Excerpts

“The fog of war” is a term used to describe armed conflict. It encapsulates the confusing nature of battle. It seems to us that we could easily appropriate this term to the changing U.S. healthcare environment. Indeed, as in war, there seems to be a general sense that the direction we are going is like stumbling along as if we are in a fog. Like a disgruntled GI, not everyone is happy about it. Others are encouraged and emboldened. Whatever the case, we are on the move…to somewhere…in this haze…and the environment is cloudy at best. The fog has not lifted; and the direction is still in question. That said, leaders of organizations can’t wait on others; they must chart a path and follow it. Knowing, indeed, is not enough, action is necessary and demanded.”

“All leaders need to believe that health care is a sacred ministry. Patients and family members come through the office or clinic doors entrusting their lives or the lives of their loved ones to a caregiver. This is perhaps the greatest responsibility for each and everyone working in health care today … Knowing this ultimately gives the leader the ability to enthusiastically lead each day, in both good times and bad. Such enthusiasm will be contagious, creating, in turn, a large family of professional and passionate followers"

“Will there be a healthcare crisis? We believe there already is a healthcare crisis. Or multiple crises. There is too much money in the healthcare system. This is due to high prices for many services and even higher prices for drugs. The crisis is too much money that, in an ironic twist, “insulates” professionals from scrutiny and questioning. The crisis is in class roles occupied by physicians and leaders. The crisis is in technology developed, acquired and, therefore, used, often- times, ill advisedly and too frequently. The crisis is in consumers who are sheltered from the real cost of the care that they receive. The crisis is in a system of quality reviews that are all too often subjectively based, done by peers of the professional being reviewed and lack significant consequences for misbehavior or mistakes.”