Event focused on managed care set for Feb. 12

Sterling Initiatives Managed Preventative Care Organization is the brainchild of Dr. Jeffrey Sterling (pictured). Photo courtesy of Dr. Jeffrey Sterling
Sterling Initiatives Managed Preventative Care Organization is the brainchild of Dr. Jeffrey Sterling (pictured). Photo courtesy of Dr. Jeffrey Sterling

Event focused on managed care set for Feb. 12

BY TIA CAROL JONES

Dr. Jeffrey Sterling launched Sterling Initiatives Managed Preventative Care in January. Known as the SIMPCO Solution, it seeks to focus on preventative health care and not sick care.

Sterling will speak about SIMPCO and how it will fill a void in health care in Illinois at an event, which will take place at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, at Olive-Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave. Dr. Carol Adams, SIMPCO chief community relations officer, as well as State Representative Will Davis, and Lynwood (Ill.) Trustee Jada Curry, will also speak at the event.

Sterling said the goal of the Feb. 12 event is to create a public dialogue in a public place, with stakeholders and residents coming together.

“We want to be constructive in putting forth solutions,” he said. “The conversation is meant to give best practices and how to implement best practices.”

Sterling said there are things that represent best practices in health care. He said SIMPCO wants to create a paradigm where the best practices are emphasized.

“One of the more pressing concerns we have is healthcare disparities. We simply can’t allow such things to be normalized,” he said. “We have specific solutions and the solutions will be put forth by citizens of the state for citizens of the state.”

Sterling said SIMPCO wants to bring businesses together to solve the healthcare disparity issues in a way that is culturally sensitive and specific. He said there are more than 100 businesses coming together to help implement the best practices.

Healthcare disparities include access to care, cost of care and quality of care. Sterling said when it comes to access to care, it is understandable that people in rural and urban communities might not have access. He added lack of access and quality of care can sometimes result in high quality medical professionals in medical centers instead of in hospitals.

Sterling said the cost of care is important when there is an estimated 20 million Americans who don’t have any type of health care. He added people tend to use the emergency room as a “portal” to healthcare. “Folks sometimes have to choose between food and medicine,” he said.

Sterling, who has transitioned from emergency room doctor to healthcare entrepreneur, said medical bills are one of the main causes of personal bankruptcy. He said this is also a point in history where people want to be empowered, they want information, which leads them to google symptoms or use WebMD.

“What SIMPCO Solution is all about is engaging citizens in meaningful ways directly to educate them, inform them and empower them,” he said. “We will create healthy habits that will produce a better quality of life.”

Sterling said that with six hospitals in the Chicagoland area that have been slated to close, the State of Illinois has a capacity problem.

“With the healthcare disparities in Illinois, it is only natural for me to support and enhance the already phenomenal efforts that are ongoing in ways in which I can,” he said. “This is an opportunity to do some pretty phenomenal things for the State.”

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

STARR Community Services International, Inc.