The evolution of the hospital : a surgeon speaks out

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Laurent SEDEL

Surgeon, Lariboisière Hospital, Paris, Laboratory director in orthopedic research, CNRS


Dominique TONNEAU

Professor, École des mines, Paris, Project leader, MeaH (Mission expertise et audits Hospitaliers) pilot programmes for surgical

Seminar Business life | Friday May 16, 2008 - 9h30 - 12h

At the end of 2007, Laurent Sedel published a letter in the newspaper 'Le Monde' entitled A surgeon's concern to alert people to the changes appearing in hospitals. A surgical operation is similar to a play : actors, each of whom have different roles, have to interact in a very precise manner. The failure of a single actor to perform correctly may seriously jeopardise the situation. And yet, various actors are managed in an increasingly business-like way which makes teamwork difficult. Reduction in the number of working hours, absenteeism, and varying timetables depending on the medical specialisation, all add to the problems of coordination. Some reforms fail because of the lack of knowledge about the day-to-day workings of a hospital. Furthermore, fear of being brought to court for medical incompetence increasingly becomes more important than fear of failure. Consequently, there is a decrease in the number of surgeons, and an increasing number of foreign surgeons with insecure job status. Nonetheless, Laurent Sedel remains convinced that not a great deal of extra effort is needed to make hospital medicine more dynamic and efficient, which would be a real asset.

The entire article was written by:

Élisabeth BOURGUINAT

This session was published in issue n°75 of the Journal de l'École de Paris du management, entitled Entreprises en quête d'identité.

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