tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post1450466964563920938..comments2023-08-21T02:57:37.362-05:00Comments on Dr. Wes: More Questions About Donald Berwick SurfaceDrWeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438019699222125477noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-7965652678343999842010-07-27T09:10:05.897-05:002010-07-27T09:10:05.897-05:00Keith - I did not totally negate the benefits of h...Keith - I did not totally negate the benefits of health care. <br /><br />I am arguing against the idea that the health care system is the reason for, or the answer to, the lower life expectancy we see in this country compared to other OECD countries. I am arguing against the idea that all we have to do is provide people with health care and they'll be, well, "healthy", when other Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02317972207150149720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-58452857120638598592010-07-26T12:18:37.888-05:002010-07-26T12:18:37.888-05:00Jodi,
The health care bill was signed on March 24...Jodi,<br /><br />The health care bill was signed on March 24th. Obama sent Berwick's nomination to the senate on April 19th.<br /><br />The guy has a few other pressing problems on his plate, so I think he deserves a pass on his 3 week delay.<br /><br />You might also explain why the average lifespan in this country has increased from around 50 to ~76 years of age if not for modern medicine.Keithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-58871438716349464742010-07-26T09:04:03.771-05:002010-07-26T09:04:03.771-05:00Keith -
A new article from the UK out Saturday.
...Keith -<br /><br />A new article from the UK out Saturday.<br /><br />Axe falls on NHS services:<br /><br />http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/7908742/Axe-falls-on-NHS-services.html<br /><br />IF giving people health care was all we needed to do to increase longevity, decrease obesity, stop smoking, stop gun violence, etc, then the young among us who have "free" health care (Medicaid) Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02317972207150149720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-78500554562221386452010-07-26T08:59:00.371-05:002010-07-26T08:59:00.371-05:00Keith -
A new article from the UK out Saturday.
...Keith -<br /><br />A new article from the UK out Saturday.<br /><br />Axe falls on NHS services:<br /><br />http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/7908742/Axe-falls-on-NHS-services.html<br /><br />IF giving people health care was all we needed to do to increase longevity, decrease obesity, stop smoking, stop gun violence, etc, then the young among us who have "free" health care (Medicaid) Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02317972207150149720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-87006544861907986992010-07-25T19:38:41.760-05:002010-07-25T19:38:41.760-05:00Keith - The health care bill was signed into law i...Keith - The health care bill was signed into law in mid-March.<br /><br />Dr. Berwick was nominated in mid May, was he not? Two months to nominate someone for a position that is so dire and URGENT that it cannot await the due process which allows Americans to hear from, and about, a man with such power over their lives?Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02317972207150149720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-5683124821573637622010-07-25T12:54:58.001-05:002010-07-25T12:54:58.001-05:00Anony 12;23-
It seems a significant chunk of IHI&...Anony 12;23-<br /><br />It seems a significant chunk of IHI's money (to the tune of over $1.8 million) went to grants for Sub-sahara Africa in 2008 (a new initiative). While this might be a noble goal for a separate non-profit, should Americans expect they'll be funding the world's health care needs when fees are paid by our hospitals to the Institute for their safety programs?DrWeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17438019699222125477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-7562663451772382322010-07-25T12:24:36.409-05:002010-07-25T12:24:36.409-05:00Anony 10:55-
Here's a link to IHI's 2008 ...Anony 10:55-<br /><br />Here's a link to IHI's 2008 <a href="http://www.medtees.com/content/IHI2009_990.pdf" rel="nofollow">Form 990</a>. In it it shows Mr. Berwick earned the following:<br /><br />Base compensation: $474,248<br />Bonus and Incentives: $147,000<br />"Other" compensation(??): $1,705,038<br />Deferred compensation: $3,825<br />Non-taxable benefits: $26,261<br /><DrWeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17438019699222125477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-77778837544575485202010-07-25T12:23:37.688-05:002010-07-25T12:23:37.688-05:00OK. IRS reporting shows 2.4M income. However, tha...OK. IRS reporting shows 2.4M income. However, that figure needs a closer look. The following is from the Foundation Center regarding Dr. Berwick's compensation:<br /><br /> However, the Cambridge, Mass.-based IHI issued a one-page fact sheet along with its tax forms explaining that one-time events led to reporting of total compensation for Berwick that “is significantly larger than the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-45631144200783691442010-07-25T10:55:27.563-05:002010-07-25T10:55:27.563-05:00Dr.Wes,
The source for Dr. Berwick's compensa...Dr.Wes,<br /><br />The source for Dr. Berwick's compensation seems to always come from The Washington Times, founded by and until recently run by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon (of Moonie fame). It also ran an editorial that linked healthcare reform to Nazi policies. <br /><br />Now if the 2.3M compensation is true, it is indeed outrageous. But I'm going to need some SOURCE that is more Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-54529582828604011392010-07-25T10:14:42.522-05:002010-07-25T10:14:42.522-05:00Anonymous,
Reviewed their website and it appears ...Anonymous,<br /><br />Reviewed their website and it appears to be replete with projects designed to further improve our health care system. Still it would be nice to have Dr. Berwick describe their mission and accomplishments, which would likely stregthen his support. I think he would need to justify his and several members of the institutes compensation. Why such outsized compensation for Keithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-47368362874711980952010-07-25T10:14:25.622-05:002010-07-25T10:14:25.622-05:00Anonymous,
Reviewed their website and it appears ...Anonymous,<br /><br />Reviewed their website and it appears to be replete with projects designed to further improve our health care system. Still it would be nice to have Dr. Berwick describe their mission and accomplishments, which would likely stregthen his support. I think he would need to justify his and several members of the institutes compensation. Why such outsized compensation for Keithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-43438190325677680012010-07-25T08:00:43.133-05:002010-07-25T08:00:43.133-05:00WongML-
None of us could argue about the importan...WongML-<br /><br />None of us could argue about the importance of patient safety - it is a laudible goal indeed.<br /><br />Having said that, Mr. Berwick enjoyed a $2.3 million salary (a nearly 4-fold year-over-year increase) at a time when the overwhelming concern about the survival of our health care system is its exorbitant costs.<br /><br />I'm not sure I have ever seen a clearer example DrWeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17438019699222125477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-46342705773714667412010-07-25T07:12:22.990-05:002010-07-25T07:12:22.990-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02317972207150149720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-14667938399136340682010-07-25T07:11:40.405-05:002010-07-25T07:11:40.405-05:00Keith - Thank God for the party of NO! Obama keep...Keith - Thank God for the party of NO! Obama keeps asking us if we want to return to the failed policies of the Republicans that got us into this mess, or stick with the Democrats policies getting us out.<br /><br />First, what DID get us into this mess?<br /><br />Ask Bill Clinton and Michael Bloomberg - They say it was the housing bubble. Interestingly, the Republicans and the Fannie and Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02317972207150149720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-18152662112147433282010-07-25T06:50:28.000-05:002010-07-25T06:50:28.000-05:00Below are headlines from resources from the UK:
N...Below are headlines from resources from the UK:<br /><br />NHS Bars woman after she saw private doctor<br /><br />http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article7100968.ece<br /><br /><br />Doctors keep cancer drugs quiet<br /><br />http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7581705.stm<br /><br /><br />Sentenced to death on the NHS<br /><br />http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02317972207150149720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-30267728110887805182010-07-25T06:50:17.342-05:002010-07-25T06:50:17.342-05:00As I have admitted on this blog before, I am a reg...As I have admitted on this blog before, I am a regretful Obama voter. When someone told me he wanted to bring the NHS to America a month before I voted for him, I told her that was a wild conspiracy theory. I have since apologized to her. I now think that is exactly what he intends to do.<br /><br />Obama in this clip:<br /><br />"A single payer universal health care plan. That's Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02317972207150149720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-69597155896799010642010-07-25T06:41:48.223-05:002010-07-25T06:41:48.223-05:00Keith - If the appointment of someone into that po...Keith - If the appointment of someone into that position was soooo urgent, why did it take Obama well over a year to even make a nomination? Why the "sudden" urgency?Jodihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02317972207150149720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-32367111601370795382010-07-25T04:48:53.763-05:002010-07-25T04:48:53.763-05:00"Little noticed paragraph" regarding the..."Little noticed paragraph" regarding the health insurance benefit? Who is the Washington Examiner kidding? Read the audit (they are ALL posted on their website, ihi.org) and there it is - plain as day - so even I can find it who has never read an audit report. Same size font and perfectly intelligible. Give me a break!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-39654868586370960152010-07-25T03:59:56.431-05:002010-07-25T03:59:56.431-05:00Rest easy! You can find a wealth of info at IHI.o...Rest easy! You can find a wealth of info at IHI.org about the institue he founded and you will be pleased to know that the Board of Directors and Fellows include Robt. Waller MD, President Emeritus Mayo Foundation, folks from Wellesley, Virginia Mason Med Ctr., U of N.C. @ Chapel Hill, Cincy Children's Hospital, Dartmouth, Harvard, and somebody from the House of Lords (UK). I bet there'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-31465685385388059212010-07-25T03:08:17.916-05:002010-07-25T03:08:17.916-05:00Your source, The Washington Examiner, is a free ta...Your source, The Washington Examiner, is a free tabloid whose owner has ordered the op-ed page to ONLY have conservative writers. <br /><br />You ask who funds the foundation. I found these and partners, supporters on their website.<br />Mayo Foundation, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp, Baylor Health Care System, David Calkin Memorial Fund, Aetna Foundation, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-5057612315746548532010-07-24T22:46:43.902-05:002010-07-24T22:46:43.902-05:00While political skepticism is a great thing, perha...While political skepticism is a great thing, perhaps in this case it's not so warranted. The IHI is a revolutionary organization, which many doctors did contribute to, and many more support its goals. Patient safety isn't a political agenda, it's just the right thing to do.<br /><br />While I totally believe in transparency in financial disclosures, I highly doubt that any agenda isWongMLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15507550914792992303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-72581235165230953712010-07-24T18:04:38.749-05:002010-07-24T18:04:38.749-05:00It is unfortunate that we have this stalemate in c...It is unfortunate that we have this stalemate in congress where the principle task of the party not in power is to delay the agenda of the majority party. Whether it is judicial appts. or critical heads of govermental bodies such as CMS, it is no wondor govrment cannot accomplish much if it takes years to get leadership in place. Anonymous senatorial holds need to be done away with and Keithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-53392680254486422342010-07-24T09:18:48.683-05:002010-07-24T09:18:48.683-05:00The recent health care reform law has shown us tha...The recent health care reform law has shown us that the endorsement of groups like the AMA is of little substantive value. I also find it sad that Anonymous would like to use a few names to imply that asking questions of Dr Berwick is unnecessary. As the WSJ recently argued, Berwick with $800B and rationing powers, is a much more significant appointment than Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. And Matthew Bowdish MDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00751737204523529971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18943510.post-25194205854575367802010-07-24T07:43:03.341-05:002010-07-24T07:43:03.341-05:00"This has won him the endorsement of the Amer..."This has won him the endorsement of the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association and other non-partisan bodies. He has broad support from the health-care industry, which has implemented many of the safety and efficiency measures proposed by his think-tank, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Even Mark McClellan, a Bush-appointed predecessor in the CMS job, Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com