Global Surgery: Myths and Realities

Monday, June 10, 2013

Whether it’s grabbed off the bar in Montana, Washington D.C., or Moscow, every Starbucks Frappuccino tastes just as sweet as the next. When you enter past that ubiquitous green Siren, you could be anywhere in the world. This is the key to Starbucks’ success: consistent, reliable quality. They ensure every employee has the training and supplies required to triumph during the morning rush. In a recent piece for The New Yorker, writer and surgeon Atul Gawande suggested that important lessons for the U.S. healthcare system lie within the success of large restaurant chains. The food and beverage industry offers numerous examples of across-the-board standardization to ensure quality and affordability. There’s no reason such lessons should not be applied to global health as well.

That morning Starbucks jolt might feel vital, but what the world really needs is consistent, quality surgical services in developing countries.

Source: Huffington Post (link opens in a new window)

Categories
Health Care
Tags
public health