Posted by Henry Alken on January 25, 2004 at 12:03:08:
In Reply to: Re: Remarkable book about Cleveland Clinic posted by Mike Phillips on January 24, 2004 at 23:27:03:
Mike,
A truly interesting story. I am curious how you got a pediatric surgeon to do your Maze? Dr Mee certainly treated you and your family like royalty. I met my surgeon one time for 30 mins only and never saw him again - but I'm sure he would have been there if I had taken a turn for the worse.
According to the book, Dr Mee can be very hornery when the excellence of his operation is affected. When CC pursuaded him to come to CC, he told them flat out that he wanted his own ICUs for babies and newborns (PICU, NICU) and that he wanted his own nursing staff and residents. This was strongly opposed by Dr Delos Cosgrove who was the boss of all cardiac surgery. He did not want to give up any of his domain. It got to the point that Dr Mee told Dr Floyd Loop, the cardiac surgeon who is the CEO, that he was packing up and returning to Australia. Dr Loop did the right thing and gave him what he needed to reach the extremely low pediatric mortality (0.4 percent versus 10 - 20 percent nationwide) that he has achieved.
You were very lucky to have the boss of all bosses to operate on your heart.
Thank you for your story which illustrates once again what an incredible institution CC is how all Americans should be so proud of it.
Henry