ReThink Health
Activities
ReThink Health has initiated several integrated action-research projects at the national level and in communities and regions throughout the United States. These include:
Managing the Health Commons
Elinor Ostrom, PhD, the 2009 Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences, identified eight design principles commonly found among communities that successfully manage resources critical to their own survival. To help leaders and communities be better stewards of the health commons, Mike McGinnis, PhD, is leading an effort in collaboration with Dr. Ostrom building on the lessons from fisheries, forests and grazing lands, as well as the experience of health collaborations in regions across the country. LEARN MORE
ReThink Health Dynamics
Important health innovations often begin with a “What if…” question. Yet, the complexities of the health system challenge leaders to fully explore the implications of possible actions. To bring structure, evidence, and creativity to this process, and achieve better results, Bobby Milstein, PhD, MPH, and an award-winning team of MIT-affiliated experts are working with collaborations in diverse regions across the country to bring the established techniques of simulation modeling and game-based learning to regional health planning and action. LEARN MORE
Organizing for Health
Making the deep, systemic changes needed in our health system is no easy task. It is particularly difficult when stakeholders are trained to seek technical solutions rather than to lead and motivate others to make the changes needed. Building on experience with Marshall Ganz, known for his campaigns with Cesar Chavez and Barack Obama, Kate Hilton, JD, MTS, is leading a team focused on supporting the capacity of leaders to organize and create sustainable conditions for transforming health and care. LEARN MORE
Leading for Health
Given our growing health crisis, strong leadership is needed to rethink and redesign our future. At the same time, new institutional, community and collaborative roles are stretching even the most effective leaders. Building on her work with Peter Senge, PhD, a major force in modern management and proponent of the learning organization, C. Sherry Immediato, MPP, MBA, is engaging innovators and leaders in developing the tools and skills they need to learn, reflect and lead us toward a sustainable health system. LEARN MORE
ReThink Health Research
National reform alone cannot solve our country’s health challenges. Yet many efforts to address regionally-controlled drivers of health, care and costs seem to flounder. Ruth Wageman, PhD, is leading a research team focused on the systematic development of new learning to better understand why some efforts succeed and others fail. The research will result in practical tools that are designed to help heighten success. ReThink Health Research supports understanding and intelligent action by leaders from inside and outside the health system. LEARN MORE
ReThink Health New Jersey
New Jersey has the nation’s most expensive health care, but its quality is only average. This disparity between costs and results has many roots, including history and culture. Nevertheless, the state’s economic future will depend on how we govern our health resources. ReThink Health New Jersey is working to address the unique challenges facing New Jersey by raising awareness about the current unsustainable system, catalyzing opportunities for redesign, and empowering leaders across traditional boundaries to act. LEARN MORE