Dr. Kent Erickson. a 1982 graduate of Northwestern, is the interim president and CEO of the university. For 31 years, he has owned Brookdale Health, a successful multidisciplinary practice in Minnesota. Dr. Erickson is a former member and chair of the Northwestern Health Sciences University Board of Trustees. He previously served as chair of the MCA Legislative Committee and executive director of the Minnesota Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The American Chiropractor (TAC): Describe your bold plan. Dr. Kent Erickson (KE): We arc creating a unique model with very specific pathways to set Northwestern students up for success once they graduate. At the foundation is a new division: Success Systems. Northwestern hired Dr. Chris Massoglia as a consultant to assist the university in developing the Success Pathways System. A key component of this division is Care Delivery, which is under the direction of Dr. Scott Munstcrman. chief of Care Delivery. He is focusing on the clinic system structure, as well as creating a successful, profitable learning and practice model for our students. The Success Pathways System initiative will transform the success outcomes of our graduates. We are building a system of services that students benefit from as they begin to practice. We will continue to improve incorporating business success principles into the curricula and student experience at Northwestern. Placing an emphasis on career success is an important step not only for graduates of Northwestern, but also for chiropractic and health professions as a whole. TAC: Why is this important now? KE: We are committed to focusing on achieving a great return on investment for our graduates for the time and expense of a chiropractic education. We arc positioning our students to take advantage of a changing healthcare marketplace. Northwestern has a long history of academic excellence. We know that our clinical experience model is top notch. We sec an opportunity to develop a third clement, which focuses on preparing our students to be successful, in whatever way they define success. The current landscape does not offer graduates of Northwestern College of Chiropractic mam options for success. The model is shifting away from the solo-practice entrepreneurial model tliat has traditionally worked for chiropractic success. The healthcare practice environment is much more complicated today. Northwestern is rcenginecring our program by beginning with the end in mind: success pathways for graduates. Our goal is to provide students with a curriculum that integrates three key components of their professional education. Educators typically speak of these components as knowledge, skills, and attitudes. We view these components in terms of a knowledge base providing the foundation for their professional studies: clinical skills providing a high level of professional competence: and the integrated development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the area of Success Principles. These principles will be modeled throughout all aspects of our university's programs, including our clinic practices and continuing education programs. Our aim is to provide our graduates with training in a variety of models of practice to enable them to enter the rapidly changing healthcare workforce successfully. Our intent is to raise the bar for the entire profession and continue Northwcstern"s tradition of leadership and innovation. Demonstrating value for the profession and sen ices that we can offer the community will lead to a focus on what is good for the patient. These patient-centered, patient-focused values will define the foundation from which all success principles are established. TAC: How will you put the plan into operation? KE: We have fostered relationships with leaders in the profession to aid in startup packages that will serve as a launching point for our graduates across the nation. The packages will be based on a solid Proforma designed to lead to an income that supports a healthy, rewarding, and balanced lifestyle. Armed with a focus on what the patient needs and wants, a firm business foundation, and the practical knowledge to succeed, our graduates will be prepared to set their own course through the changing landscape of healthcare delivery. TAC: What docs the program look like? KE: As they graduate, our students will have a choice of pathways to follow. One option will be the solo practice. This model is ideal for entrepreneurs. Another path is a group-practice model for those who want to be part of a team, setting the course with others. A third pathway is an integrated model with providers of many disciplines practicing together, including DC. MD. DO. PT. acupuncturist, nurse practitioner, or others. We will continually evaluate the needs and wants of our graduates, and monitor the marketplace to improve and develop the program over time. Our Success Pathways System will provide consulting and sen ices for graduates who wish to develop their own practices. These will include practice coaching, electronic health record, billing, human resources, marketing, build-out, and crcdcntialing. These sen ices are very complicated in the new healthcare system, and arc an obstacle to our graduates' success. We also know that main graduates do not wish to be self-employed. So we will provide employment opportunities through care delivery with clinics that employ gradu- ates who choose that option. TAC: There are companies already doing this. What is different about your plan? KE: We believe we can provide better consulting sen ices than those that arc currently available in the marketplace. We arc creating a success pathway that fits the philosophy of Northwestern. Our system is being developed with the patient in mind by making the best use of the providers" resources. Our consulting sen ices seek to provide graduates with the greatest return on investment for the sen ices provided. Our team members—staff and faculty—have years of experience in chiropractic education and practice. The Success Pathways System leverages that wealth of experience for our graduates" success. When patients across the country have access to successful chiropractic clinics, it is a "win" for everyone. TAC: What is important about the timing? KE: Academic institutions naturally focus on providing an exceptional experience for students. However, successful higher education institutions need to focus on return on investment for graduates. Students, parents, and families are demanding tangible value for their investment. More than 30 years ago. Minnesota was the birthplace of managed care, a concept based on quality that only marginally improved and resulted in continual cost increases for the healthcare consumer. With changes in the national healthcare plan, it is more important than ever to prepare our students with specific success pathways. Despite many transitions at Northwestern in the past few years, we are solidly on course. We have a tremendously dedicated and talented team of staff and faculty members. We enjoyed one of the strongest fall enrollments of all chiropractic colleges. Our exceptional students are laser-focused on becoming healthcare providers and leaders. As we approach our 75-y car anniversary in 2016. we arc celebrating our rich history and an exciting future. We hope that when historians look back on this time 75 years from now. our Success Pathways System will be regarded as a pivotal point for Northwestern Health Sciences University as well as the chiropractic profession. ► You may contact Dr. Erickson at: ceortf mvhealth.edu
