Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
March 28, 2014 OHA Director's messages on the web
To: All OHA employees
From: Tina Edlund, Acting Director
And now, we must move forward
"One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity."
~Albert Schweitzer

I want to thank everyone who shared their thoughts with me about the message last week and the legacy Bruce left for this agency, for this state, and for all of us.

Many of you have asked if the transformation work that we started will continue on.

It absolutely will. In fact, it is moving at a very brisk pace. Continually pushing for innovation that leads to better health, better care and lower costs for everyone in our state is fundamental to who we are as an agency and to the Governor's vision. We will keep working to make that vision a reality.

Over the next several weeks I'll be holding a series of face-to-face meetings across OHA to talk about transformation initiatives underway across the agency. We are going to have a very busy year ahead.

First and foremost, of course, is how we can best serve the more than 230,000 new Oregon Health Plan members who have come into care since Jan. 1. That number will likely continue to grow during the year. Every day I think about what it will mean for these Oregonians to have access to care that many have never had before.

These new enrollees provide a huge opportunity because they are entering the coordinated care system. We must stay focused on integrating mental and physical care, continuing to spread innovation through the Transformation Center, and improving communication with our new clients. This is what it will take to help ensure they get the care they need.

I am also proud to announce that this month we registered the 500th patient centered primary care home – a milestone we had projected to reach in 2015. To me, this shows that health system transformation is taking root inside and outside our agency – and gaining momentum.

I am looking forward to talking with you about the work ahead and hearing your thoughts on how we can keep moving forward this year and in the years to come. I am honored to be a part of this agency and the work you are all doing.

OHA on the web