Remember this old medical joke: the operation was successful, but the patient died? It has become a cliché that often characterizes business operations and military activities. The quip perfectly describes the relationship between quality and …
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NtC 4 – Healthcare Quality: I Know It When I See It
In a 1964 Supreme Court case, Justice Potter Steward wrote the majority opinion on whether a movie violated Ohio’s pornography laws. Potter wrote, “I shall not attempt further to define the kinds of material,” and …
Continue readingSmart Benefit vs. Cost Data Collection
As a young disease-chasing EIS officer at the CDC, my managers instructed me to weigh the benefit of data collection versus its cost. When collecting patient survey information during a disease outbreak investigation, I kept …
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