The 2012 Future of Medicine Summit VI will feature local and nationally recognized speakers to share their wisdom.
The Future of Medicine is designed to engage physicians and key community stakeholders in the reformation of the County’s health care delivery system to one that make sense and addresses fundamental patient care and cost issues, creating a road map to where medicine should be in five years.
In November of 2007 a summit of 135 of these stakeholders from Palm Beach County representing businesses, physicians, hospitals, public health officials and elected officials, gathered to begin the creation of this map. Using data collected from over 300 surveys done across the county they decided to create four distinct working groups to address health issues in the county. These groups were to address:
- Covering more people and improving access to primary care
- Encouraging and enhancing prevention and wellness activities across the county
- Enhancing quality of care and patient safety
- Improving the viability of physician practices and other healthcare providers
Each of these working groups, comprised of volunteers from the county, have met on a regular basis since then and have created specific goals to address the mandates given them. The work is re-addressed each year with an annual Summit.
The Summit is partnering with Scripps Florida to explore three areas relevant to many in the general public, as well as physicians and health care providers. This year three chronic conditions will be covered: diabetes, heart disease, and mental health with a focus on bipolar disorder.