Geneia Joy of Medicine Challenge Grand Prize Winner Announced

CHICAGO, June 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Geneia, a company of experienced healthcare change agents creating analytic and technology solutions to improve healthcare, today announced that Hashim Zaidi, MD was chosen the grand prize winner in the Geneia Joy of Medicine Challenge.  Dr. Zaidi presented his solution for bringing back the joy of medicine to a panel of physician judges and an audience of Chicago healthcare stakeholders at a live pitch-off competition on June 8 at MATTER.  He was awarded $5,000 in Geneia consulting resources to further develop his idea.

"I'm thrilled that a panel of my peers recognized the opportunity to support efforts to facilitate an easier and more comfortable way for doctors and their patients to have conversations about end-of-life care," said Hashim Zaidi, MD.  "I believe that end-of-life care is an area in which small interventions have the potential to make a big difference in patient satisfaction, quality of care, and, ultimately, physician satisfaction."

Zaidi's proposal, Dealing with Death: A Mechanism to Reduce Costs and Improve Care, was prompted by an interest in embedding organ donor information on drivers' licenses that could be made accessible to healthcare providers.  In his work with several Houston-area EMS providers, Zaidi saw firsthand the pitfalls of having wishes not known to families or healthcare providers.  Making end-of-life care decisions preemptively has the potential to reduce unnecessary costs, bring comfort to patients and families, and contribute toward physician satisfaction. 

The Joy of Medicine Challenge was created in response to a national survey of 400 physicians that found alarming levels of dissatisfaction.  The survey indicated that:

• 84% of physicians believe quality patient time may be a thing of the past.
• 87% believe that the "business and regulation of healthcare" has changed the practice of medicine for the worse.
• 67% know a physician who is likely to stop practicing medicine in the next five years as the result of physician burnout.

"I believe we're at a tipping point; we are beginning to recognize that in order to achieve the Triple Aim of better care, better health, and lower cost we need to work toward the Quadruple Aim. The fourth Aim, professional satisfaction, is a powerful driver of the Triple Aim outcomes. Initiatives like the Geneia Joy of Medicine Challenge - which helped to bring much-needed attention to the high levels of physician dissatisfaction -  reinforce the need for STEPSForward, the American Medical Association's new practice transformation series intended to help restore joy to the practice of medicine," said Christine A. Sinsky, MD, FACP, Vice President, Professional Satisfaction, American Medical Association, Internist, Medical Associates Clinic and Health Plans, Dubuque, IA, and a keynote speaker at the Geneia Joy of Medicine Challenge Pitch-Off.

The Geneia Joy of Medicine Challenge offered an online forum for physicians and medical students to submit their ideas to bring back the joy of medicine in three categories:  Electronic Health Record (EHR) of the Future, Population Health, and Joy of Medicine.  Winners in the three categories, announced May 19, were chosen by a panel of physician judges in combination with peer-sourced online voting, and given the opportunity to vie for the grand prize at the live pitch-off event.  Each of the three finalists received a $1,000 cash award. 

"The Geneia Joy of Medicine Challenge has truly been inspirational.  The thirty-six physicians and medical students who submitted ideas to bring back the joy of medicine generated hundreds and likely thousands of meaningful conversations among physicians and healthcare leaders about the critical importance of physician satisfaction," said Heather Lavoie, Geneia's Chief Operating Officer.  "That's why those of us who work for Geneia are so passionate about continuing to create opportunities for physicians to be at the forefront of creating the changes that will impact them.  Our good health depends on it. Literally."

More information about the Joy of Medicine Challenge Grand Prize Winner can be found at: https://medstro.com/posts/2185.

ABOUT GENEIA   
Geneia specializes in the development of advanced clinical, analytical, and technical solutions for healthcare.  Our dedicated team of physicians, nurses, technologists, analytics experts, and business professionals brings significant experience in all aspects of healthcare to create solutions that improve health care cost, quality, and accessibility.  Geneia helps hospitals, physicians, health plans, brokers, employers, and consumers succeed in the post healthcare reform environment.  The company has offices in Harrisburg, PA, Concord, NH, and Nashville, TN. To learn more, visit geneia.com or connect with us Twitter and LinkedIn.