CIGNA Reaches across Borders to Improve Health Care.CIGNA CIGNA CG (Connecticut General Life Insurance Company) INA (Insurance Company of North America) Foundation Funds Global Knowledge Exchange Network (GKEN) PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia, ancient cities Philadelphia, name of several ancient cities. One was in Lydia, W Asia Minor (now W Turkey). At the foot of Mt. Tmolus and near the location of modern Alaşehir, it was founded in the 2d cent. B.C. -- CIGNA is supporting a program that is searching the world for solutions to improving health care. The Global Knowledge Exchange Network (GKEN) was created through an unrestricted grant from the CIGNA Foundation to the Wye River Group on Healthcare (WRGH), a non-partisan group known as a catalyst for constructive health care change. Initially, this three-year program will bring together leaders from government, health care, business, philanthropy philanthropy, the spirit of active goodwill toward others as demonstrated in efforts to promote their welfare. The term is often used interchangeably with charity. and academia to discuss and advance better practices in health care among industrialized in·dus·tri·al·ize v. in·dus·tri·al·ized, in·dus·tri·al·iz·ing, in·dus·tri·al·iz·es v.tr. 1. To develop industry in (a country or society, for example). 2. nations. The CIGNA Foundation's one million dollar contribution to create the GKEN underscores CIGNA's commitment to helping to shape the future of affordable, quality health care. "With a global economy, it is important that groups not work in isolation as they address health care reform. Just as public policy decisions depend on reaching across the political aisles, meaningful study of health care requires reaching across borders," said H. Edward Hanway, chairman and chief executive officer of CIGNA Corporation. "This is an exciting opportunity to better understand the health care financing and delivery systems of other countries as well as our own." Through this work, the GKEN will explore health care systems around the world to discover what works well and why, and will examine how to replicate rep·li·cate v. 1. To duplicate, copy, reproduce, or repeat. 2. To reproduce or make an exact copy or copies of genetic material, a cell, or an organism. n. A repetition of an experiment or a procedure. successful models that address health care challenges and improve health care quality. Issues to be considered include cost, delivery, administration, public health and the workforce. Over the three-year period, the GKEN will identify better practices in health care, such as process changes, use of technology, and new roles for doctors and other members of the provider community. This information will form the basis for the health care knowledge exchange and will be delivered through a robust internet site. As examples of better practices are approved by the GKEN, they will be compiled, formatted into case studies, and catalogued for publication and distribution on the GKEN website. The GKEN also will promote these better practices through speaking engagements, printed materials, events and other channels, including the development of an electronic newsletter. The GKEN will meet twice a year to discuss areas of shared interest among its global members. "This initiative will build on the strength of existing international exchanges by partnering to promote cross-cultural knowledge exchange among the leadership of nations. We are pleased to have received the support from the CIGNA Foundation and welcome this commitment to creating and maintaining a global communication platform designed to improve health care here and abroad," said Jon Comola, chief executive officer for WRGH. About CIGNA CIGNA (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :CI) provides employers with benefits, expertise and services that improve the health, well-being and productivity of their employees. With approximately 47 million covered lives in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and around the world, CIGNA's operating subsidiaries An operating subsidiary is a business term frequently used within the United States railroad industry. In the case of a railroad, it refers to a company that is a subsidiary but operates with its own identity and rolling stock. offer a full portfolio of medical, dental, behavioral health Behavioral health was first used in the 1980's to name the combination of the fields mental health and substance abuse. As an example, an organization serving both mental health and substance abuse clients might refer to its practice as behavioral health or , pharmacy pharmacy, art of compounding and dispensing drugs and medication. The term is also applied to an establishment used for such purposes. Until modern times medication was prepared and dispensed by the physician himself. In the 18th cent. and vision care benefits and group life, accident and disability insurance. www.cigna.com About CIGNA Foundation CIGNA Foundation, Inc. is a private foundation funded by contributions from CIGNA Corporation and its subsidiaries. The CIGNA Foundation supports organizations sharing its commitment to enhancing the health of individuals and families, and the well-being of their communities, with a special focus on those communities where CIGNA employees live and work. About The Wye River Group on Healthcare Wye River Group on Healthcare (WRGH) and its affiliate Foundation for American Health American Health Inc. is a company that manufactures health supplements. It is located in Holbrook, New York. One of its products is labeled the "Chewable Original Papaya Enzyme" with the attached registered trademark, "The 'After Meal Supplement'". Care Leadership(sm) (FAHCL) are non-partisan, not for profit entities, which serve as catalysts to raise awareness and broaden perspectives to enable constructive healthcare change. WRGH and FAHCL create an intellectual exchange of fresh ideas in a neutral environment, employing a dynamic process that works to stay ahead of emerging trends. They identify and advance approaches to healthcare finance, delivery, quality and cultural change, with broad application to healthcare policy and the marketplace. This is accomplished through multiple educational outlets. Our most recent initiative is the creation of www.leadinghealthycommunities.com. This resource provides a one-stop-shop for creating community collaboratives while simultaneously offering a repository (1) A database of information about applications software that includes author, data elements, inputs, processes, outputs and interrelationships. A repository is used in a CASE or application development system in order to identify objects and business rules for reuse. of community case studies of better practices across the healthcare spectrum. The Foundation is an affiliate of Wye River Group on Healthcare (WRGH), a not-for-profit Not-for-profit An organization established for charitable, humanitarian, or educational purposes that is exempt from some taxes and in which no one in profits or losses. 501(c)(3) organization. For more information on WRGH and FAHCL go to: http://www.wrgh.org/ |
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