By RANDY GRIFFITH
WINDBER — International experts have shown the right intervention programs can improve patients’ health and save medical expenses.
The challenge, World Health Organization researcher Hanne Tonnesen says, is to find how to pay the medical industry for nontreatment services.
“We have to invent documentation to fit into existing health-care delivery systems,” Tonneson said Monday during the World Health Organization Winter School opening session at WindberPlace education center.
The professional summit continues through Wednesday on the Windber Medical Center Campus.
Hosted by Windber Research Institute, the event marks the first time the international health group’s annual Winter School has been held in the United States.
A cadre of recognized experts are here to explore strategies to improve health promotion and disease prevention around the world.
At the same time, the event recognizes the WindberCare group of health care and research organizations as the nation’s first network recognized as members of the International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services.
The organization has designated Windber as the charter network in a new Pennsylvania Region.
Dr. Matthew Masiello, director of Windber’s Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, has been named Pennsylvania regional coordinator and a voting member of the international network’s general assembly, Tonneson announced.
Masiello and Windber Research Institute are beginning a pilot program to identify health promotion opportunities by identifying health risks for all patients who see their doctors or receive care in emergency rooms, clinics or hospitals. The next step is adapting a reporting system to allow insurance companies pay for referrals to things smoking cessation classes or weight-loss programs.
Other countries have developed pay-for-prevention structures that Windber can use as a starting point.
“It is a challenge because health promotion is not automatically connected to treatment,” Tonneson said.
Tonneson said she joined the health promotion movement after working as a surgeon because she saw a greater need. She now serves as the chief executive officer of the International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services Secretariat.
“I can save some lives as a surgeon, but I can save thousands of lives with health promotion,” Tonneson said. “The message is: If we add health promotion into the clinical programs, we can get a much better outcome.”
Those attending the winter school include those in health care, pharmaceutical, insurance and information technology industries.
