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Since stepping down as CMS administrator two weeks ago, Don Berwick has become—in some ways—an even more visible advocate for health care improvement and patient safety.
In an interview with the New York Times, Berwick condemned the ongoing waste in the nation's health care system. Speaking at the Institute for Health Improvement national meeting, he challenged his critics and listed five principles for improvement.
Berwick also has appeared on national TV and radio programs to defend the Affordable Care Act and tout its benefits for consumers.
What do you make of Berwick's recent comments? Is the industry better or worse without his leadership at CMS?
Share your responses in the comment section below. We'd love to hear what Briefing readers think and include the most interesting feedback in our upcoming coverage.
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Rating: | Napoleon Knight | December 19, 2011
I think the people in Washington who let Don go will regret it tremendously one day. Unfettered by the restraints of Washington, he will be free to use his voice to motivate those who can influence what really needs to happen in this country. I can think of no finer man to be leading the way than him.
Rating: | Fred Pane | December 19, 2011
I have known Dr. Berwick since I became involved with IHI at the large teaching hospital I worked at in the mid 1990s. I respect his passion for doing what is right and saying what many of us on healthcare now to be fact. There are many inefficiencies and duplication in healthcare. Many of us starated looking at these problems in the 1990s....why do we do chest x-rays everyday for a patient with CAP? Why aren't we concerned with re-admission rates and the reasons?Why does it take payers to tell us we aren;t doing a good job in managing the care of a patient across the Continuum and we need an ACO patient care model? No matter where Dr. Berwick works, he will make a differenc.
Rating: | Abdul Mansour | December 19, 2011
Another victim of bad political decision!! Dr. Brwick's passion towards reducing waste is not seen by some stupid politicians as important just because they don't share his views. As other systems around the world are streamlining their processes, activities and the way care delivery is provided, we are pushing away people like Dr. Brwick just for reasons that have nothing to do with good ideas and better healthcare delivery. I think Obama should appoint him as a special advisory to the president and CMS and give him the authority to introduce efficiency programs.
Rating: | Bruce Haupt | December 18, 2011
Berwick's drive to achieve the 3 part aim through a more integrated, patient centered, collaborative health system that is compensated more heavily on value than FFS is laudable. His view that PPACA is the only/best way to achieve the change is misguided. The industry is what it is today in large part due to the tax, insurance, Medicare and Medicaid laws and regualtions. There are many other possible fixes besides PPACA that would help to achieve his laudable vision...
Rating: | Richard Vaughn | December 17, 2011
Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A dark knight.
Rating: | David Jasperson | December 16, 2011
He has the vision and passion to make a difference. He knows the issues, the complexities, the over-whelming challenges and is nonetheless undaunted. A real loss.
Rating: | Cynthia Jones | December 16, 2011
I think CMS should revisit their mission statement: "To ensure effective, up-to-date health care coverage and to promote quality care for beneficiaries."I do not see anything in their mission and goals that states the partisan and political insanity that completely blocked the most capable person in the country -if not world- to actually make effective strides to do the hard tasks needed. (Source: https://www.cms.gov/MissionVisionGoals/)Fortunately, Dr. Don Berwick is reforming healthcare everyday- through the seeds planted in not only IHI's Save 100K lives Campaign (2004) but that grew to Save 5M lives (2008). These programs engaged hospitals, staff and providers voluntarily - to do things just a little differently, to be the patient advocate first and intercept avoidable and preventable harm. It is a sad day for Americans and our government -and more sad that they do not even know it. Kudos to the thousands of hospitals that maintain the IHI methodologies to date. CMS failed Don Berwick. It's not the other way around. Fortunately, his own innovations continue to change and improve healthcare daily. Now that's a mission statement.
Rating: | Michael Kelley | December 16, 2011
Significant loss for the system.
Rating: | Santosh Rao | December 16, 2011
Based on various accounts published in the media over the last 20+ months, it's clear that Dr. Berwick is outspoken about the issues he cares most deeply about, like quality of care improvements and changing how the U.S. health care system works for the greater good. His IHI speech and Kaiser Health News interview showed he is not afraid to hold back when asked about his short, tumultuous tenure at CMS.I think his outspoken nature will always be an asset to those of us who believe in the importance of health care reform -- but only as long as he is willing to talk about what he's seen, heard and experienced in D.C. While I do not expect him to say anything malicious about anyone in particular, I hope he'll continue to share what he thought went right, what went wrong and what could have been done without the distractions of the partisan rancor. I'm interested to know where he'll land next, and hopefully he'll continue to accept opportunities to speak out.
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December 05, 2011 Daily Briefing
In an interview with the New York Times, departing CMS administrator Donald Berwick said that 20% to 30% of the nation's health care spending is "waste" that provides no benefit to patients.
November 23, 2011 Daily Briefing
The Obama administration is expected to nominate Marilyn Tavenner to succeed Donald Berwick as CMS administrator, after Senate Republicans vowed to block his confirmation.
