Redmond O'Leary Review
Redmond O'Leary, Healthcare Transformer
I was given a book this week and my initial reaction was, "Ah... another business book."
With tens of thousands of business books published every year, it's easy to become a little sceptical. But this one has surprised me.
I've met John Glennane on a number of occasions over the years through The Analytics Institute , and I was given a copy of his book, IMPROVE a Good Idea, by The Story Doctor, James McCabe.
When I reached Chapter 12 – "The Biggest Challenge", I was more than intrigued.
For anyone working in UK or Irish healthcare, the chapter provides a thoughtful summary of how we arrived where we are today on both islands. From the founding of the NHS, through Tony Blair's 2002 National Programme for IT, healthcare issues in Ireland, to the ongoing saga of Ireland's National Children's Hospital, John explores the decisions, complexity and unintended consequences that continue to shape healthcare. He also looks ahead including the A.I. impact.
I particularly enjoyed the sections on fake news and argumentum ad hominem. John doesn't shy away from the difficult topics either: nursing, outsourcing, management consulting, siloed applications and organisational complexity. One observation that really resonated with me was the idea that we've "outsourced the inertia."
Importantly, this isn't just a critique. John offers practical suggestions for redesigning and improving healthcare systems.
Reading it reinforced why I enjoy working with my partners and colleagues InterSystems UKI . Together we're helping connect healthcare systems, support innovative HealthTechs and improve outcomes, one bite of the apple at a time
The closing paragraph says it better than I can:
"We already have remarkable point solutions right across the healthcare arena. We are missing the central circuit, not merely to integrate those point solutions, but to provide the central nervous system without which the body is just a jumble of organs."
A worthwhile read for anyone interested in healthcare transformation.