I’m astounded by the reactions of various groups who support the killing of Brian Thompson, blaming him and others like him for flaws in the healthcare system. Making a murderer a hero is just as nutty as the killing itself. Blaming those who must make tough calls every day furthers the nuttiness. The facts tellRead more
Blog
Almost all healthcare systems suffered losses during the pandemic, but some bore more than others. The Cleveland Clinic offers some lessons for bouncing back from setbacks. After facing some pandemic-related financial headwinds in the last year, Cleveland Clinic’s overall financial health remains strong, and it continues ambitious domestic and international expansion fueled by its substantial reserve funds. Despite stumbling, theRead more
“If you weren’t already doing this, would you start now?” When I ask healthcare clients that question, it prompts stunned silence followed swiftly by mild irritation (open hostility tends to emerge a few minutes later). Several minutes into the conversation, a leader might mention a particularly troubling employee. At that time, I ask, “If thatRead more
In 1964, W. D. Hamilton, one of the most influential evolutionary biologists of the 20th Century, introduced the theory he called “inclusive fitness.” Inclusive fitness involves the number of offspring and offspring equivalents an individual rears, rescues, or otherwise treats altruistically. Hamilton showed mathematically that, because other members of a population may share one’s genes, a geneRead more
When healthcare organizations embrace a change orientation, they consider the tough calls that lead to innovation part of the way they do business, not a process or project they engage in for a given period. People innovate when they see a benefit—when they perceive that the change will improve their condition, not when someone else wants it. The following questions willRead more
