Etcetera
HFMA member Dale Baker and Dean Westcott, a member of HFMA U.K.,
met on a trip to Russia—and share a passion for better understanding the
healthcare finance systems of each other’s country.
A friendship developed during a trip to Russia has given HFMA member
Dale Baker, FHFMA, CPA, a unique perspective on the challenges of
healthcare finance—not just in the United States, but also globally.
Baker, president of Baker Healthcare Consulting, Indianapolis, and a
member of HFMA’s Indiana Pressler Memorial Chapter, met Dean Westcott
during the “HFMA Abroad” trip to Russia in September 2008. Westcott,
chief operating and financial officer of the West Essex Primary Care
Trust of the National Health Service, which is responsible for the
health care of about 250,000 Brits, also is vice president of the
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
The two formed a quick friendship. “I was struck by Dale’s wealth of
knowledge on healthcare issues and his sheer enthusiasm for the subject
and his eagerness to learn,” Westcott says.
Says Baker, “I’ve enjoyed our discussions on how finance
professionals can take a lead role in something as globally important as
the cost of health care. And I think what the ACCA is doing is pretty
amazing. Under Dean’s leadership, it is conducting a year-long research
project on how to reduce the costs of health care internationally.”
Since the two met, Baker has traveled to London to learn more about
the British healthcare system with Westcott’s guidance. Baker and
Westcott also gave a half-day presentation on health care in the United
Kingdom at a U.S. healthcare seminar.
“During the presentation, Dean described the U.K. healthcare system
and the huge reforms that have taken place since 2000—what has worked
well, what has not, and some of the unintended consequences of
reform—along with reforms that will take place in the future,” Baker
says. “I then discussed what elements of reform in the United Kingdom
may have merit in the United States, given the structural and cultural
differences between the countries.”
During Baker’s September 2009 visit to the United Kingdom, Westcott
arranged for Baker to interview many British healthcare leaders
regarding the U.K. healthcare system and the status of the ACCA research
project. Baker also toured six hospitals in London.
The opportunity to view the British healthcare system firsthand was
“incredible,” Baker says. “I had the opportunity to interview many of
its leaders and learn more about the National Health Service and the
National Institute of Health & Clinical Effectiveness, which
conducts comparative effectiveness research (like that recently funded
by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act) and puts a monetary value
on quality of life when evaluating the clinical effectiveness of
treatments and drugs.”
Baker appreciates the ability to exchange ideas with Westcott about
the role of healthcare finance professionals in transforming health
care. “There is so much we can learn from other healthcare systems
throughout the world,” Baker says. “I’m grateful for the perspectives
that my friendship with Dean provides, particularly as the United States
moves toward healthcare reform.”