The central purpose of this blog is to share information about art and science of engaging patients, consumers, and employees in using quality information, selecting providers and identifying treatment options to help improve their health and healthcare. A colleague of mine convinced me that a weblog would be a good way to speed up the information exchange process across a diverse audience of consumers, businesses, and providers. The content is guided by four primary ideas:

1. Engaged patients, consumers, and employees are essential in improving the healthcare system – regardless of the political point of view one has about healthcare reform.
2. There are already a number of good tools and techniques available to help consumers choose high quality healthcare and to improve their interactions with their healthcare providers.
3. Sharing credible information widely and openly about consumer engagement is the fastest way to promote change.
4. System change is necessary.

I’ve agreed to be the narrator of this site along with a few of my colleagues. To keep the message independent, there are no commercial sponsors of the site. However, we invite anyone interested in the topic to become involved. Send us comments and links as often as you’d like. Postings will not be attributed to specific individuals without their expressed permission.

So, if you want to be more empowered as a healthcare consumer, want to help employees/consumers become more involved in the process, or would like your patients to be more active in their healthcare decisions, we hope that you will contribute your ideas, visit the site often, and tell your friends, and colleagues.

Jim Kupel

Jim is a principal of Crescendo Consulting Group. As a national consulting group based in Portland, Maine, Crescendo provides an integrated set of services to assist clients in improving their performance and the numerous ways they interact with their employees, customers, and communities.