Steven R. Carson, MHA, BSN, RN, Senior Vice President of Population Health for Temple University Health System, has been named to the 2021 class of Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Innovators. As Modern Healthcare puts it, “This prestigious recognition program acknowledges and honors individuals who introduced ideas that engage consumers in new ways, lower healthcare costs and take unique approaches to managing population health.”
“This is a significant achievement which honors Steve’s leadership of the Temple Center for Population Health and its success in improving access to care through innovative activities to tackle social determinants of health,” said Michael A. Young, MHA, FACHE, President and CEO of Temple University Hospital and Temple University Health System. “Whether it’s launching a robust community health worker program, collaborating on community-based substance use disorders programs, or focusing on food insecurity, Steve and his teams advance the health of Temple’s patients while increasing quality and accessibility of care for our community.”
Carson’s leadership helped forge a collaboration of government, community, and corporate partners which created Housing Smart, a program which reduces avoidable ED utilization and hospital readmissions among homeless individuals. Through peer outreach, supportive services, and subsidized housing, the program is designed to improve their health and overall quality of life.
Housing Smart has already produced impressive results for its first 25 participants:
- 75% decrease in ED visits (meaning fewer acute healthcare emergencies)
- 79% decrease in inpatient admissions (meaning lower severity of health issues)
- 77% decrease in admissions for observation
- 50% increase in outpatient appointments with a primary care provider (an extraordinarily important on-ramp to stable and ongoing preventive healthcare)
“Steve saw what had to be done, mustered the resources, and made it happen,” added Young. “This is just the latest example of the many ways he and his Temple Center for Population Health team are bringing fresh thinking to solving problems formerly considered unsolvable.”
