dispatches from the new world of work

David, You Made My Day!

How great it is to be me! (No kidding.) People send me manuscripts and beg for endorsements. And I make out like a bandit, because I get to "stand beside" fabulous people—and be identified with their Great Work! Most recently, I got Hospitals in Crisis: A Digital Solution (not available yet), by David Veillette, CEO of Indiana Heart Hospital. Alas, hospitals in general kill patients by the busload; and it's mostly preventable—by relatively simple stuff. Dave is on the Front End of the Front End. And I get to write the foreword to his book. LUCKY ME!

You'll hear more about Dave as a Cool Friend when the book comes out! I'm psyched! (One wee stat: there are 4.5 computers-per-patient at IHH!)

Tom Peters posted this on 02/09/05.

Comments

You make me envious with such examples Tom.

I left my healthcare management career three months ago after 35 years to set up on my own.

If only we could get up to speed with IT in the healthcare business over here in the UK on the scale you describe it would be awesome.

I hope you will keep us posted about David's book - I will buy a copy!!

4.5 PC's per patients!! WOW ... In my experience the ratios could be reversed and then doubled - i.e. - more like 9 patients per PC!!

Posted by Trevor at February 10, 2005 8:57 AM

Looking forward to reading about the fabulous people at IHH who work in front of those 4.5 computers-per-patient...

Posted by Lee H. Igel at February 10, 2005 11:32 AM

We just buried my dad two days ago because of multiple mistakes made under the current system of management. What is our recourse?

Posted by Susan at February 10, 2005 1:11 PM

Susan, my heartfelt condolences. One "recourse" is to get noisy. Not lawsuits necessarily, but (say) the Web. We all need to publicize the wretched record of fatal & nonfatal mistakes made by healthcare "profesionals." I'm doing my little bit by keeping the conversation going here--and your contribution here will be viewed by more HC professionals than you might imagine. Keep Yapping, Susan! (It's a small start.)

Posted by tom peters at February 12, 2005 10:37 AM

Hello Susan, so sorry to hear your sad news

I worked for 35 years in healthcare management in the UK until last November when I left to set up on my own at a young 52 years of age ... the best decision of my professional life ... influenced heavily by my reading of Tom Peters for the last 24 years.

Tom's advice is sincere and sound from my considerable experience of healthcare - you must keep talking to professionals who care for you - although it might seem like at the moment no one does care.

Tom is right - You should 'rant' - that is fine but make sure it is 'constructive ranting' to the right people - the Chief Executives have to listen to you - do not let them rest until you are satisfied with the outcome you feel you deserve.

Mistakes cannot be allowed to ruin peoples' lives and the management must be held accountable from top to bottom.

I am obviously not as familiar with the healthcare systyem in the States but any advice I can offer 'remotely' from my experience over here in England I would be only to happy to provide to you- free.

I hate situations where patients or their families are left in limbo with no one appearing to care!

My experience is comprehensive in healthcare management including dealing with complaints!!

Please take care Susan and do not hesitate to ask for help from anyone who will listen.

I strongly believe most staff in healthcare are deeply motivated to provide excellence - often the management systems prevent them achieving that aspiration.

Tom Peters is so desperately needed in the world of healthcare - I would love to work for him if he were Chief Executive of my dream company Hospitals R Us!! ...how about it Tom?

Take care

Posted by Trevor Gay at February 12, 2005 5:02 PM