I was reading Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “The Bomber Mafia” and watching the news about no water in Jacksonville, Mississippi and a break in the main water line feeding Los Angeles. I thought, “Choke Points?”
Choke Points are usually thought of as geological features associated with military action. Like Gibraltar is a Choke Point into the Mediterranean. The Dardanelles are a Choke Point between the Black Sea (Bosporus) and the Mediterranean.
A Moose Jaw example of a WW 2 ‘Choke Point’ is the Falaise Gap. It’s a narrow valley and restricted the escape route of NAZI soldiers fleeing East. The Moose Jaw connection is our Major David Vivian Currie, V.C., South Alberta Regiment – 4th Armoured Corps. He closed the Gap, the ‘Choke Point’.
Malcolm Gladwell uses the example of the Hamilton Standard Company, an American aircraft propeller parts supplier. Their plant in Pittsburgh was damaged by the catastrophic St. Patrick’s Day flood of 1936. The company were unable to produce a spring used in the manufacture of propellers. All aircraft production everywhere stopped. A ‘Choke Point’ in industry.
What does Major Currie and Airplane Propellers have to do with the Canadian Health Care? Plenty!
When faced with the COVID catastrophe, was ‘Lean Management’ a ‘Choke Point’, leading to the collapse of Canadian Health Care? People need answers.
Are there Choke Points in training medical staff – Medical Doctors – Nurses – Nursing Aids – technicians and more? ‘Choke Points’ resulting in Personnel Shortages.
A ‘Choke Point’ at Hamilton Standard stopped propeller production. Major Currie closed the Choke Point preventing the escape of enemy soldiers. Are ‘Choke Points’ reducing the effectiveness of Canadian Health Care System?
No Parts – No Production. No Escape – Military failure. No Personnel – No Health Service
Working towards a solution
Identify the ‘Choke Points’ in the Health Care system.
How? Collect a bunch of Assistant Health Care Managers (not the bosses) and Nurses, Nursing Aids, Orderlies and Head Caretakers – whatever you can find from across Canada – from small communities like Fort McMurray – Smithers – Dawson City – Melfort – Corner Brook – Huntsville – put them to a big room in a small town, say Assiniboia.
NO POLITICIANS PLEASE! Doug and Justin please stay home.
Mix the people up. Put them in groups. Tell them they have five days to identify the ‘Choke Points’ in Health Care based on their experience.
Assign many, excellent secretaries to record and organize the recommendations. Present the ideas to the Public first – then to the Politicians.
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