Denver — Sept. 15, 2011 — Hundreds of health care consumerism enthusiasts around the nation gathered for the 2011 CDHC Solutions FORUM and not only did they gain priceless information, game plans and experiences about the health and benefits management industry from top industry leaders, but discovered CDHC Solutions, which has the largest footprint in health care benefits media, has become institutionalized.
At the opening general session of the inaugural CDHC Solutions FORUM West, held at the Marriott Tech Center in Denver and produced by CDHC Solutions magazine, founder and CEO Doug Field announced his organization formerly known as CDHC Solutions, has been transformed into The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism (IHC).
“Since its launch, CDHC Solutions has become the collective voice for health care consumerism,” Field said. “Our mission is to establish multiple media platforms that effectively connect stakeholders to collaborate in effective ways that promote the growth of health care consumerism. We felt the best way to do that was by the creation of The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism. This will be a place where people can come to LEARN from the top thought leaders in health care consumerism, CONNECT with those industry leaders, and SHARE their thoughts and best practices with other members of the Institute.”
A media entrepreneur, Field, who has been in the health and benefits management market for 25 years, envisions www.theihcc.com to be the Linkedin version of health care consumerism.
He envisions this web community to be the place where employers, looking to save on their health care spend, can collaborate and share solutions to the challenges of developing and implementing a cost-effective health and benefits plan for their employee population. The Institute also is a place where c-suite executives can connect and share ideas about changes to the health care law and what it means for their bottom line and the overall health of not only the employee population but also the company.
Field is passionate about The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism’s commitment to advancing consumerism solutions by connecting and building collaborations with thought leaders. He also believes a new multimedia information strategy with a social networking approach of “Learn, Connect, Share,” is important for understanding the rapid adoption of health care consumerism.
The IHC’s initial plans, which are well under way, include highlighting success stories, new ideas and expose potential barriers to the growth and understanding of health care consumerism, as well as promote the evolution from ideals and pilots to proven solutions that result in lower costs, improved access to coverage, helps members become better health care consumers, and promotes quality of care.
The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism will support personalized individual engagement in health and health care decisions by promoting the mega trends growing in society at large, such as personal responsibility, cost transparency, portability, ownership and self-reliance.
The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism will bring the power of group wisdom to create and share best practices, innovation, challenges, research, policy and thought leadership to advance the development of health care consumerism.
This will be done through the website, a biweekly eNewsletter titled “IHC Today,” through the magazine CDHC Solutions, which is the official publication of The Institute of HealthCare Consumerism, and through the IHC FORUM conference series.
Field became even more enthusiastic when he provided further details on The Institute’s structure, which consists of two arms: League of Leaders and Industry Innovators.
The League of Leaders will guide The Institute and its initiatives to expand the acceptance and implementation of Health Care Consumerism. A select group of nationally recognized leaders will create an environment of learning (issues), connecting (members) and sharing (ideas/best practices). The result will be an expansion of well-informed and experienced company purchasers and product/service developers through interacting, discussing and making smart informed decisions.
The Institute’s Industry Innovators, which is more of the marketing side, will connect directly to thought leaders, early adopters and “fast followers” to drive change and successful product introductions. Exclusive benefits for Industry Innovators include editorial coverage in the print and online editions of CDHC Solutions magazine; first right of refusal on speaking and sponsorship opportunities at FORUM East and West; plus more, added Field.
Overall, The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism targets employers but the audience include all stakeholders involved in decisions, and best serve the needs of marketers who want to reach all the ready buyers of products and services. Joining the employers, IHC is providing memberships, which will include health-benefits consultants, health care providers/plans, benefits brokers, advisors, third party administrators, academia and other industry providers and advocates.
