I precipitated a recent online discussion about healthcare’s obsession with measurement (quality metrics is the current buzz phrase) when I quoted two aphorisms that highlight some problems with metrics and targets:

Goodhart's Law: "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure,"

Campbell's Law: "The more a metric is used, the more likely it is to "corrupt the process it is intended to monitor."

One comment rubbed me the wrong way because it implied that measurement reduces harm:

I apologize but sometimes one has to test things.

I’ve always loved satire. The official definition is “…the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.” I like to think of it as weaponized humor. Despite being a target-rich environment, medical writing has far less than its rightful share of good satire. When good medical satire comes around, I enjoy it.

NOW

NOW is my answer to the question: “What are you doing these days?” I hope it helps me stay focused on doing more and dreaming less.  My goal is a NOW post at least once a month.

It's been a busy and distracting 10 months. My lack of posts here reflects that. The dust has (mostly) settled and I plan to resume posting here, at least twice a month. I hope you will follow along.

Hard to believe!  I find it easier to dress for comfort and activity in cold than comfort with an active lifestyle in heat.

We are all in the same lifeboat. We should act that way.

In college you learn to be a college student. In medical school, you learn to be a medical student. In residency, you learn to be a resident. 

In practice, if you let them, patients will teach you to be a doctor.

No two Maine winter storms are identical. They each have their unique personality: gradual or abrupt onset, temperature, kind of snow, duration, wind, with or without ‘frozen mix’ or other forms of precipitation. Here is the story of one storm from earlier this winter.

If you are not already acquainted with B. Kliban and his cats, perhaps this will convince you should be.

Or this...

Or this: