An excerpt from On All Sides of the Bed: One physician’s/CEO’s journey.
In the early summer of 2013, our hospital collided with a Black Swan.
Before Europeans discovered Australia, they were familiar only with white swans. The discovery of black swans overturned a long-held assumption. In business and risk theory, a “Black Swan” refers to a rare, unpredictable event with massive consequences, a concept popularized by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. For us, …
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Commercial airline pilots are required to retire at 65 under Federal Aviation Administration regulations. It’s not ageism; it’s safety. Yet physicians, whose decisions can be just as life-or-death, face no such requirement. As a former internist, chief medical officer, and hospital CEO, I have seen what happens when physicians practice past their prime. The results can be dangerous, heartbreaking, and entirely preventable.
When “going out on top” doesn’t happen
During my tenure …
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Let us get this straight: Enjoying life is amazing. You should do more of it. Every day, if you can. But if you are truly committed to living well, you also need to get comfortable with something most people avoid like mystery meat at a buffet: preparing for your death.
Not obsessing over it. Not fearing it. Just preparing, so your loved ones are not left trying to solve your digital, …
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