Massachusetts is once again going to squeeze the healthcare balloon, only to be “surprised, surprised I tell you” when compressing on one bulge produces a bulge somewhere else.
Every trip to the supermarket is one in which you’ll consider compromises and tradeoffs.  Buy better products–fresh squeezed orange juice rather than concentrate–and you’ll either pay more or [...]

There is a straightforward way  to think through the problem of managing complex, dynamic systems for high performance and the avoidance of realized risk.
For examples, healthcare professionals regularly assess risk in complex, dynamic systems by determining where vulnerability exists and acting in anticipation of failure, to preclude it, rather than in reaction to failure, when [...]

Dear Friends and Colleagues,
[1]Patients suffer avoidable harm due to breakdowns in the delivery of care,
according to 1999’s report, [2]To Err is Human, by the Institute of Medicine.
[3]Patients continue to suffer avoidable harm due to breakdowns in the delivery
of care, according to a study reported in November’s [4]New England Journal of
Medicine, despite extensive application of tools [...]

Read the NY Times or listen to NPR and you would conclude a little known state senator won the Senatorial seat long held by Ted Kennedy due to the faults of Democratic contender, Martha Coakley.
Not so. Scott Brown made one promise to vote against ObamaCare.  People listened, believed him, and he rode to victory.
The “Martha [...]

The question was asked; In times of budgetary pressure, what quality initiatives should be sacrificed.
Asking that asks the wrong question.  The right one is asking what can be done to better design and operate care critical processes to advance quality, affordability, and access simultaneously.
The first question reflects unwarranted arrogant pessimism, the latter better justified humble [...]