tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post305052618997268404..comments2024-03-18T06:27:51.599-04:00Comments on Not Running a Hospital: I was wrong. I am sorry.Paul Levyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17065446378970179507noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-65871580656888245132011-03-27T17:37:26.834-04:002011-03-27T17:37:26.834-04:00The Levy BDIMC case is part of our university busi...The Levy BDIMC case is part of our university business curriculum. As one who preaches the need for "champions" and "Change agents," in business, I'm always happy to see how students finally "get it" after studyin this case model. Paul Levy is an Organizational Development Specialists hero.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-9527793165306048452010-05-09T19:34:10.673-04:002010-05-09T19:34:10.673-04:00I recently had the opportunity to come work at BID...I recently had the opportunity to come work at BIDMC, and could not be happier that I looked elsewhere. <br />It is absolutely ridiculous that people are commending you for apologizing. Your actions as CEO are meant to provide an example to the rest of the organization. This blog claims to be "transparent," but clearly we are seeing a hand picked sample of stories of the life of BIDMC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-58697735585810800422010-05-09T16:07:54.700-04:002010-05-09T16:07:54.700-04:00Amen to Farmer Bob.Amen to Farmer Bob.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-16671516890360462942010-05-08T23:14:55.210-04:002010-05-08T23:14:55.210-04:00Apology accepted. Like in the old joke, you acqui...Apology accepted. Like in the old joke, you acquire good judgment through experience, and experience is gained through the exercise of bad judgment.<br /><br />Welcome to the New Age of Intolerance where what was once handled casually is now handled litigiously, and private matters are bandied about in public discourse without a care for the dignity of either party, only appealing to the prurient interest of the public. By 1st amendment standards, the infotainment provided by the "news" media should be declared pornographic.<br /><br />A leben ahf dir!REKordinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01327478005437933365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-9368974298173275372010-05-07T10:16:50.763-04:002010-05-07T10:16:50.763-04:00As Ben Franklin once said, "It takes many goo...As Ben Franklin once said, "It takes many good deeds to build a reputation, and only bad one to lose it."<br /><br />The essense of tragedy, in classical terms, is embodied in the concept and the reality of the tragic flaw in the hero. Sadly, it appears in this instance, we are faced, not with a single lapse of judgement, but, more likely, a series of lapses of judgement that have tarnished your reputation. <br />You have done the Dostoevskian going to the crossroads, declaring your sin and repenting it. What remains is the efficacy of the tincture of time to heal wounds. <br /><br />May God bless you and your hospital.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18086503178328636674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-28199679904424886772010-05-06T09:34:28.503-04:002010-05-06T09:34:28.503-04:00I am a CEO. Your conduct is abhorrent. You comprom...I am a CEO. Your conduct is abhorrent. You compromised the office which you hold. You compromised the integrity of the institution and your employees. Who knows, some may have quit or faced retaliatory action from you and your HR team for "acting out" in response to your irresponsible behavior. This blog is an extension of your arrogance. Best advice: RESIGNAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-48802847892116052202010-05-05T22:11:45.145-04:002010-05-05T22:11:45.145-04:00Mr. Levy -I too am a hospital executive. I can th...Mr. Levy -I too am a hospital executive. I can think of two far more important pursuits than health care safety and quality, my family and my faith. Engage in these with the same energy and passion as you do your hospital work and all this will work itself out, and you will achieve more and be happier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-73166235366121505382010-05-05T15:54:15.123-04:002010-05-05T15:54:15.123-04:00Perhaps this entry should be titled "I got ca...Perhaps this entry should be titled "I got caught...Now I'm sorry."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-44874349337648462582010-05-05T10:59:17.284-04:002010-05-05T10:59:17.284-04:00Resign. It's the only way to save face and yo...Resign. It's the only way to save face and you know it. <br /><br />How unbecoming of a CEO to act this way for a little tail. Unreal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-19678269833381220852010-05-04T21:10:54.292-04:002010-05-04T21:10:54.292-04:00I am appalled to read the press accounts about wha...I am appalled to read the press accounts about what Mr. Levy did. His dishonest behavior is, in a word, disgraceful. And for board just to fine him is likewise disgraceful. He has to go.<br /><br />Here is what what one newspaper reader wrote.<br /><br />"Just another high falutin’, la-de-da kind of guy with an overwhelming sense of entitlement when it comes to women. . . . He belongs in the same trash heap as Tiger Woods, Jesse James, John Edwards, and on and on it goes."<br /><br />Dr. Rabkin, Levy’s predecessor, must feel disgusted. And the founders of the Beth Israel must be turning over in their graves.<br /><br />The board needs to cut it losses and get rid Mr. Levy; anything less will hurt the BIDMC’s reputation even more than it has been hurt to date.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12167862925360450261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-51471922114008458792010-05-04T20:05:12.362-04:002010-05-04T20:05:12.362-04:00Dear Mr Levy,
I am a recent MBA in Health Care Le...Dear Mr Levy,<br /><br />I am a recent MBA in Health Care Leadership graduate who admires your work professionally. Thank you for the sincere apology and the professional manner in which you have handled yourself. No one is perfect and humans naturally want relationships. This does not deter my view of you as an exemplary leader and inspirational human being. <br /><br />Sincerely,<br />AngelaUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17771895210340257423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-72243039472298136182010-05-04T18:07:05.090-04:002010-05-04T18:07:05.090-04:00Mr. Levy: I wish you were my CEO.Mr. Levy: I wish you were my CEO.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-43632274258166595592010-05-04T16:07:42.295-04:002010-05-04T16:07:42.295-04:00Paul,
You have made yourself an icon of transpare...Paul,<br /><br />You have made yourself an icon of transparency with this blog and the way that you lead the hospital. <br /><br />Did you put your "lack of judgement in a personal relationship" in the public eye on purpose or would it have come out anyway? Are you in fact modeling your personal transparency in the same way you have other incidents in the hospital? <br /><br />Perhaps you have let some of us down. I am confident you will continue to lift our hospital up as you have in the past. <br /><br />If we truly embrace transparency, than we must match it with forgiveness and the chance to rebuild.<br /><br />Good luck on the journey,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-92048007252097208382010-05-04T13:38:37.566-04:002010-05-04T13:38:37.566-04:00Paul,
I am an outsider who subscribes to your blo...Paul,<br /><br />I am an outsider who subscribes to your blog because of its valuable insights. I don't understand what took place, but I am impressed that you saw the importance of offering an apology to those who feel they deserve one. You have more of my respect because of it.ClosewithKathihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16015231232157212547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-10264256501126598222010-05-04T13:12:55.746-04:002010-05-04T13:12:55.746-04:00I guess what I'm confused about is whether not...I guess what I'm confused about is whether not this employee in question was a direct subordinate of Mr. Levy, whether or not this person received any sort of improper benefits from Paul (as in bonuses, higher salary, etc)and why this particular employee was let go from the hospital in the first place. I'm an employee at the hospital and I've heard many rumors. Most, if not all, of the rumors are highly critical of Mr. Levy’s role in the entire situation. Please understand, I'm impartial to it all. We all make mistakes. Who I feel really bad for is not Mr. Levy but Mrs. Levy and his family. I guess I'd like to know what exactly happened. It's just very unfortunate that this entire affair had occurred because BIDMC is a wonderful place to work and this certainly leaves a black eye on this institution.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-47643826356866025742010-05-04T12:39:06.897-04:002010-05-04T12:39:06.897-04:00I second the sentiment that you owe no-one outside...I second the sentiment that you owe no-one outside of your staff and your board an apology. I didn't need one. Your case is not weakened, and the few, vocal detractors who think this in any way impacts the credibility or validity of your transparency efforts and leadership in this arena will have something else to blather about soon enough I'm sure. Keep doing what you're doing.Jazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06624232605595849074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-68044698472878254392010-05-04T12:16:44.959-04:002010-05-04T12:16:44.959-04:00Thanks for your apology. I was all set to unsubscr...Thanks for your apology. I was all set to unsubscribe to your blog when I read the first, breaking news reports. This is another instance where my procrastination paid off. You have made quite the impression by stepping forward with your public, sincere apology, versus what we usually get from public figures who admit, "mistakes were made." You have just made your blog all the more real and refreshing. Thanks. Chris Mitchell, a former Boston healthcare junkie, now living in exile in Chicago.Chris D. Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02195486867213175362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-7324393147501325222010-05-04T11:42:27.824-04:002010-05-04T11:42:27.824-04:00Thanks for manning-up, Paul.Thanks for manning-up, Paul.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-74459746488524488162010-05-04T10:21:33.785-04:002010-05-04T10:21:33.785-04:00I read your blog often.
I comment occasionally, so...I read your blog often.<br />I comment occasionally, sometimes in a critical way.<br />I do admire the drive toward transparency around quality and cost in healthcare.<br />I am sorry to say, that in my opinion, I feel that you have lost your soapbox.<br />We can't be sure from the wording of the statements, but it certainly seems based on your board's actions that you had a relationship with a female employee of BIDMC, someone who at least at some time worked directly for you, a real HR no-no at the least. For me, the issue of honesty (transparency) has less to do with the fact that you don't want to talk about it, fine. The issue has more to do that you and/or your HR department didn't seem to think it was an issue until someone made it one. Further than that, I would say there is an integrity issue, especially for someone who preaches integrity and transparency, in that you are (I think, correct me if I'm wrong) a married man.<br />Personal or not, that soapbox you were on (and someone needs to be) is now not lifting you very high above the crowd.Keithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10516531106686413155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-7833576490973911192010-05-04T10:14:38.758-04:002010-05-04T10:14:38.758-04:00You're a great leader and a fantastic person, ...You're a great leader and a fantastic person, really, it's not that big of a deal. You're human and the fact that this is made so public is honestly ridiculous. You have a right to privacy like everyone else. <br /><br />How many people have never been in this situation? I'm pretty sure the board members aren't as perfect as they like to portray themselves. <br /><br />Keep up the good work...inappropriate relationships or not, people here are happy and this hospital works because of your leadership. And it really is no one's business what any of us do behind closed doors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-57698190447536915172010-05-04T09:59:15.899-04:002010-05-04T09:59:15.899-04:00Its nice to know your human, Mr. Levy! Show me a g...Its nice to know your human, Mr. Levy! Show me a great leader who didn't have a lapse in judgement at some point in their lives. <br /><br />The transparency and humility you have shown is yet another behavior that I wish more leaders would adopt. I hope others recognize this, especially your board - do any one of them exhibit this kind of courage?<br /><br />Thank you for staying the course - sometimes the greatest learnings come from our ability to withstand the burdens of our own mistakes. It makes us wiser, and more than ever, we need wise leadership.<br /><br />Good luck, and keep up the magnificent work!<br /><br />From a sideline fan.Deborah Gilburgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-60737081061991755242010-05-04T09:37:21.692-04:002010-05-04T09:37:21.692-04:00“Although in this instance, Mr. Levy has not lived...“Although in this instance, Mr. Levy has not lived up to the standards we set for our CEO, the Board also considered his exemplary record over the course of his tenure at BIDMC, the current performance of the hospital, his role as the chief architect of the hospital’s leading position in quality and safety, and his bold voice of leadership on public policy.”<br /><br />I think the Board dealt with this matter in a fair and balanced way. We’re all human. Sometimes we make mistakes.Barry Carolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-59237909078041416242010-05-04T08:32:04.407-04:002010-05-04T08:32:04.407-04:00What is unclear here is whether Paul's person...What is unclear here is whether Paul's personal relationship was with someone who was working at the hospital when the relationship began. The wording of the statement doesn't make this clear--it just says a "former employee of the Medical Center." Was the person a former employee when the relationship began? Did Paul's actions towards this person create conflicts or favoritism or discomfort for his colleagues at BIDMC, or the appearance of these? If the relationship was with someone at the hospital, it certainly brings it into the realm of relevancy for the board, particularly if it was not disclosed. If the CEO of any organization has a secret relationship with a colleague, let alone someone who works for him or her, it creates enormous problems, at least of appearance if not more. <br /><br />I also want to mention, Paul, that I don't know if I "feel like" you have let me down because I don't know what you did. What I'd love to know if YOU feel like whatever you did let us down?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-54148607376216268242010-05-04T07:51:46.491-04:002010-05-04T07:51:46.491-04:00I remain your friend. Best to you.I remain your friend. Best to you.rlbateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15236331355857884458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-79259625132049754122010-05-04T07:50:36.177-04:002010-05-04T07:50:36.177-04:00I am a newcomer to this great source of informatio...I am a newcomer to this great source of information having discovered it in the process of writing a book. I am also a New Yorker and an attorney who has no knowledge of nor interest in the situation that led to the apology. I'm happy to skip today's message regarding internal matters and eagerly await tomorrow's.<br /><br />The daily missives are wonderful insights into the workings of a hospital, health care delivery, and stories of patients and their care. Keep up that terrific flow of information. It is refreshing and useful to a broad community.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com