Opinion - More Common Sense on Improving

And, more on the subject of getting into making real common sense change, we were pleased to come across the following point of view from Wayne Fischer (some think he’s a bit left of left field, yet leaders recognize he’s likely just ahead of the rest of us)



From Wayne:

“I have very little direct experience with JCAHO. But what little experience I do have, and in talking and working with those whose do work a lot within the JCAHO "paradigm," my current assessment is that healthcare orgs can meet every JCAHO standard and still not be very effective nor efficient in delivering healthcare - not unlike the ISO 9000 standards some years ago.



JCAHO is trying to change - witness the move to unannounced visits. But, I wonder how "unannounced" they will be. One of our VPs this past week made a reference to "...when JCAHO comes again next year."

Hmmmm... .



And, JCAHO not only "certifies" healthcare organizations but has a consulting arm that - for a fee - will tell ("teach?") you how to "pass."

This is a glaring conflict of interest that is *not* permitted under ISO 9000 (and I have no love for ISO 9000).



IHI is on the right track, but I wonder how deep, fundamental, and

*lasting* the changes are that occur within its "collaborations" and "campaigns."



True Quality Improvement (deep, fundamental, lasting...and continuous) must come from within, must ultimately be driven by the top leadership, and must become "the way we do things" - not one-offs, special initiatives, or putting out fires.



Time is a-wasting...the public, the governments, and now healthcare workers themselves are deeply dissatisfied with the status quo. We have the choice

to "control our destiny - or someone else will." [from the title of the

book about Jack Welch and General Electric]



*** Wayne ***