louise houson, md human health, msd ireland

The Patient and Future Health in Ireland

Louise HousonMD – Human HealthMSD Ireland

May 2016

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MSD in Ireland

We have a powerful purpose…..

“We try never to forget that medicine is for the people. It is not for the profits. The profits follow, and if we have remembered that, they have never failed to appear.

… We cannot rest until the way has been found to bring our finest achievements to everyone.”

George W. Merck, 1950

Our aim is to save, change and improve the lives of the patients we serve.

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Research Programme

Exploration of public’s wishes and opinions regarding the future of healthcare in Ireland to provide initial direction.

Focus Groups with the public

Think Tank and Interviews with key opinion leaders

Survey with General Public

Measurement of the general public’s views on the healthcare system and the values they seek from this system.

Facilitated discussion with key opinion leaders and healthcare stakeholders in to review focus groups and shape the quantitative survey.

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Survival vs. Quality

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EmpowermentAccess

Communication

Quality

Respect

Technology

Key to the empowered patient

What Irish Healthcare Means To Me

Spontaneous associations dominated by (i) negativity and (ii) secondary care

How Are These Opinions Founded?

Spontaneous associations are negative

Most initial responses are dominated by negative sentiment and criticism

But positive viewpoints can emerge

When probed, some positive perceptions are in evidence

There is inconsistency of experience

Experiences can vary considerably within settings, groups, even individuals

Perceptions Are Shaped By Three Core Sources

Personal Experience

Negative experiences are more ‘memorable’ by their natureBut positive stories also in evidenceQuality of staff interactions (or lack thereof) are critical to the user experience

Word of Mouth

Most have friends or relatives that have shared poor experiencesPoor experiences for those who we value the most (relatives, loved ones) strike an emotional chord

The Media

“Positive doesn’t sell newspapers!”Crisis reporting about Irish healthcare is arguably the normPositive stories accepted to be under-reported

The Public Struggle To See Where Its Voice Is Being Heard

The Media

• Public can have voice through traditional and social media

• Power of health programmes on TV (e.g. Op Trans)

The Ballot Box

• Some see progress in health as intrinsically linked to politics

• New Minister for Health

The Young Future

• Ireland is aging• But hope that younger

people may be more health conscious and ‘clued in’

All agree that the public should have a stronger

voice in shaping its own health system

However, problems are large and perceived as

insurmountable by some

Some struggle to see how the public can have a

practical input – merely pawns in the system

Little mention of patient advocacy groups

How?

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The Final Report

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Technology

Pharmacists

Primary Care

GP services

MedicinesThe Pharmaceutical Industry

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What is the role of the pharmaceutical industry?

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Thank you

www.msd.ie