Comments on: The dangers of quality http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/dangers-of-quality.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Zagreus Ammonhttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/dangers-of-quality.html#comment-79022 Zagreus Ammon Wed, 15 Aug 2007 02:55:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/the-dangers-of-quality.html#comment-79022 It is possible to apply the basic principles of industrial engineering to health care... BUT EXTREME CAUTION MUST BE TAKEN.<br/><br/>A notion exists in the management literature of mass customization. The process must be standardized and there is not reason the way an appointment is taken, or a sign-in is done or a blood test is drawn should differ from visit to visit. Yet the experience from the other side of the service line should always be unique.<br/><br/>This is the craft, this is the art.<br/><br/>But the devil is in the details and, in this case, in the execution of a good plan... It is possible to apply the basic principles of industrial engineering to health care… BUT EXTREME CAUTION MUST BE TAKEN.

A notion exists in the management literature of mass customization. The process must be standardized and there is not reason the way an appointment is taken, or a sign-in is done or a blood test is drawn should differ from visit to visit. Yet the experience from the other side of the service line should always be unique.

This is the craft, this is the art.

But the devil is in the details and, in this case, in the execution of a good plan…

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/08/dangers-of-quality.html#comment-78914 Anonymous Sun, 12 Aug 2007 20:06:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/08/the-dangers-of-quality.html#comment-78914 What they want to do is industrialize the process of providing medical care--applying basic industrial engineering. The best that can happen if they succeed is more care of a basic minimum quality for more people. That is what industrialization did for production of commodities, like, say furniture. More basic decent funiture for more people--but they are cheap and inferior trash in comparison the productions of craftsmen from prior ages.<br/><br/>What all these people are saying is that we can not afford medical care that allows the physician to do his best work as a craftsman, and gives patients individualized treatment taylored solely to them. They the most humanistic process must be dehumanized, reducing the pårticipants to ciphers. What they want to do is industrialize the process of providing medical care–applying basic industrial engineering. The best that can happen if they succeed is more care of a basic minimum quality for more people. That is what industrialization did for production of commodities, like, say furniture. More basic decent funiture for more people–but they are cheap and inferior trash in comparison the productions of craftsmen from prior ages.

What all these people are saying is that we can not afford medical care that allows the physician to do his best work as a craftsman, and gives patients individualized treatment taylored solely to them. They the most humanistic process must be dehumanized, reducing the pårticipants to ciphers.

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