20 Years of "Improvement" Has Made Healthcare Worse--Let's Try Something New

Excerpt 5 – From “The New Agreements in Healthcare”

Over the Labor Day weekend, I reread my second book I published in 2006, "The New Agreements in Healthcare--healing a healthcare system on life support" This book points out the systematic nature the then big problems in healthcare. It also offers a case study of a loving, systemic approach (the New Agreements Work) to turn around a troubled hospital and grow/heal staff in the process.

It's been almost 20 years since we first began implementing this work--which has become more elegant--morphing to be called #3DHealthcare or #LovingWorkflow--in healthcare. In reading what I wrote, which now seem prophetic, we see healthcare making the same mistakes it was 20 years ago, resulting in a steady decline to today when it's broken beyond repair and, to survive, must be transformed, especially in care delivery.

I'm going to create a series of posts/articles with excerpts from this book I believe will be valuable for kindred spirit champions for change in healthcare to see it can be done--at least locally--through "systemic love". See how staff we trained not only turned the hospital around but healed themselves in the process.

I share this outline of the chapters in the book as a look back 20 years that mirrors healthcare today. If I were to write this book today, not much would change except the sense of urgency to focus every strategic imperative on staff-led systems improvement in care delivery.

In Healthcare, the More Things "Improve", the Worse Things Get

From the Introduction of "The New Agreements in Healthcare" -- 20 Years Ago:

In Chapter One (“American Healthcare: A System on Life Support”) we will look at the current critical condition of healthcare in America. One universal systems principle is that we generally should not attempt to solve a problem until the problem is understood. Good or not-so-good, it is best to start as close to the truth as possible, even if that truth is uncomfortable.

Chapter Two shows how dysfunction in the American healthcare system is draining the life energy out the people who most need a working healthcare system—patients and caregivers.

Chapter Three introduces my friend and former teacher, don Miguel Ruiz and his wonderful "The Four Agreements". The Four Agreements are a foundational building block for creating a new way of operating and being in healthcare. As don Miguel says so well, practicing the Four Agreements is “a way to gain your personal freedom.”

Chapter Four presents New Agreements Healthcare. The New Agreements are a now-proven roadmap for transforming healthcare in America. The New Agreements, in conjunction with the Four Agreements, offer a holistic, workable model for personal, professional, and organizational change in healthcare.

Chapter Five introduces patient-centered healing environments as a philosophy and working model that addresses the whole human being: body, mind, and spirit. In addition, we are treated to an understanding of how the power of healing environments enhances patient recoveries and caregiver satisfaction.

Chapter Six (“New Agreements Healthcare in Action”) moves us from good ideas and intentions to action. This chapter describes the measurable results of real-world implementation of New Agreements Healthcare at Gila Regional Medical Center and presents the financial benefit to the bottom line.

The New Agreements Healthcare Teacher Training is the focus for Chapter Seven. Without strong internal support systems (including champions and teachers proficient at teaching and modeling New Agreements Healthcare attitudes and skills), its sustainability in a healthcare organization would be thrown into question. See how the Teacher Training creates internal leaders and champions (as well as outside consultants and teachers) while dramatically transforming the lives of participants, both professionally and personally.

(Note: The Teacher Training has morphed into the 3D Healthcare Facilitator Certification Program)

As in any great adventure, much learning comes our way. In Chapter Eight, we examine the lessons learned at Gila Regional Medical Center when we implemented New Agreements Healthcare in an American healthcare organization. Some lessons we learned were predictable, although there were some real surprises, too.

Finally, Chapter Nine outlines future possibilities for healthcare based on wellness. We see how caregivers must lead and be the change they wish to see in healthcare and the world.

#ALovingOrganization #LovingSystemsThinking #SystemsBasedLeadership #SystemsBasedManagement