Health Care Half Truths: Too Many Myths, Not Enough Reality

Are you tired of hearing that the American health care " system" is broken? The answer to this question and many myths will be explored, facts revealed, and solutions proposed when Engaging the Mind, features Dr. Arthur Garson, Dean of the School of Medicine and Vice President at the University of Virginia. Our health care system will not be fixed by those in back rooms; each of us, in our own way, will have to work on it-whether directly as practitioners or indirectly as voters-or our health will continue to get worst.

Dean Garson will discuss America's health care, ways in which it is tarnished and ways in which it shines. Garson will shed light on the information we receive from "sound bites" that on the surface seems perfectly reasonable, but on closer examination are wrong. The discussion will deal with the most common myths-explored, and the facts will be provided to fit the pieces together. The audience will learn about the decision-making process, and help propose
better solutions.

November 17, 2006
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Fairfax County Government Center
12000 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA
Directions

Event co-host: UVa Northern Virginia Center

About the Speaker

Dr. Arthur Garson, Jr., Dean of the School of Medicine and a Vice President
of the University of Virginia

In 2001, he became a member of the White House panel on Health Policy; and was appointed Chair of the American College of Cardiology’s task force on the uninsured, leading a broad coalition of physician and patient groups, working on incremental legislation for the uninsured. He also is a member of the ACC’s working group on systems to improve quality care.

In 2002, he was asked to join the Institute of Medicine Task Force on rapid improvements in the healthcare system. He was also appointed a member of the Commonwealth Fund Task Force on health insurance and the uninsured.

In September 2003, he was appointed by Secretary of Health and Human Services Thompson to chair the National Advisory Council of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In addition, in 2003, he began working with Virginia Medicaid and Anthem on a public-private partnership in pay-for-performance related to practice guidelines.

In 2004, he was appointed to chair the Healthcare Programs subcommittee of the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Insurance and the Uninsured, and initiated a study of physician workforce in Virginia.

In 2005, Dr. Garson was appointed to an Institute of Medicine Committee on Disabilities.
In 2006, the US Senate bill he helped to originate and draft, the Health Partnership Act “to provide innovation in healthcare through state initiatives," was introduced (S2772.) Recently, Dean Garson was appointed to the Commission on Health Reform by Governor Timothy Kaine.

Dr. Garson's recent publications include a paper on differences in patient and physician definitions of "health care quality" in 11 countries (Garson, Yong, Yock, and McClellan, Am J Cardiol, 2006) and is completing a book for the public entitled "Health Care Half Truths: Too Many Myths, Not Enough Reality."