About Us

Save Lives Save Dollars (SLSD) is an initiative of the Greater Detroit Area Health Council (GDAHC). It is a multi-year effort that focuses on achieving coordinated short-, medium- and long-term goals to improve health care quality and reduce costs. A multi-stakeholder movement that includes purchasers/ employers, health systems, health plans, physicians, community and others, Save Lives Save Dollars focuses on the root causes of sub-optimal health care, overuse, misuse, administrative waste, and process waste.

Save Lives Save Dollars is supported in part by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and is one of 15 communities that make up Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q), RWJF's signature effort to lift the overall quality of health care in targeted communities, reduce racial and ethnic disparities, and provide models for national reform. Click here to read more about AF4Q.

SLSD Goals

100 percent adherence to select clinical guidelines
Save $500 million and/or reduce the rate of Southeast Michigan's health care expenditures by 1-3 percent

SLSD Strategies

Align all southeast Michigan stakeholders to drive improvements in quality and cost savings through compliance with evidence-based guidelines
Measure / publicly report progress & performance on evidence-based care
Foster organized systems of care

SLSD Steering Committee

Michael Slubowski- President of Health Networks, Trinity Health, SLSD Chair
Edward Wolking - Senior Vice President, Detroit Regional Chamber, SLSD Vice Chair
Jack Billi, MD - U of M / U of M School of Medicine
Denise Christy - Humana
James Forshee, MD - Molina Healtcare

Richard Frank, MD - HealthPlus of Michigan

Robert Frank, MD - Wayne State University

Jerome Frankel, DO - Oakland Southfield Physicians
Steven Grant, MD - United Physicians

Richard Haller - Walbridge Aldinger
Paul Harkaway, MD - Huron Valley Physicians Association
Adam Jablonowski - Wayne County Medical Society
Edward Jankowski, MD - Michigan State Medical Society
Mark Johnson - Beaumont Hospitals
George Kipa, MD - Blue Cross Blue Shield

Marc Keshishian, MD - Blue Care Network
Michael Koziara - Priority Health
Paul LaCasse - Botsford General Hospital
David LaLain - Automotive Industry Action Group
Ted Makowiec - University of Michigan

Marsha Manning - General Motors
Phyllis Meadows - U of M School of Public Health / Kresge Foundation
Barbara Medvec - Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center
Susan Moran - MI Department of Community Health
Steven Newman, MD - Michigan State Medical Society
Deborah O'Leary - American Diabetes Association of MI
Jelka Petrovic - United Healthcare
William Runco, MD - United Outstanding Physicians

Nancy Schlichting - Henry Ford Health System
Philip Schloop - IUOE Local 547
Thomas Simmer, MD - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Michael Slubowski - Trinity Health
Cassandra Smith-Gray - Detroit Medical Center
Amy Tattrie- Pierce, Monroe & Associates
Linda Thompson - Oakland University
Ed Tuller - Health Alliance Plan
Jack Weiner - Trinity Health
Kimberlydawn Wisdom, MD - Henry Ford Health System / State of Michigan

Sponsoring Organizations and Partners

ACCESS♦Altarum Institute♦American Diabetes Association♦Beaumont Hospitals♦Blue Care Network of Michigan♦Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan♦Botsford General Hospital♦Chrysler, LLC♦Detroit Medical Center♦Detroit Regional Chamber♦Detroit Renaissance♦General Motors ♦Health Alliance Plan♦Henry Ford Health System♦Humana♦Huron Valley Physicians Association♦Intl Union of Operating Engineers, Local 547♦Macomb County Medical Society♦Medical Network One♦Michigan State Medical Society♦Michigan Association of Health Plans♦Michigan Health and Hospital Association♦Michigan Osteopathic Association♦Michigan Primary Care Association♦Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium♦Molina Healthcare of MI♦MPRO♦National Kidney Foundation of MI♦Novartis♦Oakland County Medical Society♦Oakland Southfield Physicians, PC♦Oakwood Healthcare System♦Pierce, Monroe & Associates, LLC♦Priority Health♦Rite Aid♦SE Michigan Diabetes Outreach Network♦State of Michigan Department of Community Health♦St Clair County Medical Society♦ St John Health♦St John Medical Group, PC♦Trinity Health♦United Outstanding Physicians, LLC♦United Physicians, PC♦U of M Health System♦UnitedHealthcare♦Walbridge♦Washtenaw County Medical Society♦Wayne County Medical Society

	Ed Wolking Jr.
Executive Vice President, Detroit Regional Chamber Co-Chair, SLSD RITE and Steering Committee Member, SLSD Emergency Department Utilization Team This text will be replaced

	Ernie Yoder, MD, PhD, FACP
Vice President, Medical Education & Research, St. John Health System Member, SLSD RITE and Steering Committee This text will be replaced

	S. George Kipa, MD
Deputy Corporate Medical Director, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Member, SLSD RITE and Steering Committee Member, SLSD Emergency Department Utilization Team Member, SLSD Low Back Pain Team Member, SLSD Assessment Advisory Group This text will be replaced

	Richard Frank, MD
Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, HealthPlus of Michigan Co-Chair, SLSD Emergency Depart Utilization Team Member, SLSD RITE and Steering Committee This text will be replaced

	Sheryl Lowe
Former Director, Health Policy and Social Mission, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Member, SLSD Regional Quality Strategy Team Member, Consumer Engagement Expert Panel This text will be replaced