RamaOnHealthcare December 16, 2023
Barbara Duffy, DHSc, MPH, RN, CPHQ
The 35th annual Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) conference was held at the Orlando World Center Marriott, Florida, December 10-13, 2023. Hundreds of presenters provided three thousand attendees from 52 countries with more than 180 learning sessions.
Methods for improving healthcare were provided and included the latest information regarding decarbonizing processes and products, AI, ChatGPT, equity, safety, the well-being of the workforce, and much more. The event’s depth, diversity, and importance were inspiring and insightful, prompting the desire to learn and do more.
Speakers and Presenters were numerous and diverse, and each provided insights and experience pertaining to the mission of improving healthcare for all.
Volume versus value, mission versus margin, and profit versus purpose.
Dr. Kedar Mate, President, and Chief Executive Officer at the Institute for Healthcare mentioned the importance of reclaiming the “WHY” for those working in healthcare today.
He provided an inspiring story of the impact of living your purpose, supporting, and helping others. Reflecting on the purpose of your work is a significant driver in reclaiming your purpose in life. He also challenged the concepts of volume versus value, mission versus margin, and profit versus purpose.
He is also involved in the “Turn On the Lights” podcast with Dr. Donald Berwick. “Turn On the Lights” invites the public and healthcare professionals to discuss practical insights, stimulating stories, change, and more regarding health and healthcare needing improvement.
https://staff.ihi.org/resources/Pages/AudioandVideo/turn-on-the-lights-podcast.aspx.
Peter Lee, Ph.D., Corporate Vice President of Research and Incubations at Microsoft, provided a remarkable demonstration and interactivity via his cell phone with a very conversational, generative ChatGPT. He spoke of anxiety versus excitement with artificial intelligence as he provided an interactive example of AI interfacing with healthcare.
While on stage, Dr. Lee provided verbal interactivity with ChatGPT. It responded with recommendations, a potential diagnosis, and conversant responses regarding a hypothetical patient assessment.
While ChatGPT may not respond to all questions correctly, it can bring in ideas from multiple fields, but data may be challenging to confirm. Dr. Lee stated, “…it is not a computer but a reasoning machine. It remains up to the physicians to make final decisions!”
Regarding Generative ChatGPT… it is NOT a computer but a reasoning machine.
Donald M. Berwick, M.D. President Emeritus and Senior Fellow Institute for Healthcare Improvement mentions the healthcare system has lost its way.
Why is it so difficult to do the work we love?
He mentioned greed threatens healthcare and markets do not solve social problems within child and infant care, education, elderly care, community needs, and food security.
He stated we need to reconnect to our purpose to increase the joy of our work. Healthcare is a calling. And transcending the hardships we encounter provides us with the most joy.
Dr. Donald Berwick
We must provide daily kindness to others with hands that give and do not take. We need to provide the willingness to help the needs of others.
He also states the most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you figure out your why or purpose.
A Passion for the Mission
The conference was beyond insightful, impactful, and informative. It provided the means to unite and magnify the determination and optimism among those committed to improving healthcare for all.
Dozens of posters proudly displayed the accomplishments of their healthcare improvement across many institutions, situations, and locations.
Other Special Guests
Allyson Felix – The most decorated American Track & Field Olympian of all time, has become a champion for women, athletes, and maternal health equity. She has become a voice to help improve maternal health and wellness for all women. She has a unique perspective as a preeclampsia survivor, successful entrepreneur, and advocate for maternal health.
Erin Brockovich – The impetus for the 2000 movie of the same name shared how a determined individual can make widespread and lasting change. She mentioned the power of Moms in reporting potential environmental hazards within their community and never underestimate the potential of a motivated individual. Health for all requires all of us.
BLUE SHIRTS. The conference’s success would not be the same without the accessible, smiling, friendly, ready with answers, and looking for those lost among the masses. The young adults wearing IHI blue shirts were true to the mission to help!
And so much more… A couch chat among a dozen attendees and Dr. Salvon-Harman, Vice President, Safety, Institute for Healthcare Improvement discussed the importance of using plain language with patients. The networking among international attendees sitting outside on a green lawn beneath ample Florida sunshine and palm trees. Each is on a quest to ensure every person receives safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered care everywhere – and further the humanity of humanity for all.
About Barbara Duffy
A healthcare consultant, university professor, author, and committee member with over three decades of experience improving the design and delivery of safe, quality health care and more. Experience includes aligning evidence-based practices with administrative processes and implementation of systemic solutions to positively influence patient care and healthcare delivery. As a Doctorate educated Licensed RN, Risk Manager, and Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality other expertise includes accreditation, regulatory compliance, performance improvement, and online higher education instruction.