Thoughts on Hospital Management by Deming

Dr. W. Edwards Deming, 1951

The latest newsletter from the W. Edwards Deming Institute [new link since the old link was broken] includes the photo of Dr. Deming from 1951 and: Some notes on management in a hospital by W. Edwards Deming, Ph.D.:

Fifteen hours elapse between dinner and breakfast. I was hungry in the middle of the night, first night. Fortunately had candy bars on hand. I have learned how to acquire and store up food like a squirrel if I get hungry during the night.

Dr. Deming had a sense of humor (the smile in the picture is quite different from the photos I normally see).

A physician cannot change the system. A head nurse cannot change the system. Meanwhile, who would know? To work harder will not solve the problem. The nurses couldn’t work any harder.

I will attend the W. Edwards Deming Institute Fall Conference in Washington DC, October 14th and 15th – send me a note if you plan on attending.

Related: PBS Documentary: How Hospitals Heal ThemselvesDestroyed by Best Effortsblog posts on Deming’s management ideas

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