I am not a big Michael Vick fan. I didn't like him before his conviction. I still don't like him.
If I were a defensive coordinator facing the Eagles, I would do the following:
When Vick is lined up as a wide-out, especially near the formation, I would put a line-backer or defensive lineman on him and tell them to "tee off." When he is not lined up as a QB, he does not get the protection that a QB does. He's just another player at that point. I'd also find a linebacker who owns and loves dogs to line up against Vick. That would be just.
I don't buy the argument that says that Vick has "suffered enough." That's CRAP! He hasn't suffered anything like the suffering that he subjected his dogs to. At the least, he should be made to clean up kennels at dog shelters instead of spending his time in his mansion and in five star hotels.
I've never really liked the Eagles. I like them even less now. When you employ scumbags, you shouldn't expect everyone to love you.
I've added the Eagles to my list of teams that I root against.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Another NFL Season
I'm not really much of a football fan.
I've lived in Michigan all of my life. During my lifetime, the Detroit Lions have won a single playoff game. They have been dreadful. Last year, they went 0-16. It's tough to be a football fan in Michigan.
I once worked with a fellow from Pennsylvania. We had to explain the NFL's "blackout rules" to him, as he had never experienced a home game blackout while he lived near Pittsburgh. It is merciful to keep us from having to see the Lions stink every game. The downside is that the NFL punishes us by not showing any game when the Lions are blacked out. Back in the analog teevee days, I could pick up games from Toledo on my rabbit ears, and could watch the Browns when the Lions were blacked out.
I used to think that the Lion's longtime General Manager, Russ Thomas was the primary reason that the Lions stunk. Russ retired years ago. The Lions still stink. The only constant during this long period of stinkiness has been ownership: the Ford Family. They just don't care. NFL teams are guaranteed to make a profit. The revenue sharing from the TV contracts is more than the salary cap. They make money before they put a single behind into a seat, before they sell a single cardboard pizza, and before they sell a single watered down beer. As long as the team makes money, whether they win or lose, why should ownership care? They obviously do not.
I will watch a few football games this year. As I type this, I am watching the Raiders get their lunch money taken from them by the Saints. They look awful. Jeff Garcia just played for the Raiders. He was better than their starter (who's name escapes me). The Raiders may give the Lions a run for their money for the worst team in the league this year.
The Saints are playing Joey Harrington at QB on this drive. Another refugee from the Lions. He just threw a touchdown pass.
I think the Lions won their exhibition game with the Colts this afternoon. The game was not on teevee here.
It's tough to be a football fan in Michigan.
I've lived in Michigan all of my life. During my lifetime, the Detroit Lions have won a single playoff game. They have been dreadful. Last year, they went 0-16. It's tough to be a football fan in Michigan.
I once worked with a fellow from Pennsylvania. We had to explain the NFL's "blackout rules" to him, as he had never experienced a home game blackout while he lived near Pittsburgh. It is merciful to keep us from having to see the Lions stink every game. The downside is that the NFL punishes us by not showing any game when the Lions are blacked out. Back in the analog teevee days, I could pick up games from Toledo on my rabbit ears, and could watch the Browns when the Lions were blacked out.
I used to think that the Lion's longtime General Manager, Russ Thomas was the primary reason that the Lions stunk. Russ retired years ago. The Lions still stink. The only constant during this long period of stinkiness has been ownership: the Ford Family. They just don't care. NFL teams are guaranteed to make a profit. The revenue sharing from the TV contracts is more than the salary cap. They make money before they put a single behind into a seat, before they sell a single cardboard pizza, and before they sell a single watered down beer. As long as the team makes money, whether they win or lose, why should ownership care? They obviously do not.
I will watch a few football games this year. As I type this, I am watching the Raiders get their lunch money taken from them by the Saints. They look awful. Jeff Garcia just played for the Raiders. He was better than their starter (who's name escapes me). The Raiders may give the Lions a run for their money for the worst team in the league this year.
The Saints are playing Joey Harrington at QB on this drive. Another refugee from the Lions. He just threw a touchdown pass.
I think the Lions won their exhibition game with the Colts this afternoon. The game was not on teevee here.
It's tough to be a football fan in Michigan.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Health Care Quality
Back when I worked in manufacturing, there was a saying that went:
What gets measured gets done. What gets rewarded gets done well.
Healthcare escaped the "quality revolution" that swept through many other industries in the 80s and 90s. That is about to change. When manufacturing changed from a culture and reward structure that focused on quantity (build to the numbers) and incorporated quality metrics into the evaluation and compensation packages of leadership, we saw a dramatic improvement in quality. As I heard it stated once, "It's amazing what you can accomplish when management is paying attention." Management pays attention when their performance reviews, bonuses and promotional opportunities are influenced by achieving quality metrics.
ARRA requires HCOs to report 27 Quality Measures to CMS to qualify for "meaningful use" financial incentives.
Some of the ARRA Quality Measures seem to be pretty straightforward. For example, there is a requirement to report "The percent of orders entered directly by physicians through CPOE." We all know that the error rate is greater when physicians write out orders and someone else enters the data for them than it is with CPOE. CPOE has significant advantages over the manual order writing system. As a local radio commercial says "even McDonalds doesn't use paper orders in 2009." So, one measure of how effectively an organization is using its EHR will be the CPOE Percentage.
Another measure is to report the percent of smokers offered smoking cessation counseling. This is the sort of measure that I have an issue with. So, you offer them counseling. Big Deal. Since we are concerned with outcomes, a better measure would be "the percent of smokers that quit smoking." Just measuring whether you offered smokers counseling reminds me of those kids camps where every kid gets a ribbon for showing up, so that we don't hurt their feelings.
We know that once CMS has this data, it will be made public. And then organizations will be able to compare their scores against their competitors (yes, virginia, hospitals do compete with each other). Also, consumers will be able to look at the scores for hospitals and doctors and use this as a determining factor in deciding where to take their health care business.
An important component of any Quality Management System is specifying what is to be measured. If there is any ambiguity in the description of what is to be measured, we will end up with inconsistent results and will be "comparing apples to oranges."
HL7 is balloting a Healthcare Quality Measures Format (HQMF). I did some work helping to put the document together.
http://www.hl7.org/V3ballot/html/domains/uvqm/uvqm.htm#
What gets measured gets done. What gets rewarded gets done well.
Healthcare escaped the "quality revolution" that swept through many other industries in the 80s and 90s. That is about to change. When manufacturing changed from a culture and reward structure that focused on quantity (build to the numbers) and incorporated quality metrics into the evaluation and compensation packages of leadership, we saw a dramatic improvement in quality. As I heard it stated once, "It's amazing what you can accomplish when management is paying attention." Management pays attention when their performance reviews, bonuses and promotional opportunities are influenced by achieving quality metrics.
ARRA requires HCOs to report 27 Quality Measures to CMS to qualify for "meaningful use" financial incentives.
Some of the ARRA Quality Measures seem to be pretty straightforward. For example, there is a requirement to report "The percent of orders entered directly by physicians through CPOE." We all know that the error rate is greater when physicians write out orders and someone else enters the data for them than it is with CPOE. CPOE has significant advantages over the manual order writing system. As a local radio commercial says "even McDonalds doesn't use paper orders in 2009." So, one measure of how effectively an organization is using its EHR will be the CPOE Percentage.
Another measure is to report the percent of smokers offered smoking cessation counseling. This is the sort of measure that I have an issue with. So, you offer them counseling. Big Deal. Since we are concerned with outcomes, a better measure would be "the percent of smokers that quit smoking." Just measuring whether you offered smokers counseling reminds me of those kids camps where every kid gets a ribbon for showing up, so that we don't hurt their feelings.
We know that once CMS has this data, it will be made public. And then organizations will be able to compare their scores against their competitors (yes, virginia, hospitals do compete with each other). Also, consumers will be able to look at the scores for hospitals and doctors and use this as a determining factor in deciding where to take their health care business.
An important component of any Quality Management System is specifying what is to be measured. If there is any ambiguity in the description of what is to be measured, we will end up with inconsistent results and will be "comparing apples to oranges."
HL7 is balloting a Healthcare Quality Measures Format (HQMF). I did some work helping to put the document together.
http://www.hl7.org/V3ballot/html/domains/uvqm/uvqm.htm#
Friday, July 3, 2009
Up North
I went to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a week of camping last month. In Michigan, we say that we go "up north." The $3.00 fee that I pay to cross the Mackinac Bridge (http://www.mackinacbridge.org/), which connects the upper and lower peninsulas, is the best money that I spend each year.
I don't take a computer with me. I turn the cellphone off during the drive up Interstate 75. I stay disconnected from technology for a week. It does my soul good.
This trip, I read Deming's "Out of the Crisis." We can still learn a lot from Deming's teaching, especially in healthcare. I am continually amazed at how healthcare just missed the quality revolution.
I took my Chapman Stick with me and did a bit of practicing. I take a small, cigarette pack sized amp with me and practiced on three or four days.
I took my dog, Sonny with me and we did a bit of hiking. Sonny is getting older, and we don't hike as much as we did seven or eight years ago, but I still have to remind him to slow down when we are ascending or descending a hill.
The weather was cool and rainy and windy the first couple of days. The good thing about the wind picking up is that it knocks the mosquitoes out of the air. After the front rolled through, the weather was sunny and beautiful for the rest of the trip.
We stayed in campgrounds on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.
A bad day in the woods is better than a good day in the office.
I don't take a computer with me. I turn the cellphone off during the drive up Interstate 75. I stay disconnected from technology for a week. It does my soul good.
This trip, I read Deming's "Out of the Crisis." We can still learn a lot from Deming's teaching, especially in healthcare. I am continually amazed at how healthcare just missed the quality revolution.
I took my Chapman Stick with me and did a bit of practicing. I take a small, cigarette pack sized amp with me and practiced on three or four days.
I took my dog, Sonny with me and we did a bit of hiking. Sonny is getting older, and we don't hike as much as we did seven or eight years ago, but I still have to remind him to slow down when we are ascending or descending a hill.
The weather was cool and rainy and windy the first couple of days. The good thing about the wind picking up is that it knocks the mosquitoes out of the air. After the front rolled through, the weather was sunny and beautiful for the rest of the trip.
We stayed in campgrounds on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.
A bad day in the woods is better than a good day in the office.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wings vs Pens - History of Final Game Sevens
Game Sevens always make me nervous.
The last home team to lose a game seven in the finals was the Chicago Black Hawks in 1971. They lost to the Montreal Canadians. That Hab team had Ken Dryden in goal. He won the Conn Smythe (Playoff MVP) trophy that year. The Habs brought him up to the big club late in the year. He won the Rookie of the year trophy the following season because he had not played enough regular season games to qualify as a rookie the previous year. I expect that feat (winning the Conn Smythe one year, and the rookie of the year the next season) will never be duplicated. The series winning goal was scored by Henri Richard (the Pocket Rocket) at 2:34 of the third period.
Since 2000, four Cup finals have gone to a seventh game. The Hurricanes beat the Oilers in 2006, the Lightning beat the Flames in 2004, the Devils beat the Ducks (coached by Mike Babcock) in 2003 and the Avalanche beat the Devils in 2001.
In the nineties only one Stanley Cup Final went the distance. In 1994, the Rangers beat the Canucks to end a long drought.
In the eighties, only one Stanley Cup Final went the distance. The Oilers beat the Flyers in 1987.
In the seventies, the only final that went seven games was the aforementioned 1971 final between the Hawks and the Habs. The Hawks won the first two games at the old Chicago Stadium. The Habs won game seven in Chicago by a final score of three to two.
In the sixties, two final series went the distance. The Habs beat the Hawks in 1965 and the Leafs beat the Red Wings in 1964.
I'm looking forward to a great game at the Joe on Friday night. History is on the side of the Wings, but there is a reason that we play the games!
The last home team to lose a game seven in the finals was the Chicago Black Hawks in 1971. They lost to the Montreal Canadians. That Hab team had Ken Dryden in goal. He won the Conn Smythe (Playoff MVP) trophy that year. The Habs brought him up to the big club late in the year. He won the Rookie of the year trophy the following season because he had not played enough regular season games to qualify as a rookie the previous year. I expect that feat (winning the Conn Smythe one year, and the rookie of the year the next season) will never be duplicated. The series winning goal was scored by Henri Richard (the Pocket Rocket) at 2:34 of the third period.
Since 2000, four Cup finals have gone to a seventh game. The Hurricanes beat the Oilers in 2006, the Lightning beat the Flames in 2004, the Devils beat the Ducks (coached by Mike Babcock) in 2003 and the Avalanche beat the Devils in 2001.
In the nineties only one Stanley Cup Final went the distance. In 1994, the Rangers beat the Canucks to end a long drought.
In the eighties, only one Stanley Cup Final went the distance. The Oilers beat the Flyers in 1987.
In the seventies, the only final that went seven games was the aforementioned 1971 final between the Hawks and the Habs. The Hawks won the first two games at the old Chicago Stadium. The Habs won game seven in Chicago by a final score of three to two.
In the sixties, two final series went the distance. The Habs beat the Hawks in 1965 and the Leafs beat the Red Wings in 1964.
I'm looking forward to a great game at the Joe on Friday night. History is on the side of the Wings, but there is a reason that we play the games!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Wings vs Penguins - Game 6 Preview
I'm looking forward to this. The Penguins will play desperate hockey. The Wings know that they can win the cup tonight. I expect the Wings to play a solid, professional game and win the series tonight.
Datsyuk makes a big difference, even though he is not playing at 100%. He is one of the best back checking forwards in the game. His vision on the ice allows him to make passes that most other players dream of making. His return was a big part of the Wings victory in Game 5.
I hope NBC keeps their isolation cameras on Crosby and Malkin when the Wings celebrate with the Cup!
I smile every time the announcer says that the goalie "waffle boarded that one away." The goalie's blocker has not looked like a waffle board for twenty years or more.
I heard on the radio this morning that NBC will not allow the Wings to have a "Joe Vision" party and show the game on the big screen at Joe Louis Arena. If NBC are being pinheads, why don't the folks at the Joe just broadcast the CBC telecast instead? The Wings games in the finals have delivered huge ratings numbers in Detroit for NBC. Why do the suits at NBC have to be butheads about this? I hope that someone from the media asks Gary Bettman about this.
I watch the NBC (or Versus) broadcasts because I get them in High Def. I do switch to CBC for their intermissions. What hockey fan would miss Coach's Corner? I also watch the pre-game on CBC, because they show the national anthem, unlike NBC, which shows beer commercials instead.
Go Wings!
Datsyuk makes a big difference, even though he is not playing at 100%. He is one of the best back checking forwards in the game. His vision on the ice allows him to make passes that most other players dream of making. His return was a big part of the Wings victory in Game 5.
I hope NBC keeps their isolation cameras on Crosby and Malkin when the Wings celebrate with the Cup!
I smile every time the announcer says that the goalie "waffle boarded that one away." The goalie's blocker has not looked like a waffle board for twenty years or more.
I heard on the radio this morning that NBC will not allow the Wings to have a "Joe Vision" party and show the game on the big screen at Joe Louis Arena. If NBC are being pinheads, why don't the folks at the Joe just broadcast the CBC telecast instead? The Wings games in the finals have delivered huge ratings numbers in Detroit for NBC. Why do the suits at NBC have to be butheads about this? I hope that someone from the media asks Gary Bettman about this.
I watch the NBC (or Versus) broadcasts because I get them in High Def. I do switch to CBC for their intermissions. What hockey fan would miss Coach's Corner? I also watch the pre-game on CBC, because they show the national anthem, unlike NBC, which shows beer commercials instead.
Go Wings!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Wings vs Penguins - Game 5
It looked like the Penguins were believing all of that press about "old guys out of gas" that we've been hearing for the last couple of days. They seemed frustrated that the old guys did not just get out of their way and wave them on to their victory parade.
I did not join the panic attack that swept hockey town after the two losses in Pittsburgh. I expected that the Wings would play better back at the Joe.
I asked this when the series started, but will NBC finally get a clue and stop putting isolation cameras on Crosby and Malkin now? The only good thing about the isolations on the Penguins is that we get a nice replay of each whack they take at a Red Wing. At least NBC did not pretend that the slashes did not happen. I'm suprised, however, that they didn't edit out the crowd at the Joe chanting "Crosby Sucks!"
They showed Gary Bettman in the third period. He did not look very happy.
The Wings showed poise and the Penguins lost their cool. This game reminded me of Game four against the Black Hawks.
How can Crosby be considered a great player when he does not kill penalties? I take that back...he did kill a penalty last night....he took the first penalty on what ended up being a Wing five on three, so he did step out on the ice when his penalty was done, and technically, he did kill a penalty for all of twenty seconds. By the way, that was twenty more seconds of penalty kill time than Malkin had.
Ozzie played another solid game, stopping twenty two shots to earn the shutout. That's his fifteenth Stanley Cup Shutout. Ozzie is now fourth all time in Stanley Cup shutouts. He also got an assist on Detroit's second goal by Valtteri Filppula.
So, now we get game six in the Igloo. I expect the Penguins to play better (could they play worse?). I hope that the Penguins and their fans get to watch the Wings accept the Cup for the second year in a row!
I did not join the panic attack that swept hockey town after the two losses in Pittsburgh. I expected that the Wings would play better back at the Joe.
I asked this when the series started, but will NBC finally get a clue and stop putting isolation cameras on Crosby and Malkin now? The only good thing about the isolations on the Penguins is that we get a nice replay of each whack they take at a Red Wing. At least NBC did not pretend that the slashes did not happen. I'm suprised, however, that they didn't edit out the crowd at the Joe chanting "Crosby Sucks!"
They showed Gary Bettman in the third period. He did not look very happy.
The Wings showed poise and the Penguins lost their cool. This game reminded me of Game four against the Black Hawks.
How can Crosby be considered a great player when he does not kill penalties? I take that back...he did kill a penalty last night....he took the first penalty on what ended up being a Wing five on three, so he did step out on the ice when his penalty was done, and technically, he did kill a penalty for all of twenty seconds. By the way, that was twenty more seconds of penalty kill time than Malkin had.
Ozzie played another solid game, stopping twenty two shots to earn the shutout. That's his fifteenth Stanley Cup Shutout. Ozzie is now fourth all time in Stanley Cup shutouts. He also got an assist on Detroit's second goal by Valtteri Filppula.
So, now we get game six in the Igloo. I expect the Penguins to play better (could they play worse?). I hope that the Penguins and their fans get to watch the Wings accept the Cup for the second year in a row!
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