Michael Millenson enables health care organizations to succeed in turbulent times.
Thinking “outside the box” is second nature to Michael as someone whose background and expertise have made him both health care insider and outsider. Whether it’s posing challenging questions, extracting crucial elements from complex information and translating them into plain language, or providing a fresh perspective, Michael’s multi-dimensional approach is focused on enabling organizations to achieve goals that improve the lives of patients.
Selected Client Work
The Challenge
How can a mid-sized tech company position its patient safety software for greater marketplace success?
The Response
Working with the product and marketing teams, Michael produced a clear-eyed analysis of both positive and problematic customer feedback on product effectiveness and ease-of-use. He:
● Conducted an environmental scan that included traditional competitors and early-stage companies that could become rivals or partners.
● Suggested product enhancements.
● Recommended marketing modifications.
“Michael has a passion for improving quality and safety. He was insightful and proved to be a collaborative partner for achieving our strategy and business goals.”
—Holly Rimmasch, RN, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Health Catalyst
The Challenge
How can a large regional health insurer prod providers to reduce wasteful clinical practices and improve quality and outcomes with financial incentives that promote collaboration?
The Response
Working directly with senior executives, Michael researched best practices in safety and quality improvement by provider and payer organizations nationally. He:
● Identified high-cost, high-waste areas for focus.
● Presented solutions to influential community stakeholder groups.
● Worked closely with the contract and strategy teams on what became known as the “alternative quality contract.”
“As a key member of our ‘kitchen cabinet,’ your expertise and knowledge were foundational as we designed as we designed our initiatives to improve the quality and affordability of health care in Massachusetts. Our innovative new payment approach is seen as a model for the state and nation.”
—Andrew Dreyfus, President and Chief Executive Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts
The Challenge
How can a large, independent hospital in a highly competitive market galvanize its medical staff to improve clinical performance?
The Response
A Health Quality Advisors team of experienced physician and administrative experts developed an Accountability Audit that assembled hospital performance data that would be accessible to payers, competitors and the public, and benchmarked against local competition and high-performing similar hospitals nationally. With HQA colleagues, he:
● Interviewed hospital key opinion leaders.
● Recommended structural changes in a data-driven improvement initiative.
● Worked to implement the Audit with the enthusiastic endorsement of the hospital board, medical staff and administrative leadership..
“The Accountability Audit allowed El Camino to ground its self-image in a new reality of measurable data and provided a solid platform for driving to a sustained level of higher performance. The response of the medical staff was fabulous. You did a great job.”
—Kenneth D. Graham, Chief Executive Officer, El Camino Hospital