January 1st, 2012 by Medgadget in News
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The airline industry has long been a paradigm example of safety, but it was not always that way. The transition occurred over the second half of the 20th century and was marked by rigorous equipment testing and procedures, such as the strict incorporation of checklists. Healthcare is an industry that recently has become quite interested in the possibility of implementing airline industry standards to improve patient safety and care delivery (read the books The Checklist Manifesto and Why Hospitals Should Fly if you’d like a solid overview of this phenomenon)
This month Lockheed Martin and Johns Hopkins, two institutional leaders in the fields of aviation and healthcare, respectively, announced a partnership to bring cutting-edge systems integration to the intensive care unit (ICU). According to the press release: Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Medgadget*
October 10th, 2011 by Happy Hospitalist in Humor
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The airline industry was a lot like physician practices several years ago. Costs were rising all around them while stagnant revenue caused declining margins. Well, this is America, not North Korea. How did the airline industry survive and thrive (except for American Airlines)?
- Efficiency
- Add on revenue opportunities
Physician offices are just now catching on. What can doctors learn from the airline industry? Here’s picture proof of efficiency in action.
Text from Sister Happy: Here’s how I just checked in at my orthopedists…it’s all by kiosk now. Have to say…they were faster and nicer than many receptionists. Only problem is… Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Happy Hospitalist*
June 4th, 2010 by DrWes in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Humor, Opinion, True Stories
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Medical receptionists beware — your days are numbered.
This little gizmo was placed in one of our facility’s lobbies this week. (No, it’s not being used to get your boarding pass at the airport, but it’s amazing the parallels healthcare is taking with the airline industry.)
Instead, it’s used to check in patients presenting to have their blood drawn for prothromin times. Just swipe your credit card, confirm your appointment, sign your name, and away you go!
On seeing this, one doctor exclaimed: “But INR checks are my patients’ only chance to get out and socialize!”
Fortunately for now there are still human assistants there to help patients learn how to use the new device.
-WesMusings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist.
*This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes*
