Senate Proceeding on Nov 5th, 2009 :: 0:45:45 to 0:50:55
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0:45:38 to 0:45:58( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: it's a bit of a wonky term. most eyes glaze over when politicians or pundits describe the problems with the health care delivery system. they don't know what it has to do with their health care experience or their doctors or their lives. but the reality is health care delivery systems have everything to do with all of that. these delivery systems determine how americans receive their care.

0:45:45 to 0:50:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Tom Udall

0:45:59 to 0:46:21( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: they dictate how a doctor treats their patients. how long a patient must wait for treatment. how much a hospital charges for its services. and how the medical community is held accountable for its mistakes. as we continue working to reform health care, we must take an honest look at our current health care delivery system and

0:46:22 to 0:46:42( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: ask ourselves some basic questions. questions like, do the systems we currently use to deliver health care work? are we, as patients, businesses and governments getting the best value for our health care dollar? do these systems encourage efficient, coordinated care? if you ask the experts on this

0:46:43 to 0:47:03( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: subject, the answer you'll likelyet is a loud and resounding no. -- resounding no. the way i look at health care delivery systems is the same way i look at building a house. to build a strong, solid, safe house, you have to start with a strong, solid, safe foundation.

0:47:04 to 0:47:24( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: our health care delivery systems are the foundation for all of our effort in health care. if that foundation is offcenter or cracked or built on uneven ground, it doesn't even matter how straight the walls are or how efficient the medical system is. nothing is going to work right. right now the vast majority of

0:47:25 to 0:47:46( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: health care in america rests on shaky foundations. it's our job to rebuild these foundations before more americans slip through the cracks. the good news is that across the country communities are achieving success with innovative health care delivery programs. we should look at these models

0:47:47 to 0:48:09( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: as we continue our work here in washington. there's one example i'd like to highlight today. that example comes from my home state of new mexico from a county that makes up the boot heel of the southwestern corner. hedalgo county is one of the most rural counties in our state

0:48:10 to 0:48:30( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: with just 5,000 peep. hedalgo fes the same health care problems as other rural areas. there aren't enough doctors, patients must travel a long distance for care and as a result there are chronic rates -- higher rates of chronic diseases.

0:48:31 to 0:48:52( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: to meet these challenges, the county had to think outside the box. what they came up with was the hadolgo health commons. they recognized that in rural areas chronic health conditions are worsened by limited access to heah providers.

0:48:53 to 0:49:13( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: second, to respond to this challenges, they established a one-stop shop for medical and social services. at the clinic, doctors, nurses and dentists. seek mental health treatment, fill a prescription, get medicaid or medicare or apply for publi w.i.c.

0:49:14 to 0:49:36( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: third, they work with a community to identify local health priorities and then align their services accordingly. finally, they are a source of local, economic, and social development by creating jobs, serving schools an offering families support. the health commons model has worked so well that it's grown

0:49:37 to 0:49:57( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: to serve five cites across new mexico. and they're not stopping there. the new hedalgo initiative, which is still in development, will expand on the success of the health commons. the goal is to enroll all 5,000 residents of hedalgo county into the health services program.

0:49:58 to 0:50:19( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: hedalgo county is one example of the innovative work going on across the country. and it serve as a lesson to all of us that faulty foundations don't fix themselves. they require hard work and ingenuity and significant investment. if we're going to fully transform our nation's ailing health care system, we must

0:50:20 to 0:50:40( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: first focus on the foundation. we must first reform our health care delivery systems. thank you, mr. yield the floor. the presiding officer: the senator from north carolina. mrs. hagan: thank you, senator udall. your example of the community health service delivery in new mexico is excellent.

0:50:41 to 0:50:55( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Udall: now, mr. president, i'd like to yield five minuteso my colleague from new hampshire, senator sh shaheen to reduce hospital readmissions. the presiding officer: the