I saw on one of the blogs (Patient Centric Healthcare) I traverse, that the CEO at Kaiser Permanente is writing a book. I think fondly of Kaiser as a leader in cultural competency, diversity and inclusion. And want to make sure that if you are interested in what a great mind that works with several great minds, (i.e. Ron Knox, Melanie Tervalon, Edgar Quiroz), that IMHO knows the business of healthcare from many angles, and gets the connections between healthcare reform and the responsibilities of healthcare organizations towards both cause-oriented and quality-oriented approaches, pick up the book when it is released!
Upcoming Book By George Halvorson From Kaiser
Check out the blog post and interview.Visit Diversity HealthWorks I will share the book and a link with members when I pick up my copy!
Make it a great day!
5 comments:
When discussing health care reform and labeling George Halvorson as some kind of visionary leader, why is it that the failures and scandals of his very own health care organization, Kaiser Permanente, are overlooked as if they don't exist? Kaiser has been fined millions of dollars in recent years for its disastrously poor response to patient complaints, and has lost several lawsuits for retaliating against its own physicians and employees for pointing out internal problems to management in an effort to improve things. The KP San Francisco kidney transplant center debacle immediately comes to mind as one egregious example of when complaints were ignored for years, many people died, and everyone within the organization who tried to address the problems was either fired or forced to resign.
Kaiser Permanente was also recently investigated and fined for illegally rescinding policies, right along with several for profit insurers, proving KP is just one of the gang.
Halvorson doesn't have to wait for "health care reform" on a national scale to reform his own organization, yet he does nothing of the sort -- opting instead to write books about what other people should be doing to fix a system he helped to break, and to hire more PR people to deal with the scandals.
Be careful what you wish for, because you and the rest of us might just get it.
Martin,
Thanks for your comments.
No doubt, Kaiser Permanente has the trappings of some for profit healthcare plans. They have done things that one may consider unsavory.
George Halvorson however, has hired people, that I know personally and respect that have done great work where diversity, inclusion, cultural competency, and health disparities are concerned. All of the above, are for me related to healthcare reform.
The road we are traveling down in healthcare today is in need of repair in a dire way. While Mr. Halvorson will not be the only voice and maybe not even a defining voice, he will have input into the process and given the reach of KP, it will more than likely be a pretty long reach.
His perspective, whether you agree or not with KPs past or present policies or actions, is one that we should be familiar with as the conversation evolves.
We definitely will get some semblance of what we wish for. I just want us to be educated broadly before we start making wishes!
Make it a great day!
Amri,
Are you a KP insider? Rest assured that I am and a well placed exec too. I probably know some of the very people you mention about George having hired. You're absolutely right, there are lots and lots of good people trying to do the right things on a daily basis at KP, but these individuals are confronted with a culture of denialism that starts at the top. Perhaps George believes that in his heart of hearts things are O.K., but those of us in the tranches know othersiwe.
Consider this:
The fix is on. When might is right, then Kaiser is always right.
The might of $37 billion in annual revenue and growing, the might of hiding behind a not for profit “at the service of the community” public face and the private deep pockets of a ruthless business, the might of an effective lobby that encapsulates the very definition of “thrive” in the free-for-all Bush era and the might of making up and compensating for fraud, waste and abuse by passing on the associated, significant costs to us — the members — in ever increasing premiums.
The fix is on at Kaiser in its own particular version of the Fantastic 4.
Like Mr. Fantastic, KP has the ability to stretch and modify the facts into incredible lengths and shapes beyond any recognition.
Like the Invisible Woman, KP has the ability to render invisible any problems, any issues and project impenetrable force fields of denials, spin and propaganda.
Like the Human Torch, KP will burn to cinders anyone who dares to oppose or challenge it.
Like the Thing, KP will use the full force of its might to squash anyone — friend or foe, employee or member — who it perceives as a threat to the status quo.
The fix is on at Kaiser by carefully managing its public image and any regulatory agencies that come their way and fully taking advantage of the 8-years of the regulatory vacuum that the Bush era was.
The fix is on at Kaiser by its propensity, willingness and active goals of hiding the truth, distorting the facts at all costs, including member safety.
Hello Anonymous,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I am not a KP insider. My opinions are based on what I have heard and seen from the leaders I have had the opportunity to meet and learn about vicariously.
Now, your sentiments I am sure hold truth to some extent. I do not know of any corporation of over $1B that has not done some things that one could consider as questionable where the integrity of a certain behavior or written/unwritten policy are concerned.
In that your insight and experience, I am sure, has truth in it.
On the other hand, I can also hold that what you are saying has a converse opinion (not necessarily contrary) that speaks to the possibilities that KPs business, business model, and people have created in the marketplace where healthcare and all industries are concerned.
Again, I thank you for your post. We encourage dialog like this and know that the affirmative and contrary opinions in all situations, when included in earnest, lead us on the path of innovation and transformation.
Make it a great day!
Então bonita este blog está muito estruturado.........Boa pinta :/
Muito Bonito Continua assim !!
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