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International Health Care Expert To Speak at Free Enterprise Dinner
Internationally known health care improvement expert, Dr. Donald M. Berwick, was a featured speaker at this year's Rotary Free Enterprise Award Dinner honoring George Kerwin, president and chief executive officer of Bellin Health.
Berwick, president and chief executive officer of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a not-for-profit organization leading the improvement of health care throughout the world, told Rotarians and guests about his vision that health care needs to be viewed completely differently than it has been. One example, he said, is that the success of a major medical facility should be measured by how many empty beds it has rather than how many beds it has filled. He acknowledged that the current system fights against that goal.
"It's exciting to have a health care professional of Dr. Berwick's stature speak at the Free Enterprise Award dinner," said event chair, and past Rotary Club president, Diane Dappern. "He has been leading the charge to improve quality in health care. Our award recipient, George Kerwin, has known and worked with Dr. Berwick for many years, so it was a natural fit to have Dr. Berwick at our event."
Berwick is clinical professor of pediatrics and health care policy in the Department of Pediatrics at the Harvard Medical School and professor of health policy and management at the Harvard School of Public Health, among other faculty positions. He has also published over 130 scientific articles, was appointed by President Clinton to serve on the Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Healthcare Industry in 1997 and 1998, and has received numerous awards for his work in health care improvement, quality and patient safety.
