First Year Class Trip-Chicago

By: Bryson Kruthoff

As we reach the beginning of the end of our first year, working hard to complete our papers, projects, and presentations, we were permitted a brief respite in the form of a class trip to the city of Chicago. Similar to our first semester trip to Des Moines and Omaha, our visit was intended to provide context to our in-class topics, broadening our knowledge base as we transition into our summer internships. We were exposed to a broad range of health care institutions, allowing for a well-rounded learning environment, and a great educational experience.

Our trip began Wednesday morning with a stop at the American Hospital Association where we were able to learn and discuss the issues facing hospitals today, and how the Association is helping members navigate various changes in the industry. We had the pleasure of interacting with George Bergstrom, who graduated from the program in 1974, and holds the position of Vice President for Member Relations. Membership with the AHA includes a diverse set of health care organizations who are affected differently by policy outcomes. It was interesting to learn how those involved with Member Relations are able to balance the interests of all members to ensure a harmonious relationship.  

After the insightful discussion and delicious lunch provided by the AHA, we made our way across the river to the American Medical Association for further health policy discussion. With the recent passage of a permanent fix to Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate by the US House of Representatives, we had the unique opportunity to learn about the lobbying efforts from the AMA, as well as their initial reaction to the passage, and what they believe will result from this fix. We were also allowed to ask questions and engage in discussion about how the AMA views the changes in the industry, and how they are positioning themselves to best serve their members. Policy decisions set the ground rules for how we participate as health care professionals, and learning the policy process early in our careers will be important for our future development. 

Braving the rainy Chicago skies on Thursday morning, we made the short walk to the Rehab Institute of Chicago to learn about the incorporation of post-acute services within the continuum of care. It was a great experience learning how the nation’s top ranked post-acute care hospital is working to transition within our evolving industry. We were able to tour their facility and get a first-hand look at the incredible technology they utilize to treat severe injuries. 

After parting ways with members of the RIC administration, we made a short walk over to Lurie Children’s Hospital. Here we got the opportunity to speak with current and former fellows to gain a better understanding of how their fellowship is structured, and how their application process works. After a short presentation, we were able to tour their facility which opened in 2012. It was great to see how they were able to build and decorate the hospital in a way that created a more comfortable environment for the young patients. 

To round out our Thursday, we visited Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center to learn about their hospital operations, and how they manage the country’s largest accountable care organization. We were warmly greeted by Susan Nordstrom Lopez, President of Illinois Masonic, and Sheron Sherman, Administrator Financial Services, both graduates of our program. One of the highlights of this visit was our tour of their new outpatient facility, The Center for Advanced Care. Since the facility is not yet in operation—that is scheduled for April 27^th—we had the unique opportunity to tour the entire facility including operating rooms, procedure rooms, doctor’s lounges, etc. After the tour, Scott Kent and Matt Hendrick, two more graduates of our program, spoke with us about the operation of Advocate’s accountable care organizations. Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, accountable care organizations have become one of the most popular topics in the industry, and learning how the largest ACO functions, how it has succeeded and how it can improve, was a great experience. 

To finish off the trip, we made one final stop at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital, formerly known as Cook County Hospital. Serving the needs of their patient population, regardless of ability to pay, Stroger Hospital provided us great context and insight into a critically underserved area of our industry. Touring their world-renowned trauma center was the highlight of the visit. Learning about the immense pressure and limited amount of time allowed in decision making was truly eye-opening. 

As we arrive back in Iowa City, continuing where we left off in our studies, we can be sure to draw from our experiences in Chicago to create a better learning experience in our classrooms, and in our careers.