At times this has meant a heavy focus on analyses of such topics as utilization patterns, excess hospital beds, the uninsured, and employment changes resulting from the shift to managed care. Recently, more focus has been placed on educational programs that relate to health issues faced by public policy makers and that enhance governance in the region's health care organizations. Governance Initiative Program HPI's Governance Initiative was initiated in response to the increasingly difficult challenges facing those who govern the region's health care organizations. In 2000, this initiative featured a series of invitational Breakfast Briefings on topics intended to assist trustees and CEOs fulfill their governance responsibilities. Briefings include areas of interest to trustees as well as opportunities for local health care organizations to share their case experiences in governance improvement.
Attendance is limited to facilitate discussion and interaction among participants.
Among the most important of these is a long-running collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh s Institute of Politics. The Health Policy Institute and the Institute of Politics co-sponsor an annual seminar for elected officials. Another of HPI's ongoing collaborations is with Pitt s Center for Bioethics and Health Law. HPI also participates in other regional initiatives and activities that seek to improve health and health care on an ad hoc basis, including participation in The Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative. In addition, Dr. Longest continues to be involved in UPMC Health System s Department of Community Initiatives, as a member of its Advisory Committee.