Thom Walsh

Background

About Thom Walsh

Start at your feet. Pick up that one right there. Take care of it. Then do another." That's how my Grandfather taught me to clear rocks from large fields so corn could be grown. There is a lot to be done in healthcare. Systems are complex. Outcomes are suboptimal. Costs are rising. Knowing where to begin is hard, so I follow that advice. My current work with Vermont's Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) provides unbiased and transparent information and analysis regarding the performance of Vermont's healthcare system. I work rock-by-rock. As an adjunct faculty member at Dartmouth College, I teach Health Systems and Policy courses at the Geisel Medical School and the Tuck School of Business. Health systems can range from small single-provider clinics to large multi-hospital enterprises. Each system faces unique challenges as it strives to improve the health outcomes of the population it serves. These courses aim to build shared knowledge and establish a common language, enabling students to effectively serve their communities throughout their careers. In my book, Navigating to Value-Based Outcomes, I address the challenges faced by health systems and providers. Many leaders lack essential data on patient outcomes and the costs associated with achieving them. Without this information, they easily lose focus and prioritize business margins over what truly matters. My book serves as a solution to this issue. I wrote Finding What Matters Most to Patients to assist healthcare providers and leaders effectively utilize patient-reported outcomes, shared decision-making, and motivational interviewing. Before my appointment to the GMCB, I was the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Cardinal Point Health Solutions, a consulting company whose clients included The Joint Commission, Veterans Affairs, Navy Medicine, Boise State University, OneHealth Nebraska, and the University of Tulsa. My medical background includes direct patient care as a board-certified Physical Therapist specializing in Orthopedics. I pursued further education throughout my clinical career, earning a Master of Science in Clinical Evaluative Science and a Doctorate in Health Policy, both from the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. I live in Barre, Vermont, and enjoy hiking and running with my partner, Olivia, and caring for our 100-year-old house and daughter. If you'd like to get in touch, you can email me at: thom.walsh9@gmail.com