March 18th through March 19th:

• The ‘World Wide Computer’?Another HAL? - Businessweek’s Review of “The Big Switch” - I used it for comparison
• NPR: Doctor Blogs Raise Concerns About Patient Privacy - I agree with points raised - a patient should never seek care and then discover that they have been written about on a blog. Instead, they should receive a copy of the medical record that has been created about them. At the same time, physician bloggers are doing something very important - they are testing the boundaries of transparency, to support a more accountable health care system. If anyone saw the 60 minutes story about Dennis Quaid and his family, the rationale for this become very clear.
• What Every Physician Should Know About the RUC - January 2008 - Family Practice Management - The information is useful. As primary care providers I think we need to be careful to include our specialty colleagues in the conversation, not distance themselves from it. As a member of a large multispecialty medical group, I know that there is interest across the physician community in supporting community health and the best experience for patients.
• MindBlizzard blog: Virtual Healthcare 2: Palomar Pomerado Health - All right - More news about the utility of Second Life - testing a hospital before it launches
• What is the ROI on employee suggestion systems? - A nice example from the toothpaste industry. But not necessarily one that supports the evidence, that far less toothpaste than people think is needed to protect teeth…..Maybe a customer suggestion system might be in order.

• Providence Health Care - What’s New - Providence Legacy Project, St. Paul’s Hospital, Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospitals, Arbutus, Brock Fahrni Pavilion, Heather, Langara, Holy Family Hospital, Youville Residence - The project has yielded great results, with an 87 per cent drop in the time from blood collection to the time of arrival in the lab, and a 45 per cent decrease in turnaround time from blood collection to result reporting.
• Primary Care And Health System Performance: Adults’ Experiences In Five Countries — Schoen et al., 10.1377/hlthaff.w4.487 — Health Affairs - Information about access and secure e-mail use, as well as quality measures across several countries.
• How NOT to lead geeks - This is an interesting post, although I think the title is at odds with the content (this is about leading people who develop great things for society). It adds more information to the LEAN idea that people are not the problem, it’s process.
• Toyota passes Ford as No. 2 in U.S. sales - Toyota’s ability to have humility in this situation is something a healthcare organization would be envious of.
• Running a hospital: Looking back after six years at BIDMC - I liked this. Compliment: It represents Hansei in a good way. Constructive Criticism: Thinking about applying LEAN to be more direct in the communication. Overall: More people should do this.
• Your New Title: Chief Inspiration Officer - I think I want to be this. Actually I think I try to be this. And I love it.

December 24th:

• The etiquette of telecommunications | Getting the message, at last | Economist.com - The economist describes the first incident of spam, via telegraph.
• Are Suggestion ?Boxes? the Best Way to Go? | Lean Six Sigma Academy - Also interested in employee empowerment as much as patient empowerment. I should have installed one of these in my office before I went on sabbatical.
• Training Within Industry: Lean Jargon - Part III, Gemba (Genba), Genbutsu, Genjitsu - Catching up on my LEAN studies. Helpful guide to common LEAN terms. These are my favorites.
• Out of the shadow — Calman 19 (1): 170 — Health Affairs - Bearing witness to inequities for those we are trying to serve. I am having similar experiences in my work, and it has impact. Great article by Neil Calman, MD.
• Rising Popularity of Medical Blogs Raises Questions About Anonymity, Reliability - iHealthBeat - This is an important topic to me as a physician blogger. I do not blog about patient experiences except in the most general terms. At the same time, I think patients want to improve the system they get care in and we should (or I am) develop best practice
• Cultural Tourism DC - U Street Heritage Trail - Great map and walking tour of African American History. Perfect for the nation’s most walkable city