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As Americans everywhere gather around their BBQ grills and gaze up at fireworks, Fixing Healthcare hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl revisit an important episode from the show’s current season, featuring the brilliant author and observer Malcolm Gladwell.
July 4th is a celebration of independence, but it also is a day to recognize the vital role leadership plays. Without courageous and skilled leaders, the Declaration of Independence and the founding of our nation would not have been possible. Medicine would benefit from visionary leaders, as well—the kind capable of translating healthcare opportunities into practice.
In this episode, which aired during a season dedicated to improving healthcare leadership in the United States, Gladwell got to talking about his own experiences navigating the nation’s trouble health system.
As a relatively new father and the son of a woman in her 90s, Gladwell said, “Observing people at those ends of life, you realize that what you really want from the healthcare system is reassurance as much as anything … You want someone you can call on the phone or email, and who will respond really quickly and tell you it’s going to be okay.”
The original episode (#90 if you’re looking for it) is being played in full this week as part of a Fixing Healthcare flashback.
The purpose? To quote Dr. Pearl: “My hope in replaying these ideas is to help listeners once again realize how much could be done to transform American healthcare and improve people’s lives. And simultaneously, help them recognize how far we are from delivering the excellence in healthcare Americans want, need and deserve.”
Helpful links:
- Revisionist History (A Malcolm Gladwell podcast)
- Malcolm Gladwell on breaking the rules of healthcare (FHC #43)
- Outliers (book)
- David and Goliath (book)
- The ordinary greatness of Roger Bannister (The New Yorker)
- Was Jack Welch the greatest CEO of his day—or the worst? (The New Yorker)
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Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.
Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.