1.
It boggles my mind that the same people who cry βfoulβ about rationing an instant later argue to reduce health care benefits for the needy, to defund crucial programs of care and prevention, and to shift thousands of dollars of annual costs to people β elders, the poor, the disabled β who are least able to bear them.
Donald Berwick
2.
We must accept human error as inevitable - and design around that fact.
Donald Berwick
3.
I think health care is more about love than about most other things. If there isn't at the core of this two human beings who have agreed to be in a relationship where one is trying to help relieve the suffering of another, which is love, you can't get to the right answer here.
Donald Berwick
4.
Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets.
Donald Berwick
5.
Some is not a number. Soon is not a time.
Donald Berwick
6.
We are guests in our patients' lives.
Donald Berwick
7.
The Holy Grail of universal coverage in the United States may remain out of reach unless, through rational collective action overriding some individual self-interest, we can reduce per capita costs.
Donald Berwick
8.
It is, I guess, politically correct, widely believed, that to say that American health care is the best in the world. It's not.
Donald Berwick
9.
Competition makes things come out right. Well, what does that mean in health care? More hospitals so they compete with each other. More doctors compete with each other. More pharmaceutical companies. We set up war. Wait a minute, let's talk about the patient. The patient doesn't need a war.
Donald Berwick
10.
Right now, we are doing it blindly.
Donald Berwick
11.
Traditional medical ethics, based on the doctor-patient relationship must be changed... The primary function of health care regulations should be to limit an individuals own decision-making!
Donald Berwick
12.
Any health care funding plan that is just, equitable, civilized and humane must - must - redistribute wealth from the richer among us to the poorer and the less fortunate. Excellent healthcare is by definition re-distributional.
Donald Berwick
13.
I am romantic about the NHS. I love it.
Donald Berwick
14.
In an interview, last year in the journal Biotechnology Healthcare, Dr. Berwick said, βThe decision is not whether or not we will ration care β the decision is whether we will ration with our eyes open.
Donald Berwick
15.
As a doctor, an educator, an innovator and someone who has dedicated his professional career to making things work better and to helping people β I am ready to lead.
Donald Berwick