering a workshop entitled, "Skillfully Engaging in Difficult Conversations," which will focus on learning and practicing skills. For more information and to register, go to: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/Leadership/Default.aspx?tabid=1107

Hospitals play such a crucial role in the US health care system that changing them is often seen as a complex and daunting undertaking. This month Ed O'Neil identifies the three most fundamental challenges hospitals face today to respond to the changing health care environment.

To read this essay, click here.

Joanne Spetz analyzed commuting patterns of registered nurses in California, based on the 2006 Survey of RNs. Many counties are predominantly "senders" while others are "receivers", which can affect county-level estimates of RN shortages. Read the report at: http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/cchws/RNCommutingBrief.pdf