SunMicroSystems could lead health care reform by wiring the nursing stations with fiber optics and an array of wirless technologies. A large health care provider would be needed to participate and bedsores would be the first quality outcome to be scrutinized. The ultimate goal would be to get the funds available routed to the places where the superior outcomes were obtained. Intense scrutiny would be given those locations in the provider system where outcomes were deficient. Relevant data would surge at the speed of light to all  entities, from nurses and aides to virtual charts residing at various junctures in the system. Those with a need to know could have access and data crunchers would be able to analyize what supported the successes and what led to the failures.

    Ultimately a Skin Integrity Quotient SIQ would be developed. This could also be called  Systems Integrated Quality. It would be some numerical value the was comprised of real results. An SIQ of 1 would represent a reasonably credible qualtity outcome obtained. An SIQ of 3.3 would represent poor quality delivered and an SIQ of .65 would denote superior quality delivered. Bedsores, nosocomial infection rates and other pesky aberrations could be used to develop the SIQ value. Marketers would tout the facilities delivering SIQ designations of <1. The public would have better choices. They would understand that low SIQ scores meant something meaningful, more than say the quality of the artwork in the facilities open areas or administrators office.

    The health care insiders will not accept this. They are always resiting reform because they claim uniqueness in every instance. For them their case is always the exception that explains away the problem. For them there are no credible authorities. Each location, indeed each situation is special enough to be granted immunity from scrutiny into quality of care matters. Outcomes cannot be fixed on, only conformance to process is acceptable. 

    Yet, the bedsore is absolutely preventable and for a fraction of the cost currently dedicated to treating them. They are not the inevitable consequence of living longer than we did. They result from capillary occlusion-period.

    What are the odds someone from SunMicro Systems is reading this? What are the odds anyone is? About the same I fear. It is nonetheless a great service TownHall.com provides. My rants are theraputic. I have something of value to say. It only really matters that I persist for the rest of my days. Ed Lord compells me. Ed, like Christopher Reeve, died of his bedsores. To move on, to forget about what I know is unacceptable. Though I can do very little, this blog only, it is something and I will persist.