The Path Forward for Academic Medical Centers

Academic medical centers (AMCs) have long been integral to developing innovative treatments and assuring access to care for Americans who need the most help. As health care reform gains momentum, many AMCs are seeking to become leaders in biomedical science as well as innovators in health care reform.

At the same time, increasing technological, financial and other pressures suggest AMCs may not be sustainable in their traditional missions and policy reforms are needed. Such reforms should be an integral part of broader health care reform discussions in order to bring better treatments to patients and improve the delivery of care where it is greatly needed.

The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at Brookings recently launched a two-year project examining challenges facing the nation’s AMCs, particularly those in urban areas that serve a disproportionate share of lower-income and uninsured patients. The forum provided an opportunity to discuss the vision of AMCs and how this vision might be achieved through policy reforms. After the panel discussion with four CEOs of academic medical centers, Mark McClellan, Director of the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform, led a discussion with members of the project’s advisory board and the audience.

Meeting Materials:

Mark McClellan: The Path Forward for AMCs »
Victor Dzau: Overall Vision for AMCs in Health Care Reform »
Elaine Ullian: The Massachusetts Model and AMCs »
Joel Allison: Transforming Health Care »