Did you see the BusinessWeek profile of Dr. Brailer in the October 31 issue? Did you see the reference to W. Edwards Deming and his teachings of quality improvement? Well I did and it caught my eye immediately!
Healing healthcare will require a systematic process of change. Infusion of technology alone will not improve healthcare in the US. As a society we have tried blaming the nurses, doctors, hospitals, and insurance and pharmaceutical companies for the deficiencies in quality and high costs. However, as a society we have never attempted to involve all of the stakeholders and systematically address the challenges of our healthcare system using a scientific approach based upon data. In part, this is due to the fact that Dr. Deming's teachings have only been embraced by select industries and companies (in the US) and it is so hard to collect and manipulate data without the presence of technology.
In the case of the current initiative to build a national health information infrastructure and electronically exchange health information so that it is available at the point of care, I see the stakeholders talking and coming together. More importantly, I see them recognizing the need to make significant changes to the system of rewards to ensure an equitable distribution of cost and benefits is realized.
So, information technology is helping heal healthcare in a variety of ways. As a result of Dr. Brailer's leadership and incorporation of Dr. Deming's teachings on quality improvement and use of scientific approach, health information technology is serving as an attractant and bringing all of the stakeholders to the table. Information technology is also contributing data necessary to help ensure that the improvements are continuous. And more importantly, information technology is teaching stakeholders to recognize their place (role) in the system and providing the vehicle for working together with a shared vision and common goal to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare for us all!
Once we are successful with this opportunity for improvement (health information technology), I look forward to seeing what challenge we pick to improve next!
Did you see the BusinessWeek profile of Dr. Brailer in the October 31 issue? Did you see the reference to W. Edwards Deming and his teachings of quality improvement? Well I did and it caught my eye immediately!
Healing healthcare will require a systematic process of change. Infusion of technology alone will not improve healthcare in the US. As a society we have tried blaming the nurses, doctors, hospitals, and insurance and pharmaceutical companies for the deficiencies in quality and high costs. However, as a society we have never attempted to involve all of the stakeholders and systematically address the challenges of our healthcare system using a scientific approach based upon data. In part, this is due to the fact that Dr. Deming's teachings have only been embraced by select industries and companies (in the US) and it is so hard to collect and manipulate data without the presence of technology.
In the case of the current initiative to build a national health information infrastructure and electronically exchange health information so that it is available at the point of care, I see the stakeholders talking and coming together. More importantly, I see them recognizing the need to make significant changes to the system of rewards to ensure an equitable distribution of cost and benefits is realized.
So, information technology is helping heal healthcare in a variety of ways. As a result of Dr. Brailer's leadership and incorporation of Dr. Deming's teachings on quality improvement and use of scientific approach, health information technology is serving as an attractant and bringing all of the stakeholders to the table. Information technology is also contributing data necessary to help ensure that the improvements are continuous. And more importantly, information technology is teaching stakeholders to recognize their place (role) in the system and providing the vehicle for working together with a shared vision and common goal to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare for us all!
Once we are successful with this opportunity for improvement (health information technology), I look forward to seeing what challenge we pick to improve next!