The nine week season at the Chautauqua Institution draws to a close this week with an exploration of health care. WBFO's Mark Scott has more in our Chautauqua Preview.
This week and again in the final weeks of the 2014 and 2015 season, Chautauqua will be exploring this most controversial of issues -- this year's theme is "Health Care: Reform and Innovation." Chautauqua's Education Director Sherra Babcock says this is not necessarily about Obamacare or the politics surrounding it. She says this week's speakers will delve deep into innovations by health care providers, disparities in the delivery of health care and what the future holds.
"The key question for the week is how is our medical system changing, and what do we need to know about that to advocate for our own families and society in general," Babcock said.
Tuesday's speaker at the morning lecture at the Amphitheater is a prominent hospital administrator, Steven Corwin of New York Presbyterian Hospital. Last year, Corwin was part of a panel at a US News and World Report program about sharing hospital data with the public. Corwin says such reports assessing hospital safety are an important tool for consumers. But he adds the data need to be carefully interpreted.
"Ultimately, we're in this for the public's benefit," Corwin said. "Data is not perfect. It's important. But it's also important for people to be able to interpret what that data really means."
The afternoon discussions at the Hall of Philosophy will focus on the theme "Faith, Hope and Healing." Religion Director Joan Brown Campbell says Tuesday, Richard Fratianne of Case Western Reserve and Metro Hospital in Cleveland will discuss his experiences in treating burn patients.
"He said he can help people who have 70 to 95 percent of their body burned. (He) can make them well. But (he) cannot heal them," Brown-Campbell said. "The only way that person who is so badly burned and disfigured will ever be better is if they have a spiritual encounter."
A unique part of this week according to Chautauqua's Marketing Vice President George Murphy is that the discussion of health care will go beyond the morning and afternoon lectures.
"Health care is really personal. People want to know things about diabetes. They want to know more about mobility. They want to understand the Affordable Care Act. You have to do that in smaller venues and in more intimate settings," Murphy said.
As part of this, Independent Health CEO Dr. Michael Cropp will speak Friday morning at 8:30 at Lenna Hall. For the full schedule of health care workshops, click the "Calendar" button at the Chautauqua Institution website.
The health care theme even extends into the evening hours. Chautauqua's Programming Vice President Marty Merkley says actress Anna Deavere Smith will share excerpts tonight from her most recent production, "Let Me Down Easy."
"She interviews people and takes their stories and incorporates them into her evening presentation where she does the characters," Merkley said. "So, this is about end of life issues."
"An Evening with Anna Deavere Smith" begins at 8:15 tonight at the Amphitheater.
Also this week, KC and the Sunshine Band performs with the Village People Friday night at 8:15 at the Amphitheater, followed by the final presentation of the 2013 Chautauqua season -- an appearance by singer Amy Grant, Saturday night.