the 21st century is the century of the patient
the 21st century is the century of the systems
more of the same is not the answer
More with the same not more of the same, an excellent publication from the Kings Fund says it all
If a system, or a service if you prefer, is a set of activites with a common set of objectives and an annual report, for example a COPD system or an epilepsy system, how many should there be in England?
In my viewafter discussion with Tim Wilson, that is a function of
1. the frequency or commonness of the condition
2. the compexity of diagnosis and treatment
3. the potential for harm
I posted a picture of a system. Here is another
Sunday Sunday-Book of the Week
this is the seventh editionof Clinical Ethics the book by Albert Jonsen, Mark Siegler and William Winslade and I had not seen it before. It covers the field in 228 pages, in four topics -medical indications, patient preferences, quality of life and contextual features -and 28 questions; very good value
Do doctors like operations?
I saw a very senior and wise doctor limping with a stick and a painful hip, a not uncommon sight . I am sure Doctors decide to have operation later than patients but know of no evidence, perhaps PROMS will tell us? My Professor, when I was a very young surgeon in trainin, Sir Andrew Watt Kay, said ‘ the patient needs to earn their operation’
As a committement to the young clinicians of 2040 I will post a key term every Thursday. These will be from the Better Healthcare Glossary and present examples of the terms in use, often with more than one example of a single term, following the principles of my heroes Ludwig Wittgenstein and James Murray. Unlike Murray i wll not attempt to write my own definition but I may include an example from my own published work if i cannot find a suitable example from another author; this is very uncommon
Following the first meeting of 2040 here are some networking terms
Network and node
“a network is a set of interconnected nodes. A node is a point where the network intersects itself. A network has no centre, just nodes. Nodes may be of varying relevance to the network ..A network is defined by the programme that assign the network its goals and rules of performance . The program is made up of codes that include the valuation of performance and criteria for success or failure”.
Networking
“Networking is a broad concept referring to a form of organized transacting that offers an alternative to either markets or hierarchies. It refers to transactions across an organization’s boundaries that are recurrent and involve continuing relationships with a set of partners. The transactions are coordinated and controlled on a mutually agreed basis that is likely to require common protocols and systems, but do not necessarily require direct supervision by the organization’s own staff.”
Source: Child, J. (2005) Organization. Contemporary Principles and Practice. Blackwell Publishing. (p.15).
I will be doing a webcast on 2040 from the RSM tomorrow (thurs 29th) at 3.30pm please joins us on the web and distribute to others who may be interest please click here to book on
the bookshop is now open
please browse around the bookshop but we do not yet have the shelves and the reviews organised
