Cause of Death: Sloppy Doctors

 Time has published an article which links death to poor handwriting.  According to one report 7,000 people are killed annual as the result of prescription mistakes that  can be tied directly to the physician’s poor handwriting.

The article goes on to make the point that many of these errors can be prevented or eliminated through the use of technology.  Obviously if this problem can be solved why hasn’t that happened?  Moreover, where is the outrage? 

As I recall the death of the 3000 men and women in Iraq was at the top of nearly every newscast and political speech in the days leading up to the November election.  Those deaths occurred over a nearly four year period.  Here Time has identified a problem that is killing twice as many people each and every year yet I don’t think I have ever heard anything about it on CNN?  Maybe handwriting is not a sexy enough topic to deserve even a 180 degree look from Anderson let alone a whole 360?!?

I wonder when people will begin to be outraged by this problem?  Especially given that the fix seems so simple to effectuate. Hmmm.

Link to Cause of Death: Sloppy Doctors — Monday, Jan. 15, 2007 — Page 1 — TIME

Rich Karlgaard of Forbes on the Costs of Doing Business in Detroit

Rich Karlgaard makes some good points in his blog today regarding the roles of the union with respect to the cost of doing business in Detroit.  His example clearly points out that the Japanese automakers save thousands of dollars per car over their Detroit counterparts.   

I don’t know how much simpler it can get.  Simply put you’ve got to have some great designs the make up for the difference in cost!

Link to Digital Rules By Rich Karlgaard

What a week !!

Wow what a week it has been.  Between all of the work and personal things as the TTC (Time till Christmas) keeps ticking away, I have been going non-stop.  Thanks to those that have stopped by to read what I have been thinking.  Surprisingly there have been more than 1 or 2!

Oh well, more later.

Olympic Bomber being driven Insane

CNN has a report that the Olympic bomber has written letters of concern to various media outlets regarding his prison conditions.  He believes that his time in the Supermax prison in Colorado is driving him insane.

Gosh isn’t that a shame.  Does he really expect to generate sympathy from people?  Of course I suppose there will be an element that considers his treatment inhumane.  I consider setting off a bomb with the intent of harming or killing people to be inhumane.  He has gotten what he deserves!

New York Times Reader

For those of you who enjoy reading the NY Times, head over to the web site and download the reader.  It is a standalone program that keeps a copy of the NY Times right on your computer.  I have found it to be very user friendly and is always available even when I do not have a wireless connection.

Burnout

Following on my recent post about connection fatigue, I read a post by Jory Des Jardins regarding worker burnout.  Interesting stuff. 

I am sure that most people have worked in an environment where it takes everything they have to get out of bed and go to work in the morning.  Being in a position now where I have some control over the work environment I appreciate the fact that it is often the interaction of the people and the pressures put on those people rather than the work itself that causes burnout.  I just hope I can continue to remember that as the organization grows.

Now I just wish I could go back and help some of my previous employers understand that.  HA