Public Affairs & Programs Committee
It is the function of this task force to help promote initiatives and activities of the Council as well as other affiliated groups within the industry. This group creates and oversees a public affairs strategy for the Council. This committee has responsibility over the following projects:
"HealthWatch": This newsletter is emailed quarterly to members. It includes the Council calendar, information about programs and activities, as well as news about the industry, individual members, and Council affiliates.
Quarterly Breakfast Series: The diversified programs presented at these breakfasts serve as a format to educate and enhance understanding of the health industry among both healthcare and non-healthcare leadership in the region.
Web-site: www.healthindustrycouncil.org – This electronic tool highlights Council activities, provides up-to-date information to our members, and promotes the Council and regional health industry.
Programs: Another objective of this committee is to initiate or assist other task forces in conducting seminars, forums, and related projects in order to provide a vehicle for building relationships among industry participants.
Membership Development Committee
The function of this committee is to recruit and maintain an active membership. This committee works with the Council staff to identify potential members and to share information about the programs and projects. It also approves all printed material used for recruiting purposes. They consider industry trends, advantages of membership and note the "vital signs" in maintaining an active, viable membership. This committee works closely with the Public Affairs and Programs Committee to leverage the Council's PR strategy with increasing membership..
Design and Construction Task Force
The purpose of this task force is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, information and interaction between healthcare providers and experienced leaders in the planning, design, and construction of healthcare facilities. The task force works to promote awareness of state of the art planning and construction issues within the healthcare industry, and to provide a network of resources for information and assistance with the design and construction process.
Membership on this committee is comprised of:
- Planning/Design
- Medical Equipment Planning
- Facility Development
- Land Development
- Engineering
- Architecture
- Interior Design
- Hazardous Materials Abatement
Health Strategies Roundtable
The purpose of the Health Strategies Roundtable is to promote the active support and cooperation of all components of the health industry in the area, enhancing the interchange between them. The group conducts programs and projects for the purpose of educating the health industry as well as the non-healthcare leadership on the quality and value of the health industry and on the resources available within the health industry. The Roundtable meets and holds discussions quarterly.
The following objectives were adopted, and the roundtable continues to support programs to enhance and promote the delivery of healthcare.
OBJECTIVES:
To educate and assist the Council members and others in identifying and defining issues relating to improving health outcomes as a means of reducing cost through better managed healthcare.
To provide a forum for healthcare organizations to interact, network, and communicate with the community.
To work with other associations or coalitions in the area, and to support their programs where it is in the best interests of the Council members.
Back to top
New Business Committee
This committee is currently not active. In the past the Council has worked through this committee to make the Dallas/Fort Worth area a highly receptive atmosphere for the establishment of new health industry enterprises and the growth of existing health organizations. Focusing on healthcare, the committee provided forums to educate the venture capitalists and investment bankers about the opportunities for providing capital to the industry. They also assist entrepreneurs in developing new businesses and identifying investment sources for the growth.
One of the goals of this committee was to develop areas designated specifically for health-related business. Plans included a medical incubator to be located within the area to provide direct assistance to entrepreneurs who seek to establish new healthcare business. The Council has worked with Fort Worth since 1994 in the development of a medical & technology incubator. Today Tech Fort Worth is in full operation assisting the development of businesses in the health sector.
Members of the Council have also worked with groups in Dallas to create similar projects. STARTech Early Ventures are incubators working closely with UT Southwestern to help jumpstart new companies. Incubators now exist in Frisco (NTEC) and Arlington, as well. The Council recognizes these initiatives as long-term projects, and continues to investigate any opportunity that would support the success of such endeavors.
Back to top
Healthcare Marketing and Business Development Network
The Healthcare Marketing and Business Development Network was created from the Council's public relations plan. Our members requested that a group be created to offer relevant educational and networking opportunities to marketing, public relations and business development professionals in the health industry. The group welcomes marketing and business development people working internally in healthcare organizations and working for outside firms trying to gain healthcare business. This group meets bi-monthly and alternates educational programs for marketing and business development.
STRATEGY: To promote the awareness of changing technology to all components of the healthcare industry
To provide a network of resources to collect and distribute information to educate the healthcare industry.
OBJECTIVES:
-
Be a resource for current technology trends and issues relating to healthcare business technology.
-
Educate Council members regarding technology changes in identifying and defining issues for improving system integration of healthcare components.
-
Create programs, symposiums, and /or forums to help understand the impact of dynamic information technology in the healthcare industry and provide relevant case studies and information.
The Health and Technology task force is responsible for planning and facilitating the annual Health and Technology Forum which is held each September in the DFW area. Each day-long forum features health technology exhibitors, key note speakers, and break-out sessions directed toward each segment of the industry. Information about the annual forum can be found at www.healthindustrycouncil.org/forum.htm
Back to top
Strategy: Determine the state of health for the general population of North Texas. Create and promote programs to improve the wellness factors of the people in the DFW region.
The Community Health & Wellness Task Force is a group of individuals interested in exploring the health and well-being of the communities that form the Metroplex. The group is answering the question “How healthy are the people of the DFW region?” In order to answer this question the group has developed a model using the top two academic indicators of health -- infant mortality and life expectancy. The model also takes into account lifestyle and behavior factors.
The Committee has formed the following goals:
Goal 1:
Determine the health and wellness of the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex by developing a model, collecting valid data, and analyzing findings.
Goal 2:
Create a document listing positive findings of the population's health and wellness for use in economic development and business recruitment to the Metroplex.
Goal 3:
Create a document identifying problem indicators within the population.
Goal 4:
Foster establishment and identification of initiatives to improve the overall health of the population in North Texas.
In addition, the committee partners with the Tarrant County Public Health Department to plan and organize the annual Champions in Health Awards, which recognize local businesses and organizations that have established workplace wellness programs.
Information about Champions in Health can be found online at www.healthindustrycouncil.org/champsinhealth.
Back to top
Recognizing that in healthcare, collaboration is essential to success, the Council has created executive roundtables.
Strategy: To allow for networking between top-level management for the various segments of the health industry.
The Hospital CEO Roundtable was created to allow hospital CEOs to gather, network, and discuss issues relating to hospitals. The group currently meets quarterly and is hosted by a CEO at their respective facility.
The Council in cooperation with the Medical Device Action Alliance has recently created a Regulatory & Governmental Affairs Roundtable and a Manufacturers Roundtable for people working in the medical device and manufacturing industry. The purpose is for networking and to discuss issues and ideas that are affecting their line of work.
Back to top
OBJECTIVES:
Realizing that current and future pressures on medical practices will have both professional and personal financial ramifications for doctors, the objective is to provide a venue to discuss issues and concerns, and hear valuable ideas from various professionals at the top of their game. There will be no sales presentations nor marketing agendas for these roundtables.
STRATEGY:
The primary purpose of the Physician Roundtable is to promote discussion that addresses growing physician concerns about financial pressures and restrictions on their practices.
The roundtables are intended to promote a small group dialouge between physicians and various advisors with professional expertise in areas such as tax and healthcare law, assest protection strategies, investments, practice accounting and management, wealth preservation and retirement planning to name a few.
Roundtables are a time for active dialogue about ways physicians can better accumulate, allocate, react and protect the hard-earned fruits of their labors, as they better prepare for the changing economic tides that will have a profound, long-term impact on how healthcare will exist in the future.
Back to top
Medical Device Action Alliance (MDAA)
Mission Statement: The Medical Device Action Alliance, an affiliate of The Health Industry Council of the Dallas-Fort Worth Region, has been created to spur the growth and development of the local medical device industry. The group seeks to create synergy among businesses, organizations, and academic institutions working to make this region a national leader for this segment of the health industry.
MDAA coordinates a roundtable for Manufacturing and Regulatory Affairs professionals to discuss current problems and challenges facing this segment of the health industry, including FDA compliance issues.
In 2005, the group conducted a survey to assess the impact of the non-provider healthcare industry within the Metroplex. The survey, which can be downloaded below, identified products and services produced locally and explored their impact on employment and revenues to the local economy.
MDAA hosts an annual seminar which focuses on education and discussion regarding entrepreneurship, financing, compliance, and other issues requested by the medical device community.
The Alliance seeks to create synergy among entities that are working to make this region a national leader for the medical device segment of the health industry. Occasional seminars, educational programs, and networking opportunities as well as participation and sponsorship of national exhibitions are planned by the steering committee. In addition, the Alliance will work with economic development organizations and real estate developers to attract new business to the Metroplex. The Alliance is an integral part of BioDFW, a new partnership created to develop the life science industry in the North Texas region.
 2005 MDAA Survey
Back to top
|
