Escape Fire: Designs for the Future of Health Care (Hardcover)

by Donald M. MD; MPP Berwick (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"In this vibrant book, Don Berwick speaks about one of the most vexing issues of our time with compelling competence, penetrating clarity, relentless honesty, and heart-warming humor. In an era when so many public voices lack these qualities, Berwick gives us reason to hope that our most difficult social problems have solutions that are within reach. We are the solution, of course— if we are willing to emulate the intellectual and moral courage modeled by leaders like Don Berwick."
— Parker J. Palmer, author, The Courage to Teach and Let Your Life Speak

"[Berwick's] target is a health care system that has evolved primarily to serve the needs and interests of those who work in the system— doctors, nurses, administrators, payors, insurers— rather than the needs and interests of patients."
— from the Introduction by Frank Davidoff

--Frank Davidoff

Review
"In this vibrant book, Don Berwick speaks about one of the most vexing issues of our time with compelling competence, penetrating clarity, relentless honesty, and heart-warming humor. In an era when so many public voices lack these qualities, Berwick gives us reason to hope that our most difficult social problems have solutions that are within reach. We are the solution, of course— if we are willing to emulate the intellectual and moral courage modeled by leaders like Don Berwick."
— Parker J. Palmer, author, The Courage to Teach and Let Your Life Speak

"[Berwick's] target is a health care system that has evolved primarily to serve the needs and interests of those who work in the system— doctors, nurses, administrators, payors, insurers— rather than the needs and interests of patients."
— from the Introduction by Frank Davidoff

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 315 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787972177
• ISBN-13: 978-0787972172
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #332,482 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, September 5, 2004

By	Kip Piper "Medicare & Medicaid Consultant" (www.KipPiper.com) - See all my reviews

Escape Fire is collection of compelling speeches by one of America's leading crusaders for health care quality and patient safety - Don Berwick, MD, founder and president of the Boston-based Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI.org).

Each year, IHI hosts the National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care. The influential annual event draws 4,000 health care leaders from around the world in person and 6,000 via satellite. In many ways, Dr. Berwick's keynote lectures set the tone for quality improvement efforts across the US. With an effective blend of common sense, real-life stories, persuasive metaphors, and out-of-the-box thinking, Dr. Berwick's presentations make for fascinating reading for anyone interested in improving America's $1.7 trillion health care system.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable, inspiring, and wonderful but occassionally painful to read., January 18, 2006

By	J. Harries - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A wonderful book told with humility, intelligence, warmth, anger and knowledge.
It presents the text of Don Berwick's annual talks at IHI's (Institute for Healthcare Improvement) National Healthcare Forum.
This is a highly reccommended read if you work in healthcare. I don't know what others will think about this book.