MA Coalition for Serious Illness Care: 16 Alliance Partners Join Together!

May 31, 2016

On May 12, many Community Partners and Alliance Partners were among the over 400 people who attended the inaugural summit of the Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness Care at the Kennedy Library. The Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness Care (“Coalition”) is “a diverse set of organizations committed to ensuring that health care for everyone in the Commonwealth reflects their goals, values and preferences.”

Andrew Dreyfus, President & CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and co-founding member of the Coalition, welcomed all to the event and set the stage for our collaborative work. Atul Gawande, MD, M.P.H., Executive Director, Ariadne Labs, and the Coalition’s Co-Chair, offered an inspirational key note address. “The goal, ultimately when your face a mortal life, is not a good death,” said Dr. Gawande, “the goal is a good life.”

Governor Charlie Baker shared his thoughtful and personal comments in supporting the Coalition’s mission. Two dynamic panel discussions followed, facilitated by Ellen Goodman, co-founder The Conversation Project, and Secretary Alice Bonner, MA Department Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Of note was Leslie May-Chibani, Assistant Director at Minuteman Senior Services, a Community Partner, who provided a most valued ‘community perspective’ to the first panel. She underscored the importance of “assessing the whole person in all aspects of their life” in order to align services to honor their values and choices.

Honoring Choices was pleased to take part in the Coalition’s Planning Committee for the May 12 Summit alongside many of our Alliance Partners. We are now Coalition Members, and together with our 16 Alliance Partners have offered an unparalleled and compelling joint commitment to the Coalition to advance our shared missions.

The 16 Honoring Choices Alliance Partners are collaborating to create a unified health care planning language and increase access to Massachusetts tools across all their organizations, in order to help their care providers engage adults and families in planning discussions and connect them to person-centered care in their community. Our collaborative work will provide 2766 member organizations and groups with educational materials and programs to enhance the knowledge and communication skills of their 10,647 care providers, staff and employees by December 2017.

We wholeheartedly thank the Alliance Partners, list here, for sharing their expertise and guidance in coming together for this unique and powerful endeavor. We are thrilled and honored to be on this journey with you! Our deepest gratitude to:

Lisa Leydon, American Cancer Society;
Jennifer Connor, Atrius Health;
Anna Gosline, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts;
Tina Soares, Cape Cod Healthcare;
Laurie Herndon, Caregiver Homes / Seniorlink;
Pat Kelleher, Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts;
Christine McMichael, Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts;
Elissa Sherman, LeadingAge Massachusetts;
Al Norman, Mass Home Care;
Richard Moore, Massachusetts Assisted Living Facilities Association;
Paula Griswold, Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors;
Rev. Ellie Richardson, Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ;
Mary DeRoo, Home and Community Programs, Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs;
Pat Noga and Lorraine Schoen, Massachusetts Hospital Association;
Carolyn Blanks, Massachusetts Senior Care Association and Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation;
Sheryl Leary, New England Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization.

You can view the Video and read more here.

For more information on becoming a Coalition Member, contact Richard Averbuch at Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, richardaverbuch@gmail.com