Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond • Chris Jerry, The Emily Jerry Foundation, on Preventing Systemic Medical Errors (Part 2) • Listen on Fountain
Chris Jerry, The Emily Jerry Foundation, on Preventing Systemic Medical Errors (Part 2)
Episode #207 is part two of my conversation with Chris Jerry, founder of The Emily Jerry Foundation. The foundation was created in the aftermath of the tragic death of his daughter, Emily – a preventable medical error caused by a number of factors and bad systems. You can read Emily's story here.
In the first part (Episode #203), Chris told the story of what happened. In part two, we talk about topics including:
A systems view vs. blaming an individual
Chris skipping over the “anger” phase of grief
Why his barber required more certification than a pharmacy tech compounding medications?
“Emily's Law” was passed in 2009 in Ohio and he's working on this nationally
How he learned his ex-wife pursued the criminal charges against Cropp
Publicly forgiving Cropp and meeting him face to face for the first time
How we're all fallible and capable of making a mistake
All of the elements of the system have to fit together and work together
Differences between advances in automotive safety over time and healthcare safety
Warning people without demonizing the individuals
The importance of patient and family involvement
How to reduce hospital acquired infections – hand washing!
How much progress is being made in the patient safety battle?
For a link to this episode, refer people to www.leanblog.org/207.
For earlier episodes of my podcast, visit the main Podcast page, which includes information on how to subscribe via RSS or via Apple Podcasts. You can also listen via Stitcher.
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Since 2006, the Lean Blog Interviews podcast has featured in-depth, candid conversations with leaders, thinkers, and doers in the world of Lean and continuous improvement. Hosted by Mark Graban—author, consultant, and longtime Lean practitioner—the show explores how Lean principles are being applied across industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, startups, and more.
What sets this podcast apart? We go beyond tools and buzzwords. Our guests share real-world stories of success, struggle, learning, and leadership. Whether you’re a seasoned Lean veteran or just getting started, you’ll gain practical insights and fresh perspectives that you can take back to your own organiza...