For too long, our health care system has emphasized treating sickness rather than supporting wellness. The system has become a complex and difficult maze to maneuver and has resulted in countless missed opportunities to prevent disease. Our health care system, in all its complexity, has failed to slow the rising tide of diabetes, obesity and heart disease, which drives the high cost of premiums and copays.

Tackling this problem requires us to “rethink routine,” one of Humana’s core values. We want to turn health care completely around by embracing simplicity and helping you stay healthy. To this end, we have set a Bold Goal, in Arizona and nationwide: “To improve the health of the communities we serve 20 percent by 2020 because we make it easy for people to achieve their best health.”

We aim to provide you and your primary care physician with resources targeted at helping you reach a healthy lifestyle. We have engaged modern analytics and technology to identify, communicate and close gaps in your health care, which, if left unfilled, could lead to more serious conditions. Gaps, such as an overdue mammogram or flu shot, can now be easily identified and communicated to you and your doctor.

Together, we can identify that “ounce of preventive care” that translates into early detection or disease prevention. In fact, since our Bold Goal kicked off in 2014, we’ve identified 4.3 million instances where recommended care wasn’t received and then communicated that information to our members and their physicians.

Nationwide, we are making progress toward improving the health of the communities we serve. Through our collective prevention and care management efforts, Humana Medicare Advantage members have experienced 7 percent fewer emergency room visits and 4 percent fewer hospitalizations.

In Arizona, it’s partnerships like the one with Iora Primary Care that will make a difference for Humana’s Medicare Advantage members. Iora Primary Care’s five Arizona practices are designed exclusively for Humana’s Medicare Advantage members and provide care and services that meet those needs. Humana members who see an Iora Primary Care doctor are more engaged and are already showing better health outcomes.

This example shows that improving the health of our community by 20 percent by 2020 is an achievable goal if we work together and embrace change. Change can be difficult, but often leads to new innovations and a better way of doing things. We hope the changes we make, along with our members and health care provider partners, toward meeting our Bold Goal will improve our entire health care system in the process.

Steven J. Wininger is Desert States Medical Director for Humana Medicare.