We are what we think all day long. At least that's what Ralph Waldo Emerson said. If that is true, then you should really stop and ask yourself, "What am I thinking about right now?" And if you take a moment to really do that, then the title of this book will make sense to you. So often, we simply react to what is going on around us, and while we do "think" when we react, we often do not "critically think," because if we did, we would respond and not react. When I was in the Navy, I was taught to "work the problem," which meant to stop, look around, use whatever tools were available and figure out a solution. In fact, that's pretty much what I do today; I am a problem solver. I find solutions to problems that are oftentimes complex and illusive, and I often do it by just standing there -- taking a breath, looking at the information that is available to me and then making the best decision possible. Does it always work out the way I would like? Nope. But the outcome is positive a whole lot more often than it is negative, and that's because I have reduced the uncertainty around the problem.
The purpose of this book is to show you how to reduce the uncertainty around the decisions you make, thereby increasing the likelihood of a positive outcome. The way to do this is to understand the process of critical thinking and evidence-based practice. Being an evidence-based thinker means being able to wade through the masses of information and data and bring to the table something that we can use to make better decisions. And evidence-based decisions will more often than not result in positive management outcomes. So, welcome to my world.
And remember, don't do something, just stand there.
Frank Cohen is the Director of Analytics and Business Intelligence for Doctors Management. Mr. Cohen is a computational mathematician with a focus on applied statistics, data mining, predictive analytics, and machine learning. The author of several books, including, "Lean Six Sigma for the Medical Practice" and "RVUs: Practical Applications for Medical Practices," Mr. Cohen has participated in and published numerous articles and studies and trained thousands of physicians, administrators, CPAs, and other healthcare professionals in all areas of healthcare analytics. His experience includes eight years as a Physician Assistant in both the Navy and as a civilian, clinic administrator and hospital CEO. His clients include hospitals, large and small medical practices, medical and professional associations, legal and accounting professionals, government agencies, and other healthcare professionals.
