The Best Practice: How the New Quality Movement is Transforming Medicine

The Best Practice: How the New Quality Movement is Transforming Medicine Features

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Americans have always thought their healthcare system was the best in the world. But starting in the late 1990s, shocking reports emerged that showed this was far from the truth. Treatment-related deaths or “complications” were found to be the fifth leading cause of death for Americans, and hundreds of thousands of patients were being harmed by botched medical procedures.

Spurred by the quality crisis, a group of visionary physicians led by Donald Berwick and Paul Batalden embarked on a study of industrial “quality improvement” techniques, daring to apply them to the practice of medicine despite resistance from the medical community. The Best Practice tells the story of this burgeoning movement, and of how the medical landscape is being radically transformed—for the better.
 

What Customers Say About The Best Practice: How the New Quality Movement is Transforming Medicine:

Very readable, but greatly simplified overview of the health care quality improvement movement. Takes as its center the vision of Don Berwick's Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Unfortunately, while a central tenet of the quality movement is that depending upon heroic performance of individuals is a way to ensure error and mistake, the book takes a heroic approach to the movement itself painting the leading lights as paragons. Doesn't dig deep enough to offer an account of the inertia of healthcare and our nation's failures of cost and quality.

Charles Kenney's book is insightful and is written to be read easily. The story of today's quality movement in healthcare, from its inception in the "Breakfast Club" to the major national symposia now presented by that Club's successor, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is both enlightening and inspiring. A most valuable addition to my library.

I think Mr Kenney offers an honest and somewhat optimistic take on the health care challenges facing our country. There are certain hurdles to overcome, but the modeling of "best practices" and the new reliance on technology-driven solutions offers some room for optimism.

There is some very interesting information in there, things I really had no idea were happening (like studying Toyota to reduce medical errors). Considering I work on the other side of things, actually seeing patients, I feel like this work hits some important points, but perhaps not the most pressing and direct issues that impair providers from providing excellent care every time.Jessica Sims([.].)

This is an excellent resource for health care providers in highlighting the many changes that can help revise the health care system and ensure a high quality of care.