Dr. Don Berwick, former administrator of the centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and former president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement spoke at the 14th annual Physician Leadership Symposium, held earlier this month at the Opus College of Business.
With his credentials, you might expect his presentation to be filled with medical terminology and jargon–however, Berwick began by introducing us to his beloved and most brilliant four-year-old grandson, and a character from the Harry Potter books, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. As a proud grandfather, physician and expert in providing quality health care, Berwick is deeply concerned for the present status and future of U.S. health care.
What does Voldemort (gasp!), have to do with health care? Using Harry Potter’s evil character as a metaphor, Berwick defined 11 monsters — economic and social variables impacting our health care system. The unspeakable hot topics included: