Critically Ill: A 5-Point Plan to Cure Healthcare Delivery

Critically Ill begins with the story of Mary, a critically ill patient who suffers multiple errors and oversights with frightening consequences. The subsequent chapters dissect the causes of and solutions for improving her poor care. Each caregiver who reads Critically Ill will acquire 5 new skill sets: he or she will be able to understand and apply the principles of effective manufacturing companies and championship athletic teams; understand the nature of human error and random variation, and be able to apply proven methods to correct and prevent medical mistakes; be able to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams; become an effective manager and adaptive leader capable of leading true change; and finally attain the skills to organize others to affect needed cultural changes within our healthcare delivery systems. In the final chapter 5-point personal plans are described for bedside and clinic nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse administrators, and nursing students. Critically Ill will empower you as an individual caregiver to truly make a difference.

 

Dr. Southwick earned a B.S. in Educational Psychology from Yale University where he played varsity football, lacrosse and was also captain of the wrestling team. During his senior year, Yale Football was nationally ranked and won the IVY League Championship. Southwick received his MD from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he was an International Fellow and an Edward J. Noble Foundation Scholarship recipient. He trained in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the Boston City Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. Southwick has taught as an Assistant Professor at Harvard University, followed by Associate Professorship with tenure at the University of Pennsylvania. A pioneer in the field of infectious diseases, Dr. Southwick served over 19 years as the Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and as Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine. An NIH funded investigator for more than 30 years, he has conducted groundbreaking research in the discovery of proteins to regulate white blood cells' ability to move and fight infection in the body. He also served on the Board of Scientific Directors of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Warren Magnuson Clinical Center.

As a consequence of a family member’s near death while hospitalized, Dr. Southwick began to adopt a system to improve frontline care and the prevention of hospital errors.  After attending Harvard Business School as an Advanced Leadership Fellow, he became Project Manager for Quality and Safety Pilot Programs for the University of Florida & Shands Healthcare system.