One of the world's leading health care policy experts delivered the second Usher Institute Annual Lecture to a full auditorium, this week. A dynamic showcase followed the lecture, featuring professors, patient representatives, researchers and colleagues from across the Institute. Image Lecture Dr David Bluenthal, Professor of Medicine at Harvard University and President of the Commonwealth Fund spoke on the subject of 'Managing High-Need High-Cost Patients: A Universal Challenge'. The talk higlighted opportunities for both policymakers and health system leaders to better manage the care of this distinct population. High-need, high-cost patients account for a disproportionate share of health care spending, and the complex care they need can be fraught with quality and safety issues. Efforts to address quality and cost challenges in the health care system as a whole must focus on improving care for this population. Dr David BlumenthalPresident of the Commonwealth Fund The divide between the microsystems of health and social care practice, which are often well studied, and the macrosystems in which these practices exist was highlighted. Responses from Dr Catherine Calderwood (Chief Medical Officer for Scotland), Dr Simon Watson (Chief Quality Officer, NHS Lothian) and Prof Aziz Sheikh (Chair of Primary Care Research and Development) gave an engaging Scottish perspective. Image Showcase A dynamic showcase followed the lecture; featuring professors, patient representatives, researchers and colleagues from across the Institute. With its mission to advance patient care and improve healthcare systems, the Usher Institute displayed examples of excellence in teaching, research, innovation and knowledge exchange. Some of the videos on display at the showcase included Summer School 2016 Palliative Care from diagnosis to death NHS Lothian - Let's talk about abortion Publication date 18 May, 2017
