C-TAC News Bulletin Jan. & Feb. 2014
C-TAC has significant momentum heading into Spring 2014. As you’ll see below, we have established milestones, formed partnerships and brought on resources to implement the Coalition’s Strategic Plan. Please join us in driving transformation of advanced illness care this year.
C-TAC Expands Leadership & Expertise
- David E. Longnecker, M.D. appointed Executive Director
- Jon Broyles promoted to Deputy Executive Director
- Nancy Taylor of Kaiser Permanente lends her expertise as Co-Chair of the Public Engagement Workgroup
- Mary Jane Koren, M.D., M.P.H., joins the C-TAC Steering Committee.
- C-TAC welcomes 2 new member organizations:
- The SCAN Health Plan
- Cambia Health Foundation
Workgroup / Key Initiative Update:
Interfaith and Diversity:
- Aetna Foundation provides funding for C-TAC’s Cultural Competency Project.
- Interfaith Consultation Kick-Off in Oakland, CA “A Faith Based Movement to Transform Care for Caregivers.” For details read here.
Policy & Advocacy
- Rhode Island Initiative: Co-Chair Bill Novelli participated in a Rhode Island meeting organized by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and staff to explore opportunities for a state-wide initiative to improve advanced illness care in RI.
- C-TAC launches Policy Makers Stories: Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) share their policy views and caregiving experiences in a short, powerful video clip on the C-TAC website.
Clinical Models
- With support from The Commonwealth Fund, C-TAC and AHIP Foundation’s Institute for Health Systems Solutions (IHSS) are producing a report on the core principles and components of clinical and payment frameworks. The report, a component of the Advanced Care Project (ACP), will be released in April 2014 based on expert consensus among ACP leading participants.
Public Engagement
- Progress continues on CareJourney.org website. A copy editor is conducting a thorough review of 70+ pages of member-contributed content to edit, align voice, simplify language and create consistent headings to promote efficient navigation.
- The research brief, Public Perceptions of Advanced Illness Care: How Can We Talk When There’s No Shared Language, is updated and highlights the substantial communication gap between patients/families with advanced illness and their health care providers.
Professional Engagement
- The Advisory Board Company executes a detailed literature review of 115 decision-making tools.
- Workgroup Co-Chair Marian Grant, DNP, RN, CRNP, ACHPN, has been named 2014-2015 Health Policy Fellow of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows Program.
- C-TAC is partnering with The CSU Institute for Palliative Care to undertake a national survey of hospital systems about their palliative care/supportive care/advanced illness management workforce development needs and investment plans.
Mark Your Calendar
- 2015 National Summit – C-TAC leadership is exploring dates for the event. Stay tuned!
- Path Forward Book planned for release in 2014. This book will:
- Create a common understanding of the issues, challenges and the solutions for transforming care.
- Create a shared sense of mission and involvement in a movement for change.
- Identify the action steps for achieving high-quality advanced illness care.
- Establish C-TAC as the connector/catalyst for all of this.
What Can You Do?
- Share this newsletter with members of your organization and your constituents.
- Send us relevant news to feature in our Newsletter. We want to highlight the great work you are doing!
- Follow us on Twitter: @CTACorg
- Check out the month’s updates on the C-TAC blog. Interested in contributing a post, contact for details.
- For more information regarding workgroup initiatives and how you can support these activities, please email .
About C-TAC
C-TAC is a national non-profit, non-partisan alliance of 100+ patient and consumer advocacy groups, health care professionals and providers, private sector stakeholders, faith-based organizations, and health care payers with the shared vision that all Americans with advanced illness, especially the sickest and most vulnerable, will receive comprehensive, high-quality, person- and family-centered care that is consistent with their goals and values and honors their dignity.
