Governor's Health Care Summit Highlights Growth, Success of Mississippi Industries
Over 600 leaders in healthcare, business, and industry attended the recent Governor's Health Care Economic Development Summit, held at the Jackson Convention Complex.
Governor Phil Bryant's Office and the Mississippi Economic Council, Mississippi Business Group On Health, Mississippi Development Authority & Mississippi State Medical Association partnered to hold the event, which featured American Medical Association president Dr. Barbara McAneny and a special video message from United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Dr. Ben Carson.
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Mississippi Healthcare Solutions Institute
Healthcare is about serving the health and wellness needs of people, but it also is about serving the economic health and wellness of a state, region and community. Healthcare is an economic driver that can enhance the business competitiveness of the state and create jobs and wealth. In fact, Mississippi hospitals account for 5.7% of all state-wide employment, with a total economic impact of $5.8 billion.
State business and political leaders recognize healthcare has the potential for not only significant short-term health and economic impacts, but also long-term economic growth. That is why Blueprint Mississippi set healthcare as one of its targeted goals for Mississippi's future economic success.
The Blueprint Mississippi:Healthcare study was commissioned to examine aspects of the Mississippi healthcare sector and provide solid implementation strategies to support:
Workforce Development
A healthy, productive population enhances the prospects of business attraction, retention and growth.
Quality of Life
Accessible, affordable healthcare improves the lives of Mississippians and provides a better quality of place because of availablity of quality services, as well as jobs and opportunities from all the facets of the healthcare system.
Business Sustainability
Healthier workers will reduce lost time due to illness and will increase productivity, improving Mississippi's competitiveness, growth and sustainability.
Creation of Economic Wealth
Growth of a statewide healthcare industry cluster and collaboration across this economic sector will contribute jobs and encourage wealth creations.
Strategic Initiatives
Eight key strategic initiatives are recommended to capitalize on opportunities and grow the healthcare sector in Mississippi. Within each initiative is a series of recommended implementation tactics that will help guide the state to success.
- Identify and empower a leadership body to spearhead the implementation of the healthcare strategy.
- Identify sustainable financing mechanisms to fund healthcare initiatives and implementation.
- Improve rural access to healthcare.
- Enhance Mississippi's areas of excellence in healthcare.
- Enhance the statewide healthcare network by addressing gaps and promoting wellness.
- Address regulator barriers constraining development of the healthcare industry in Mississippi.
- Enhance state competitiveness within the healthcare cluster industries.
- Promote growth in entrepreneurship and nurturing small business in the healthcare sector.
Message from Gov. Phil Bryant
Mississippi
As Governor, I have worked to build Mississippi’s health care industry and strengthen our state’s health care economy. In October 2012 in conjunction with the Mississippi Economic Council, I issued a report that details the steps Mississippi should take to grow this industry of necessity. The report, Blueprint Mississippi: Health Care as an Economic Driver, outlined the importance of building Mississippi’s health care economy and recommended strategies to support four priority areas: workforce development, quality of life, business sustainability, and creation of economic wealth.
To help execute this vision, I formed the Mississippi Health Care Solutions Institute. This organization, chaired by respected cardiologist Dr. Clay Hays, serves on the front lines, setting goals and engaging the business and medical communities in the common goals of growing the health care industry in Mississippi and creating more employment and economic opportunities for residents.
We are already succeeding. Mississippi is pioneering a health care clustering concept that is attracting new medical investment and development throughout the state, and twelve Mississippi communities have developed master plans that include targeting medical investment as a major component for economic growth.
Through the efforts of my administration and MHCSI, we have the opportunity to improve health care access, invite research opportunities, launch medical support industries, strengthen local economies, and bolster Mississippi’s overall economy.
Message from J. Clay Hays, M.D.
Chair, MHSI
The healthcare industry and the world of economic development are inextricably linked. In his inaugural State of the State address, Governor Phil Bryant asked the Mississippi Economic Council to conduct a study to find out how we can build greater economic development opportunities in healthcare.
The creation of the Mississippi Healthcare Solutions Institute (MHSI) grew out of the long-term economic plan developed by the Mississippi Economic Council's recent Blueprint Mississippi Healthcare: An Economic Driver study.
This is an important time for the healthcare industry in Mississippi and I am excited to be a part of MHSI and their efforts to ensure that the expansive healthcare opportunities in Mississippi are realized.