HealthTrust Health Summit 2016 a Success!

Posted: 10.3.2016

A peek into the future of healthcare and the growing role of medical consumerism was the focus of the 2016 HealthTrust Health Summit held on September 28 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord. Roughly 200 public sector employers, union representatives, elected officials, school and town administrators, wellness coordinators, HealthTrust Board members, HealthTrust vendor/partners and HealthTrust staff attended.

The day began with an eye-opening keynote address by Healthcare Futurist Joe Flower. Calling the consumer the “hero of the next healthcare,” Flower described breakthroughs that could soon change the face of healthcare, including “intelligent drugs” that ensure patients take medications correctly, and wearable health-monitoring devices in contact lenses, tooth implants and skin patches. 

The keynote address was followed by “Engagement at Your Fingertips,” a session in which HealthTrust partners shared recent innovations in telemedicine options, online and mobile tools.  A luncheon panel of HealthTrust Wellness Coordinators entertained and inspired the audience with success stories of wellness challenges from their own worksites.

The afternoon session on “Value-based Programs” provided current trends in healthcare costs as well as strategies for reducing waste and accessing higher quality care at lower costs. In the final session, “Negotiating and Implementing Plan Changes,” Nathan Lunney, Business Administrator for the Hampton School District, and Attorney Matthew Upton shared the strategies that have helped them work collaboratively with unions during negotiations to implement plan design changes.

Throughout the day, Summit attendees also had opportunities to receive a flu vaccine, have a Biometric Health Screening and visit the Benefits and Wellness room to learn more about HealthTrust programs from HealthTrust’s partner vendors.

Hosting the Health Summit is one of many ways HealthTrust works collaboratively with its Board, Members and partners to fulfill its mission: To provide high quality, cost-effective employee benefit products and services for public employers and employees in New Hampshire in order to reduce costs through pooling strategies with a commitment to education, health promotion and disease prevention.