Published by: Larry Gage on 4/2/2010 6:40:57 PM
The White House has clearly signaled that Dr. Donald Berwick, President and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement is about to be nominated as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services(CMS). (Some of us may prefer to call him "Sir Donald"—as his bio indicates, among his many other achievements, Dr. Berwick has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth.) The honor is richly deserved. Through IHI's successful 100,000 Lives Campaign, and the current follow-up—Five Million Lives Campaign—Don Berwick is quite possibly responsible for improving hospital patient safety faster, and saving more lives, than any physician in history. Don Berwick is an excellent choice to take on the challenges of implementing health reform. However, his initial challenge (once he is nominated) is to win approval of the Senate Finance Committeeand the full Senate. Given the hard feelings and rank partisanship that prevails in Washington following the health reform debate, his confirmation is no foregone conclusion. We at NAPH will embrace and support Dr. Berwick's appointment, and anyone who truly cares about the future of the American healthcare system—regardless of political affiliation—should do likewise.