I really don't want to pick on The Joint Commission, as they do so much good. But what's the story with this animated video called "Speak up™," about spreading germs? Is the JC now in the public health business? What's the audience? Is this really a compelling way to send the message? Who's idea was this?
They are spending money on this, but still not making widely available their library of best practices from the hospitals they have been paid to survey?
I wanted to embed the video here so you could see it. It is available from the JC, but first you need to tell them "how you plan to use the Speak Up™ video(s)." I didn't try. I didn't think they would like how I would use it. But here again, we see an indication of an unexplained need to control the distribution of information. They could just have put it on YouTube and let it go viral.
Finally, what's with the trademark? Do they expect to sell this feature some day?
This cartoon is somewhat insulting in its presentation, which seems more geared to a 3rd grader. (yes, I know they intended it for all ages, but who would put that in their work place?)
ReplyDeleteBut the larger point is that the Joint Commission, for all intents and purposes, is behaving like just another paid consultant to the health care industry. Sure, it's under the guise of providing helpful information, but this information is only available to 'members' or, as you illustrate here, as a superficial caricature of a public service. How much more publicly useful would be free access for all to their reams of important data!
Paul, your posts of the last several days (the 'same old song', JAMA's exclusivity, and e-patient Dave's talk) strike one coherent theme - that the age of the exclusive, mysterious, life-saving guild of medicine is emphatically over.
The slogans of the patient advocate movement - 'let patients help', and 'nothing about us without us' - should serve as a wake up call, and who better to lead the reform than the primary health care accrediting agency?
nonlocal MD
It is as if medicine just discovered public health. There is a new explosion of claims of success in behavioral intervention ("proven methods" "using the best in cognitive science") by the private sector that do not hold up to science. So secret, they are proprietary. Public health, human development, and other free sources have been at this a long time. And we know a lot less about behavior change than how to get people (or organizations!) to buy a product. Community pathogen reduction has a huge body of work to mine without trademarks. It is sad that the JC is playing this game. Sadder still that this looks like a PBS children's service announcement.
ReplyDeleteHow about a video to be shown in every patient room asking them to ask their doctor if they washed their hands? (Have the JC published these data?) How about a video that compares the risks of serious infection in a hospital versus grandma's kitchen?
On a related note, they have repeatedly asked for feedback on their new website, but you have to register with the website before you can do so. Very archaic thinking in the world of web 2.0!
ReplyDeleteOh, it's nice to be watching a public service ad cartoon from the 1960s, except with more racial diversity. If only they had done it well.
ReplyDeleteBut on the copyright ... anything aired in public should have a copyright on it. You could have one somewhere on your page. Otherwise, who owns the content? Should any of your employers claim that you spent time at work writing it, can you prove that you never did?
ReplyDeleteBy the way, you just have to put the mark and your name. If the issue ever comes up you can file the actual paperwork. Seriously. Publishing assumes ownership if you put the copyright on it.
It is on Youtube.
ReplyDeleteAnon 11:08,
ReplyDeleteIt is a trademark, not a copyright. That has a different purpose.
The whole idea of asking or imploring patients and families to "speak up" is a ridiculous admission that the hospital doesn't know how to manage quality.
ReplyDeleteLet me ask you this - when you buy or rent a car, do they ask you, the customer, to ask to ensure that the lugnuts on the wheels have been tightened properly, so the wheels don't fly off when you drive away? Of course not, that's their responsibility.
Does a restaurant ask you to "speak up" to check that the chicken isn't undercooked?? Ridiculous.
Speaking of bad web 2.0 practices, I'll guarantee you that they don't approve my comment on the YouTube video, as they are moderating what gets posted there. Shameful.
ReplyDelete