New era presents 'interesting challenge to managers
(Continued from page 1)
McMahon then said he believes
hospitals and universities are beginning a
new era that "presents an interesting
challenge to managers.” It's an era, he
said, in which the expansionist
philosophy is tapering off.
Because of this, McMahon said, "We're
going to have to learn about priorities,
we're going to have to learn about
stretching resources, and that makes an
interesting management job....Cost-
consciousness is demanded of us....All
why there is a balancing of interests,"
McMahon emphasized, "or they will
assume that the decisions we make are
arbitrary."
More aggressive
Finally, he said, "I think this applies to
all of us: We're going to have to take a
more aggressive position vis a vis the
government." He spoke proudly of the
School of Medicine's recent stand that, if
necessary, it would turn down federal
capitation grants rather than have the
government dictate student admission
standards.
"We're going to have to increase our articulateness as a university
community, as a hospital community, about government
encroachment so there is a calm voice of reason—and a strong voice,
not a quiet voice—that thinks about what the government is doing,
thinks about the implications and then stands and says, 'That is
wrong!' "
things our constituencies are interested
in can't be afforded," and that requires
seeking the right balance.
But bringing that balance into play,
McMahon warned, is not going to happen
"without more attention to communica
tions" and "increasing the level of
communication between constituencies
that make up these marvelous
institutions.
"Somebody has got to explain to them
"We need to become aware of the
increasing involvement of government
and the limiting of our freedom of
movement....arming ourselves with
appropriate arguments to say, 'This is not
what the government ought to be
doing,' " McMahon said.
On the same theme he added:
"We're going to have to increase our
articulateness as a university community,
as a hospital community, about
govern;nent encroachment so there is a
calm voice of reason—and a strong voice,
not a quiet voice—that thinks about what
the government is doing, thinks about the
implications and then stands and says,
'That is wrong!' "
Questions and answers
Is all this activity managerial?
"Sure it's managerial," McMahon
answered his own question, "in the
broadest sense. In order to retain our
right to manage our institutions we've
got to be very sure about what we're
doing and not acquiesce too readily to
what the government wants to do to
us...."
In response to a question from the
audience about Health, Education and
Welfare Secretary Joseph Califano's
approach to hospital cost containment,
McMahon called it "horrendously
simplistic" and then added:
"We have the same outlook on his
approach to cost containment that the
tobacco farmers have (the rest of his
sentence was smothered in laughter)...
and that the constituents of the
University of North Carolina have."
SPECIAL PRESENTATION—J. Alexander McMahon Qeft) accepts a copy of a Duke yearbook
dating back to his days as an undergraduate here (Class of '42). Making the presentation is Dr.
William G. Anlyan, vice president for health affairs, who provided introductory remarks, some
taken from that same publication, before McMahon spoke to the Management CLub last
Thursday evening. fP/ioto by john Beclon)
mm
POLISH TEAM VISIT
ING H£R£—Dr. Ronald
P. Krueger (left), who
has been working with
Polish nephrologists
and urologists as a
consultant here and in
Poland (see related
story), examines an X-
ray with a Polish group
visiting here. From left
they are: Dr, W.
Urbanowicz, a pediat
ric urologist working at
Duke with Dr. John
Weinerth; Zofia Rak, a
pediatric nephrology
nurse who is working
with a Duke counter
part, Jan Clark, visible
in the background over
Rak's left shoulder; Dr.
W. Chuchro, a pediat
ric nephrologist work
ing with Dr. Robert
Gray; and Dr. W.
Miezynski, a renal
pathologist who is
working with Dr.
Byron Croker. IPholo hy
Parker Herring!
Krueger gets
scholar award
Dr. Ronald P. Krueger, a specialist in
pediatric nephrology and urology at
Duke, has received a $30,000 American
urologic Association Scholar Award.
The award, granted over a two-year
period, is funded by the Burroughs
Wellcome Co. and will go to finance study
and research.
On July 1 Krueger will begin a year's
sabbatical leave at the Hospital for Sick
Children in Toronto.
An assistant professor of pediatrics and
urology, Krueger is a pediatric
nephrology consultant for Project Hope
and has been working with a group of
Polish physicians both at Duke and in
Krakow in preparation for assisting them
with their first pediatric kidney
transplant next year.
A graduate in chemistry at Duke,
Krueger earned his M.D. here in 1965 and
was appointed to the faculty in 1970,
Intercom
is published weekly by the Office of Public
Relations, Duke University Medical
Center, Box 3354, Durham, N.C. 27710.
joe Sigler
Director
John Becton
Editor
Primary contributors: William Erwin,
Comprehensive Cancer Center medical
writer; Ina Fried, staff writer; Parker
Herring, public relations assistant; Edith
Roberts, staff writer; David Williamson,
medical writer.
Circulation: Ann Kittrell,
Psychiatric nursing expert distinguished alumna
Alice M. Robinson of New York City, a
nationally known authority on
psychiatric nursing, has been selected as
the School of Nursing's distinguished
alumna of 1978.
Robinson, who was graduated from
On tour today
Ten students from Broughton Senior
High School in Raleigh are touring the
medical center today. The students are
members of a health careers club and are
accompanied by their teacher, Sharon
Chapel.
Duke in 1944, received the award for her
extensive professional writings and her
efforts on behalf of nursing education
nationwide, according to Dr. Ruby L.
Wilson, dean of nursing.
Currently head of her own consulting
firm in New York, the Sayville, N.Y.,
native has been director of nursing
service at Boston State Hospital, director
of nursing education at Vermont State
Hospital in Waterbury, Vt., and senior
editor of "RN Magazine."
She is the author of "Working with the
Mentally 111," now in its fifth edition, and
her most recent book, "Your Future in
Careers in Nursing," has just gone into its
second edition.
Over the years, Robinson has served as
chairperson or member of numerous
national and state committees and
councils of nursing and other health-
related organizations. She continues to
teach communication skills, human
relations and hypertension control to
some 2,000 nurses annually and
coordinates workshops for journals,
pharmaceutical cpmpanies and
universities.
Among the previous honors she has
received are the 1973 U.S. Army Nurse
Corps Special Award, honorary
membership in the National Student
Nurses' Association and listing in "Who's
Who of American Women."